The Subtle Art of Silencing
Below is a chain of emails between On Wisconsin Outdoors Publisher Dick Ellis, and one of our readers who responded to an editorial in the September/October issue. The column entitled “No Tomorrow-A house divided cannot stand” urged readers to vote for Donald Trump, and was clearly marked as the editorial opinion of Ellis only. The editorial in its entirety can be read on page 25 of the issue posted on our homepage at www.onwisconsinoutdoors.com.
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On 9-10-2020 the reader begins;
Dick,
I certainly enjoy reading your sports articles.
I am extremely disappointed that you wrote a political editorial! Everyone gets slammed with political info and we certainly don’t need that from a great paper.
Thank you.
On 9-10-2020 Ellis responds;
Thanks.
I appreciate your comments. Thank you for reading OWO. Respectfully, I am extremely disappointed that you either do not understand the dangers to our constitution and freedoms with this election. Or, worse, you don’t care.
Dick
On 9-11-2020 the reader responds;
Thank you for responding Dick. Oh I worry so much about the future of America. We must remove Trump before he creates damage beyond repair.
On 9-12-2020 Ellis makes a final response;
Thanks for verifying who I suspected you were Mike. It’s a great America when we can respectfully disagree, using our God-given 1st Amendment.
Dick
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We think this exchange demonstrates how some people try to silence opposing viewpoints subtly, without truthfully telling you what they’re really thinking. We also believe that an editorial supporting Joe Biden would not have drawn similar feedback from the reader. The free and honest exchange of ideas is how we learn and, hopefully, grow wiser. Trying to silence what we don’t agree with is a sure way to stop the growth.
But that’s just our opinion. Just as important to us…
…what do you think?