What I’m about to say feels wildly unpopular. Your voice is important, even when we disagree. Yes. I said it. Even when your camera angle is vastly different, the way you see the world matters. The fabric of our community becomes richer when we promote diversity. That’s true of people and thought.
WIZMNews.com received harsh criticism for publishing Bill Feehan’s Fact Check podcast last week. If you’re unfamiliar, Bill is the chairperson for the 3rd Congressional District GOP and La Crosse County Republican Party. In the podcast, he shares his thoughts and opinions on local, state, and federal politics. The visceral response to this podcast surprised me. Whether Fact Check is appropriately titled is up for debate and not easily settled. Philosophers often question the nature of fact versus opinion. Of course, facts are true. Please also consider that opinions are put forth as facts and some factual claims turn out to be false. That unsettled distinction aside, you might assume the objections are an example of cancel culture. The phrase seems trite and doesn’t address the nuance of every situation, but it feels plausible in this case.
Instead of silencing voices, let’s embrace a full spectrum of perspectives. WIZM represents the La Crosse community. WIZM is both Scott Robert Shaw’s As I See It editorial and Bill Feehan’s Fact Check podcast. It’s Mike Hayes, Rick Solem, and many others. They ask us to examine the world in which we live, and it’s our job to decide if the message has merit. We may agree, disagree, or in a perfect world, find some common ground. Regardless, more voices make us better and provide a full picture.
