To the editor:
Can’t help but comment on The Wake Weekly’s latest “Left vs Right” feature.
The “left” column is a lighthearted story about a former NC governor at a cook out. The “right” column takes the position that a Hillary Clinton presidency would end all life on planet earth. Neither piece has anything to do with the political discourse between two noble traditions.
The left versus right dichotomy has a long history, reaching back into ancient China. Such opposing points of view fueled the arguments that led to the French and American revolutions.
Currently, the American right is generally associated with concepts of limited government, free trade through capitalism not encumbered by government regulations, a robust international involvement, and an embrace of Judeo-Christian family values.
The American left values multiculturalism, diversity, restriction on capitalist excesses, human rights, and more recently an awareness the dangers of climate change.
Neither side can claim perfection. The excesses of capitalism gave us slavery and sweat-shops. The excesses of the left gave rise to communism, a system so flawed almost no one tries it anymore. Yet the struggle between these opposing ideas moves us toward progress, wisdom, and justice.
Back to my point: The Wake Weekly is missing an opportunity here. Instead of a real discussion of right versus left, we get nothing that actually represents left-wing ideas, and we get the far right-wing fringe that traffics in fake news, conspiracy theory, and the politics of personal destruction.
The Wake Forest community deserves better.
Drew Bridges
Wake Forest
7 Responses
We certainly do live in turbulent times. Once upon a time left and right managed to find ways to move the country forward; now it seems there is precious little, if any, room for letting go of a point here and there to get something accomplished. I fear the United States are not. Even our local newspaper, as stated above, can’t seem to impartially focus on issues.
Yes, I’m glad to know I’m not the only person who felt this way and not the only person who canceled my subscription for this reason.
Happy thanksgiving to all.
Matt
Wow! And I thought I was the only one who felt this way.
I am also canceling my subscription to the WW for the same reason: too right-wing for my taste. My family has been reading it for as long as it’s been in existence, but it’s become too political. My decision was made when the WW had a front-page “news” story about how Chris Malone was “high on Wake Forest”. What a joke! Blatant partisanship.
Well said.
I don’t plan to renew my subscription again because I’m sick of all the political articles in the paper pre-election. And the news overwhelmingly favored one party over the other. I get enough political news on TV and N&O and expect something totally different from my local paper. Most of these articles seemed to come from the State News. I can go to their website and read all this garbage for free. Have been very disappointed with the Wake Forest Weekly the past few months. And the advertisements fill up more pages than the local news. After being a subscriber for probably 50 years or more I do not plan to renew my subscription.
brava