Dear Editor,
Do we still live in a democratic country? Based on several local writers’ experience with our hometown newspaper, the Richland Observer (RO), it does not appear that all voices are welcome. Some time ago, after writing over 300 articles, my sponsored wellness column titled “Wellness Warrior” was discontinued without forewarning or explanation. Our newspaper and several others here in Southwestern Wisconsin have an “acting editor”. I was told by our RO staff that it was the decision of this “acting editor” to discontinue my column, whom I spoke with regarding this situation. He stated that “politics has no place in a wellness column”…go figure since I was given no rules other than length for my wellness articles.
As I wrote articles for my column based on my experience as a nurse as well as my career in the military, politics was not directly discussed. Instead, often I wrote about health challenges I was experiencing related to holistic wellness which includes mind, body and spirit…knowing thatI I most definitely was not alone. My aim was to correlate these concepts to holistic wellness and how to maintain it through all the crazy brouhaha. To clarify…these are definitely stressful times and we need to navigate these times together as best possible.
Since then, several of my Letters to the Editor as well as other more liberal writings from several authors, have not been published. In fact, recently, an employee of the RO (who has since retired) stated she was told not to accept anything I sent into the paper. What’s happened to freedom of our press? Interestingly enough, two papers ago, three anti-Trump Letters to the Editor were printed. Could that be because the supposed “gate keeper” retired? Pretty sad when one isn’t able to have a voice in their hometown newspaper due to conservative leanings! All voices should be welcome.
Thankfully, our Democracy and our Constitution are still hanging in there based on the fact that a federal judge two weeks ago declared the Trump administration defunding NPR and PBS as a breach of free speech. THANK YOU! Meanwhile, I’m hopeful all voices will be welcome in our community…not just the conservative!
Sherry J Hillesheim, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)