All opinions matter

Dear Editor,

I read in your newspaper this week (9-13-17), that someone is upset by your publishing of letters to the editor that are slightly critical of President Trump, and believe that you are committing 'slander" and "libel" by doing so. Perhaps these "patriots" should actually sit down and read the Constitution including the FIRST AMENDMENT. I applaud your stance that both sides can and should be heard from, I can ascertain that your columnist Parker Heinlein is "pro-Trump,” yet I do not claim that he should be silenced just because I don't agree with his viewpoint. Second, I have not read anything in these letters that was factually incorrect, people may disagree on the interpretation of these facts, but facts are facts and do not constitute either slander of libel. It is a distressing trend in modern society to dismiss, vilify, and try to silence any and all viewpoints that don't agree with one's own viewpoint. This country with all its freedoms was built on compromise, not solely on one single viewpoint.

Thirdly, never once in those letters did I ever see that the viewpoint expressed was PCN's own viewpoint. In fact, I clearly read that the views expressed in the letters were not "claimed" by PCN and they were just an OPINION. The writers of the letter went on to claim they didn't see any letters that were against Obama, perhaps they should have written some rather than whining about something they, themselves didn't bother to do? Once again, a free press is vital to a democratic government that is accountable to the people and the loss of that freedom of the press is a sure road to autocracy. In our country's current hyper-partisan climate, I say HOORAH! for a paper that within a "red" county dares to publish letters that are even slightly critical (as those were again only slightly critical) of the current administration. Keep up the good work PCN.

Allen Porter,

Malta, MT