By Samuel Strait, Reporter at Large – March 10, 2021 As most know who read the pages of the Crescent City Times, I am a regular contributor on a great variety of topics, one of which sparked a comment with a series of questions included. Normally I would elect to respond to those questions with a comment of my own which would further the topic and provide issue and counter point at the bottom of the article. The questions themselves while claimed to be "serious" questions, might be considered so, until the author made it clear that he was not intending them to be serious and respectfully wait for his answers. While the questions themselves have very little to contribute to the article commented on, often the case for readers who have great difficulty with the concepts discussed, it seems that the topics has some interest to not only myself but to those that read my writings. The author of the questions, has graciously attributed the title of "journalism" to my endevours and asked if my "opinion" was required in what I write? While I, myself would be unlikely to claim the title of "journalist", I would be much more comfortable with reader and then writer. As to whether or not my opinion is necessary in what I put to paper, if you are a careful reader of my prose, you will find that my opinion is more reflective of others that I may or may not agree with, and not necessarily mine alone. There remains plenty of room for a differing opinion if one was offered and stands the test of rebuttal. Too often what passed for a differing opinion has no relevance to the topic, does not add to it, or is the simple frustration of one who has no response and simply chooses to be rude. When I produce a piece to appear in the Times, it is generally the product of extensive reading on the topic, and very often can produce material that is not normally to be found in the narratives produced by those in the media. I rarely imply that the content is the last word and generally include facts to support my contentions. If some one is to dispute those facts, I am welcome to being educated. More often than not, the source of the facts can easily be produced along with other material in support of what is written. I try to be careful of those facts with knowledge from other writings as well as the test factor, "Does it comport with common experiences found out in the world?" It is not so much my opinion, but a consensus in what I have read. That consensus may not be unilateral, I do read things other than only Conservative writings, but both historical examples, and common sense guide my process when relating ideas on the topics I cover. As to whether or not the Times is nothing but editorials, one can hardly make that claim. There is a fair amount of content that is strictly news, and even most of my topics are intended to place news worthy items before the readership and allow the topic to develop. If more would participate in meaningful comments, that would most definitely extend the value of the topic. News can educate, it should not indoctrinate. As far as affecting the content of which I write it is meant to elicit comments, and I would encourage them. Everyone should have a voice. What is important is, that the voice should be respectful and relevant. Anything otherwise says more about the commenter's personality than the topic contained in the article. In order to have a constructive conversation, it must have all the elements of a constructive conversation. If the conversation begins with disdain and arrogance, the doesn't meet the requirements necessary for ideas to be developed and become relevant. People who behave in a civilized manner, every where in the world, can talk to people in a civilized fashion whether they agree or do not. The final two questions actually pertain to my personal opinion of thought contained in the article. Kind of a change to be asked for an opinion after being told my writings are nothing but my opinions. Being a father, and raised in a family that had great respect for education, it was never my intent to cease educating myself when I spent my last days in College. Education is not something that can be tucked away on a shelf only to be taken down on rare occasions. The idea that a young person is not educated to the best of an educators ability is a travesty. It is a cringe worthy event in my life when a young person cannot live up to his or her full potential simply because of a failed education. As far as my thoughts on money spent on education, and is it enough or not, is an answer that really cannot be answered except in each individual student's need. Education has become more about the money than meeting those needs. As much as local educators pat themselves on the back and would like you to believe that their performance meets or exceeds expectation, the results do not match up with that fantasy.. Granted, it cannot be left up to solely the teacher/student dynamic, parent participation is paramount. What should be clear from the continuation of dismal results is that the current dynamic does not work for to many of our youth. Money or not, this country was founded on the principal of a well educated population necessary for the health of this nation. A dysfunctional education system cannot produce that health for the continued well being of this nation. That should be plain for anyone to see. My concern is solely for those Kids. Until that happens, I will continue to write about this travesty until it produces acceptable results. I trust that goes some way towards answering your questions. "crickets"!