Johnson: Responding to Reilly opinion using the Civility Checklist

It is not my habit to write responses to opinion pieces. Mr. Reilly’s letter has induced me to make an exception.

Mr. Reilly, please read and respect the Civility Checklist provided by the Independent. It is there to promote integrity in writing. The checklist includes taking the high road, being respectful and truthful, looking for common ground, just to name a few of their policies.

Accomplished writers understand style and technique. They understand the assignment. Since you are a serial opinion writer, I would hope you would have honed this craft by now.

I respectfully submit, your last piece is not a serious article, and as an educator I would not give you a grade you would like, but one you would merit. Your piece lacks logical conclusions, it is mean-spirited without cause, and it is definitely one-sided.

Most disappointingly, it lacks substance and fact. In my classroom, we would be sitting together while I helped you to write a balanced work that has direction and depth. It would not need to belittle or misrepresent your nemesis, but rather seek to show why your point of view is worthy of consideration.

I hope this has been helpful and that you will listen and learn from it, which, coincidently, is one of the items on the checklist. I know the readers of the Independent would appreciate a more educated and less spiteful tone rather than to be fed a one-sided, unsubstantiated opinion.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org. Independent Newsmedia’s Civility Checklist and Civility Pledge can be found here.