SEELEY LAKE - As a more than 30 year Seeley Lake resident, there are community characteristics I hold in high regard: our wilderness proximity, our rural-ness, our balance, evidences by our care for environment while also focusing on industry. Mostly though, I hold in high regard the heart of our community that strives to look after all its members. Because we’re a small community, looking after members, means that people volunteer, many times devoting countless hours after an already full workday. It’s been my experience most volunteers don’t do it for glory but form a heart for community and a desire for betterment. This is important to consider if you’re tempted to criticize people who volunteer.
A recent Pathfinder letter, ‘Council Misrepresents Community’ seems more of an attack on a community volunteer that it does a resolution to a problem. It’s not my intent to add to controversy or criticize a community member writing about a concern. However, shame on you Pathfinder for printing the portion of the letter criticizing a volunteer. It is common for newspapers to restrict letters to 300-400 words, insisting the letters not contain personal attacks and to notify that the paper will edit or refuse to print letters as necessary to meet those requirements.
Standard publishing practices such as these don’t hamper freedom of speech, they enhance it. They ask the writer to be precise, not ramble. They safeguard the paper from participating in liable and they show the community the paper is not biased. Allowing a letter to the editor to meander around using the unsubstantiated as fact, loosely or incorrectly, connecting a community volunteer to the entire outcome of a community council, doesn’t reflect the Seeley Lake community I know.
Bruce Friede and Chris Stout both have a heart for this community. I remember Bruce assisting with Boy Scouts and countless things he’s done for our community. Likewise, I have watched Chris Stout tirelessly volunteering thankless hours for community organizations. What a slap in the face to both individuals. By allowing a heated letter to be published with no scrutiny or editing, our local paper feeds mistruth and does great community harm.
Controversy doesn’t serve our community well. It doesn’t strengthen us, nor bring us together to address problems. Mostly it causes bad feelings and divides us as a community when there exists constructive ways to comment or address issues.
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