Letters to the editor help Yellowknifer reflect the city’s broad range of opinions

I wrote my first letter to the editor in high school.

I was in Grade 12 during the 2000 presidential election, when Green Party candidate Ralph Nader was running against Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.

This was the first year I could vote, and Nader’s stand against corporate corruption, campaign finance reform, environmental justice and limitations of the U.S. two-party system really spoke to my young liberal ears.

This, coupled with my knowledge that voter turnout to presidential elections, especially among youth, tends to be embarrassingly low, inspired me to pick up a pencil and write a letter to my hometown southern Minnesota newspaper, the Owatonna People’s Press.

My mom was kind enough to dig my submission out from storage, and it’s just as ridiculously hyperbolic and idealistic as I figured it would be.

I had chosen the headline, “Where have all the Democrats gone?” in a likely homage to singer Paula Cole.

In it, I start right off the bat proclaiming, “Since early childhood, I have thought of the American democratic process to be a wonderful thing.”

This is definitely a bit rich. Then, I get a little colonial and add a dash of simplistic understanding of political history by stating I can see how great the American democratic process’ greatness is by “all the other countries that have tried to emulate our system.”

But, despite this great system, and the fact this is the first year I can “proudly state my opinion at the polls … I feel no pride.”

I go on to lament that, in talking to people about the candidates, the 2000 election was seen by many as a lesser of two evils.

“Most people look at the choices and see Vice-President Al Gore, Democrat, or George Bush Jr., Republican,” I write. “It seems to me that the difference between the two parties has dwindled to nothing. Both have the desire to maintain the status quo. And no wonder. They’re both on the right side. (The wealthy side.)”

So, I present to my fellow Owatonnans a third option -- Nader.

“He is a threat to big money,” I state. “And this makes him our friend.”

I go on to admit to readers that I may be coming off as young and idealistic, but state it’s better to be idealistic than cynical, and end with a Nader quote for good measure.

“I hear young people saying that they’re not turned on to politics, and I tell them that if you do not turn on to politics, politics will turn on you.”

I tried. Nader ended up winning 2.47 per cent of the popular vote and many people consider his presence in the race to be the tipping point that led to George W. Bush’s victory that year.

But my teenage letter, and others like it, are why newspapers keep space for letters to the editor. It's a place for anybody in the community to offer his or her viewpoint to the public sphere.

On the bottom left-hand corner of page eight -- Yellowknifer’s editorial page -- is a weekly call for letter submissions.

They can be emailed to editorial@old.nnsl.com, mailed to Box 2820, Yellowknife, X1A 2R1, or dropped off at the downtown office.

The only stipulations are:

- It must be signed with a contact information so I can verify it is written by the person who signed it

- Preference is given to shorter letters

- It should be original, and not previously published elsewhere

- The newspaper reserves the right to edit for length, taste and delete inaccurate or libelous statements

- If the editor thinks the letter is newsworthy, it could be used for a story

“Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern,” states Yellowknifer policy. “We particularly encourage new contributors as we attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion.”

Part of what makes a healthy society is providing a public forum for discussion and debate. This is what Yellowknifer provides with its opinion section.

So don’t be shy -- speak out, speak up, challenge Yellowknifer’s editorial perspective. Diversity in ideas makes Yellowknife a better place. And feel comfort in knowing your letter can’t possibly be more embarrassing than my unabashed love of democracy and support for Ralph Nader in 2000.