Most of those who take the time to read an opinion column in a newspaper, this one or otherwise, are not the type of “Baa, Baa” people who will blindly follow the opinion of the columnist like a sheep. Rather, among other things, most will evaluate what they are reading and, based on their own life’s experiences and interests, decide if it’s an issue they are interested in and what, if any, credence they wish to give the opinion.
To an Ole Seagull, the job of the opinion columnist is to honestly express his opinion in the hopes that it will generate discussion within the community about that topic. His columns, as is the case of the vast majority of columns written by opinion columnists, are what they are, simply the opinion of the columnist
An opinion column is not a treatise intending to fairly cover both sides of an issue nor is it necessarily balanced, fair, or unbiased. It is hopefully, a column about a topic the columnist cares, knows, and feels passionately about, written in a manner that will be interesting to the reader. Is it necessarily something that most people will agree with? No, but in the vast majority of cases, it will be something that virtually everyone will either agree or disagree with and for good reason to them.
Those reasons might be based on the readers belief that “He’s wrong,” “He’s biased,” “He didn’t include these facts which would have resulted in a different answer,” “He always writes about this topic,” “He didn’t tell the whole story,” or “This just isn’t fair,” etc. And, depending on the situation they could be right. Why, because, at the end of the day an opinion column is but the opinion of the columnist, nothing more, nothing less.
From an Ole Seagull’s perspective, whether people agree or disagree with his columns is not really important. What is important is that he has done his best to express honest opinions and make sure that the column contains the basis upon which those opinions are based so that they may be evaluated by the readers for whatever purpose.
Previously the Ole Seagull has pointed out that he has, on occasion, been questioned about what qualifications he possesses that qualify him to his write his opinions and why anyone should pay any attention to them. In order, the answers are “only his life’s experience” and “they shouldn’t unless, one way or the other, they have evaluated those opinions and find them useful in their own decision making process.”
Even if he could spew forth a list of qualifications, in the final analysis it would be a useless act and a waste of time. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said, “If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
