Citizens, partisans and participants

It’s another week requiring citizens reading this paper to do the heavy lifting of noting their neighbors’ activities while keeping their cool if they don’t agree with the direction or intent. Civic responsibility means staying in the community through reading about a position or policy being championed that you don’t agree with and might vehemently oppose.

As events occur that go against some people’s hopes and beliefs, it is important to not turn away from those with whom we disagree. Those disagreeing with what is in the news, of whatever stripe, help the entire community when they share their very distinct, and different, point of view.

Want to turn Washington red? Great. Inform the Weekly News of your activities and events ahead of time so they can be covered. Banners, signs, marches and outside speakers make great photo opportunities.

“Unabashed partisan progressive politics” is what the Sister District organizers touted. The newspaper article this week sought to be accurate and complete. Articles report the facts, and capture the tone, of the event.

This fundraiser for Democratic state senate candidates pulsed with energy. Fifty people coming out for anything on a Wednesday evening in La Conner is news, for sure.

Is the Weekly News partisan? Regular readers know the editorial stance champions community, communicating, engagement and participation. The paper promotes working toward a sustainable future as necessary if we are to have any future at all.

Some issues, such as climate change, building a new library, orca extinction and high school students marching their way toward adulthood, get a lot of attention.

On the editorial page, the editor’s reasoned point of view is shared. That is my obligation to the community.

Is this paper biased? It is, without hesitation, for cooperation, collaboration and working together toward a sustainable future.

My responsibility is to pay attention to the present so we all survive, and indeed thrive, as we create a sustainable future together.

If we don’t work together, through our differences, we will not have a civilized future. Not only do we have to work together, all of us must change our ways.

Either we do that – work together toward change – or there is no future that we will want, at all.