Keep reading...the next page is another idea

The VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE

By Theresa Bratcher

Someone is “very disappointed” with The Posey County News ... over a syndicated political cartoon that probably thousands of people saw in other publications as well as ours. Let’s talk about that. Let me start by saying that this column, at first glance, appears to be politically motivated, but I assure you it is not. It’s solely about the ‘very disappointed’ remark on social media.

I’ve had my moments, but generally I try to see the good in everything. And normally, I don’t let someone’s opinion of the paper affect me in this way, but for some reason, this one did...deeply.

I made the choice long ago - actually during my first time working for a newspaper (The Mount Vernon Democrat) not to take a public stand on political matters. Not because I don’t have strong political thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, but because of the never ending backlash from those who are of opposing thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. I just don’t have it in me to take that kind of negativity. I prefer to keep political discussions within my inner circle of family and very close friends. Say what you will of me for that, but know that I vote, pray for all politicians, and thank God that there are those out there that will and do withstand the heat that comes with not always making everyone happy with decisions made. I have Republican friends, I have Democrat friends. I have liberal friends.... I thank God that we live in a country where we are still able to have our own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs and not in a place where those fundamental rights are suppressed. Although I may fail sometimes, I try to be open-minded and kind to everyone. This is not about politics.

That’s enough of that.... let’s get to the ‘disappointed’ part. The day after the October 22 paper went out I received several text messages with pictures of a post on Facebook about that week’s cartoon. As most of us do, I immediately started searching to see if I could find it to see what others were saying. After the initial set of emotions that we all feel when someone or something sets our minds and hearts ablaze had subsided, the lasting emotion felt was relief that I could not see it. And here is why... our paper is the only locally owned newspaper left in our surrounding area. We are a small staff of five main employees, several correspondents and two delivery drivers. We strive on a daily basis to produce the absolute best product that we can for the whole county.

I’m sure y’all have seen us at sporting events, school events, community events, birthday parties, holiday events, anniversaries, suppers, weddings, and a number of other happenings taking loads of pictures. We highlight town council meetings, school board meetings, ribbon cuttings, artists, deaths, and local businesses in our paper. We produce anywhere from 20 to 50 pages every week full of information about your families, neighbors, co-workers, and people that “I didn’t know they did that.” We produce special sections dedicated to our athletes, farmers, 4-H members, and every second grader in Posey County that writes a letter to Santa.

We spend countless hours away from family and friends to do this. We miss our own family birthday parties and sporting events and special occasions because we are out covering community events. We work a vast number of hours each week behind the scenes preparing pages, editing photos, writing stories, and proofreading. Although we do have a specific timeline of when the pages have to be sent to the printer, we don’t really know the definition of the word deadline. I can’t tell you how many last minute yard sale ads I have produced on Monday, or how many last minute event submissions we take the time to redo a page to get in, and the one thing that Dave has said from the very beginning is that we will always take obituaries until the last page is sent - and sometimes we redo and resend pages for that very reason.

I know, I know, you’re thinking - ‘but that’s your job.’ That’s what you chose to do in life, and you’re right! That is our job, we did chose it and we do get paid to do it. But when you honestly think about it.... is the fact that it’s our job and we chose it and we get paid to do it enough of a reason to pour our heart and soul into it when we could just reprint copy from another news source like so many do? Are those reasons sufficient for all the lost family time? Or lost time spent with friends and loved ones? Or weekend and late night work? Not really - we do it because in some far recess of our beings, we’re a little crazy. It takes a special beast to enjoy our profession.

We love it. We enjoy spending time with you and yours. We love being able to share a little part of your world with others and their world with you. We pour our heart and souls into it so you will have the information about the next Kiwanis meeting, or so you’ll know that your beloved old neighbor that you haven’t seen in years got married or had a grandchild, so that you’ll know what the school boards are doing, or even what current decisions local politicians are dealing with, so you’ll know the what/how/why/where of our local police departments, prosecutors and judges, so you’ll know the score of the big game or where the cross country team is in rankings.

I’m not sure why seeing the words ‘very disappointed’ about a cartoon sent me in a downward spiral.... maybe because that paper consisted of two sections, 22 pages, and 2,706 inches of our heart and soul. And all that was posted was that a cartoon that took up 15 of those inches ‘disappointed’ someone. It wasn’t the first time a not so great post was made about the paper, and won’t be the last. But maybe next time different wording such as ‘don’t agree with this’ or even ‘makes me mad’ could be considered Be disappointed in world hunger, be disappointed in no cure for cancer, be disappointed that you didn’t get the job you wanted - the world is full of things to be disappointed about.

As I’m writing this, my heart and my head are conflicted. My head says people certainly have the right to be disappointed by a cartoon we printed and although it cut me to the quick, I applaud the courage it took to let that be known. My heart says ‘but what about the other 2,691 inches of information we printed?’ My head asks ‘is it really that big a deal that one person is disappointed by a cartoon that someone else made that we printed?’ My hearts says ‘but how many others that don’t see the whole of what we do on a weekly basis are going to see this?’ My head says ‘don’t open that can of worms, you’re only subjecting yourself to negativity and strife.’ My heart says, ‘I feel as if I need to defend what we do - how hard we work - how much we care - and that one cartoon does not define who and what we are as a whole.’ The struggle continues....

At the end of the day, we will continue to give our all to our community in the context of ‘news.’ You’ll see us out and about. We’ll smile and enjoy your event with you. We’ll pray for you in time of need or sadness. We’ll keep rolling out those papers for as long as we can. And yes, we will print more cartoons on the Opinion Page. Some will make you laugh, some may make you cry, some may have steam rolling out of your ears. My hope is that when you see/read something that makes you feel what you feel you’ll turn the page and maybe what is on the next page will make it somewhat better.