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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
October 20, 2022     Shelton Mason County Journal
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October 20, 2022
 
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Page 4 Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Oct. 20, Five years, 261 columns, 1,300 messages et’s take a moment for L... This column started on the Journal’s Opinion ‘ Page on Oct. 19, 2017 —~ the column you’re reading is epi- sode No. 261. I’ve gone five years and one week without missing an issue, which isn’t easy during those weeks when you have nothing to say. That comment about hav- KERK ERiGfiQN THESE TIMES ing nothing to say is an ex- ample of self-deprecation, and I’ve learned over these five years that self-deprecation is a surefire way to win readers. In fact, my self-deprecation skills are superior to just about anybody you know. In addition to deprecation ~ and flawless attendance, I’ve had just one published cor- rection in 260 weeks. It hap- pened last fall in a column about just-elected Shelton City, Council member Miguel Gutierrez. I wrote, “He’s a fan of a democratic socialist — Maine’s independent Sen. Bernie Sanders ...” Iknow ~— and knew that Sanders is from Vermont, but as I was typing I had the face of US. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, pop into my brain. And onto the page it went’. .. Now when I see council even know where‘Bernie Sanders is from.” I’ve had better moments. I save emails and letters I get from readers, and last week I went through some of the 1,300 messages I’ve received. Maybe of those messages knock me for something, but the rest are either compli- mentary or address some as- pect of their lives that my col- umn made them consider. “If you’re not making your readers angry, you’re not do- ing your job.” That’s a saying in the newspaper editorial-' and column-writing business. By that standard,*I’m not doing my job. But I figure we have far too many people in this nation writing to make people angry, and anger is such a routine and self- defeating emotion anyway. member Gutierrez, I'imag- Anger burns hot and uSually ine his only thought is, “Oh, lacks follow—through. that’s the guy who doesn’t LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Editor’s note: Julianne Gale is a can— didate for state senator in the 35th Dis- trict. This letter is being published as a rebuttal to a previous. letter. Letters by candidates for public ofl‘ice in Mason County will generally not be published except in response to previous letters. Let’s talk Editor, the Journal, , I’m writing in response to Mr. Dick’s letter to the editor published on Oct. 13. Mr. Dick, thanks for caring so much about our community. I’m glad we share acommitment to truth and our community’s forests. In my Q&A on ,Oct. 6, I was limited to words per . answer. Would you like to meet up to talk things through at length? I would be happy to thoroughly explain my word choices and statements, as well as address your points about DNR’s man— agement of trust lands and the recent Sheltonmnsmmtn lionmal ' usPs 492—800 POSTMASTER.’ Send address changes to Shelton-Mason , County Journal, PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. , Published weekly by the Shelton-Mason County Journal at W. Cats 81., Sheltbn, Washington. Mailing address: PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone: 360-426-4412 ‘ Website: www.masoncountycom Periodicals postage paid in Shelton, Washington. Making people angry is easy. Making people think is hard. My favorite compliment over these five years came from a woman who told me she keeps a copy of my book of columns next to her bed so when she has a panic attack, she can read my articles. It calms her down, she said. I’ll take that over making someone angry —— or having a reader tell me that something I wrote made her spit coffee onto her computer monitor. ' I got an email from a read- er who suggested I run for political office: “I imagine you might be aware that the way things look right now, the state representatives/senator from the 35th District will be recumbent candidates in the upcoming election with no op- posing candidates having yet ' filed. The deadline to file falls between May 14-18. Have you considered running for office? Might you?” —— Jeannine I forwarded the email to Adam Rudnick, who was the editor of the Journal at the time. He wrote back, “You hate making idle chatter. People would ask you how , you were doing all the time and you’d have to tell them ‘good!’ It would kill you.” ‘ Adam is an astute fellow. I received this from a friend whose dad was dying: “Just got off the phone with my dad. The conversation Washington Supreme Court ruling about it. You (or anyone else interested) can reach me directly at or votejuliannegale@gmail.com to schedule a time to talk. With respect, ’COUture listens Editor, the Journal, Travis Couture has my vote. ‘ was kind of winding down and it seemed like neither of us could think of anything . else to say, but it also seemed that my dad didn’t want to end the call yet, so I ended up reading most of your column to him and it definitely raised his mood. He chuckled sev— eral times, especially‘about the not being able to rein- . force one’s prejudices because of tinted windows one. So, thanks for helping us both.” Jason ' Here are some comments from. the flip side: “I loved John Komen’s arti— V cles and the many interesting stories of history. I found your articles entertaining and hu- mo'rous. These last few weeks I have found them aggravat— ing. If I want to read and hear regular bashing of my president, I can watch main— stream news, social media, or read the bigger newspapers. '(I liked that Mason County Journal was mostly absent . national politics. These po- litical opinions should be for public only, not regular col- umnists.” CharEll “Just shelled out 60 bucks for the subscription to your paper. Live in Bremerton, property on Harstene (sic) , Island. Like your paper, be cause it seems down the mid- dle unlike that PC progres- sive rag the Seattle Times. But I guess you just couldn’t refrain the DTS inside your brain to feel like getting naked and expressing the hatred. I find it interesting that people like you NEVER put the blame where it be- longs: CHINA!” Etc. Etc. Etc. — Marty “I read your article about how you used to hate anti— vaxxers so much you wished them death, never minding that the jab has killed over 11,000 people in this country and seriously damaged an- other 48,000 people. Never mind that vaccinated people can still get COVID and they can spread it, too. Never mind that ‘my body, my choice’ is perfectly okay with killing an unborn baby, but when it comes to protecting oneself from a vaccine that is not a vaccine and hasn’t been test- ed for long-term side effects my body is now the govern- ment’s choice.” Etc. Etc. Etc. Kevin “I’ve read Kirk Ericson’s columns with enjoyment. They have been interesting because they’re slightly off- beat and well-written. Until this week, when he, unfor-' tunately,, allowed himselfto fall/into'the deep, deep mud hole of political ‘morality.’ -— Bruce , . Thanks for reading. I Contact Kirk Ericson at kirk@masonc0unty.com ° The Journal encouragesoriginal letters to the editor of local-interest. ' Diverse and varied Opinions are welcomed; We will not publish letters that are deemedfilibelous or scurrilous in nature. All letters must be 'signed‘and include the writer’s name, physical address and daytime Julianne Gale Shelton phone number, which will be used for verification purposes only. All letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. To submit a letter; emailing it to editor@masonCounty.com is preferred. You may also drop it off at W. Cota St; or mail it to R0; BOX‘430, Shelton, WA 98584. Due to time'constraints, the publication .of handwritten or typed letters may be delayed. < I will never forget the night he showed up to grieve with us over a friend who was tragically killed in an accident. When he supported my daughter after she had been raped and spoke kind words her heart needed to hear. He gaveher value again. He lis- tened to her. ‘ , I have been out knocking on doors with him. Not only does he hit every Owned and published by Shelton—Mason County Journal, Inc. The Journal is ‘a member'of the Publisher: John Lester Advertising: . Theresa Murray,AdRepresentative . door, but I don’th'ear him selling him— self as much as listening to what each person shares with him. He talks about ideas he has to improve their situation and then asks them what they think ~— and accepts their feedback. He gives out his personal cell and talks directly with those he wants to represent. Travis has a moral compass that I Front office: admire. It is not set on what to avoid but where he can be involved and make a difference. He has made a difi‘erence to me, and he has my vote. Dinah Griffey Allyn see LETTERS, page 5 Creative Director: Lloyd Mullen Dave Pierik. Office Administrator Washington Newspaper Publish- , i Delivery: ers Association. ‘ Newsroom: Jon Garza ' Justin Johnson, Editor David Olson SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Gordon Weeks, Reporter Niel Challstrom $79 per year ($55 for six months) for Mason County addresses and $99 per year ($70 for six months) outside of Mason County. Single issue price $2.00 Matt Baide, Reporter Kirk Boxleitner, Reporter Kirk Ericson, Columnist/ Proofreader Shawna Whelan, Photographer Composing’room: Karen Hranac, Customer Service All regular editorial. advertising and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. ‘ To submit a letter to the editor, email editor@masoncounty.com. Kim Fowler, Advertisidg Design; Linda Frizzell, Advertising Design ll