Editorial Writing

Slant plays little role in making editorial writing good or bad. The writing either solidly and clearly makes a point or it doesn't. In my opinion, editorial writing should be slanted. Otherwise, what fun is it and what purpose does it serve? But, to be more than dressed-up tabloid fodder, the writing needs to be disciplined.

Thursday, the Spectrum published an editorial condemning President Bush's decision to veto the bill dealing with federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. It should not surprise my seven faithful readers that I support the President's position on this issue and, therefore, disagree with the editorial.

However, the editorial was written excellently. It solidly makes its point that the President got this one wrong. It does not content itself to preach to a choir or merely cloud the issue by degrading motives or intellectual pedigrees; rather, in scholarly fashion, it seeks to pursuade those open to reason, by elaborating on specifics. Thinking-people are more apt to be turned by that, I would hope, than by an unbridled screed against all things conservative.

Even though I disagree with its conclusion, I can't argue that the Spectrum's editorial doesn't advance the dialogue and improve people's ability to make an informed decision. I am increasingly troubled that our public dialogue has lost much reason and temperance, and I appreciate the Spectrum's effort to use its voice to shed light on this important and, yes, complex issue in a responsible way.