'Support the Good Guys'

Editor:

Americans are deeply divided by their beliefs, often supported by untruths or poor arguments (Mailbox, Jan. 30). We allowed ourselves to become so divided today because we don’t question our sources. We waste our time (at best) arguing without the facts? As I said before; “Let’s remind ourselves that we are responsible for the information we choose to believe. If we really care about reliable and timely news, we will have to work harder to find it in this era. We can find the opposite news for practically any item in mass media unless you happen upon a credible journalist. When you find them, follow and support them. If your media is lying to you, turn them out and support the good guys.”

For those who want to be more right than wrong, I suggest the University of California at Berkeley library’s publication, “Real News/Fake news: Detecting Fake News.”

Mr. Greenson’s column today shows how a good journalist behaves transparently and honestly with the heavy responsibility for the news passed to the public (“In the Interest of Full Disclosure,” Jan. 30). Award-winning journalists and editors like him are to be treasured because they guard our democracy. I would put them on same high regard as our fire, police and medical professionals keeping us safe. Unfortunately, we have allowed most of the news we believe to come from second-hand, slanted news by the mass media or even made up from unknown sources on social media.

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “A republic, if you can keep it,” meaning that it requires knowledgeable citizens and participation to maintain its integrity. Just a thought.

Dennis Whitcomb, Blue Lake