I've been the editor of this here newspaper for almost 7 1/2 years, and I've received more feedback from readers on last week's issue than any other.
Most of that feedback came in the form of disagreement. Many folks on what most would consider to be the right-leaning side of the political spectrum took issue with our criticism of SB 1070 in The Skinny and this space. And many folks on what most would consider to be the left-leaning side of the political spectrum expressed dismay with Leo W. Banks' cover story, "The Krentz Bonfire."
The fact that so many people disagreed with one thing or another in the Tucson Weekly doesn't bother me at all. In many ways, that's a good thing. Respectful disagreement can lead to exchanges of ideas, after all.
I can also accept the fact that some of that disagreement was somewhat less than respectful. Some people are just jerks. I get that. I deal with jerks all the time.
The thing I can't accept was that so much of the disagreement was ignorant. So many people spouting off on SB 1070—both pro and con—have no idea what they're talking about. (Nick Smith touches on this a bit in Weekly Wide Web.) The same thing goes with some of the people who spoke up about "The Krentz Bonfire."
My advice to everyone: Educate yourselves before you start expressing opinions. Like, read SB 1070, or at least review analysis of it from people with an honest grasp of the law. Regarding border issues, talk to a variety of people with first-hand experience before deciding what life is like down there.
Meanwhile, those of us at the Weekly will keep trying to cut through the crap and encourage discussion—respectful, knowledge-based discussion, that is.
