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These Writers Are Well-KnownTo Highlands Today Readers

KATHY WATERS/Highlands Today

Don Streeter is a regular letter-to-the-editor writer.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: December 9, 2007

For many, it's a black and white world — you're either right or wrong, with little or no gray area left to argue over.

A rule drilled into the head of every reporter in Journalism 101 is to stay neutral, without opinion. But for the public, and every reader with access to a computer, typewriter or pencil and paper, opinions are welcomed and solicited by editors. Although the editorial page is one of the best read parts of many newspapers, most readers never write back or respond.

Any regular reader knows it's a divergent group of writers who express their opinions publicly for all to dismiss, laugh at, agree with or even become angry over.

Everyone forms opinions, but few choose to publicize those thoughts and feelings and then stick out their neck and sign their name.

Classifying The Opinionated

A hardened core of Highlands Today readers are passionate enough to regularly express their views and send missives to the "Letters to the Editor" section. Seven local residents who regularly submit letters to the editor were interviewed by Highlands Today for this article.

One letter writer said he is "99 and nine-tenths conservative," while another letter sender was an "opinionated liberal."

A Sebring writer said he was "45 degrees to the right of Ghengis Khan," while another from Lorida preferred to be known as "a pragmatist with Democratic leanings."

Most letter writers interviewed hope to change minds and help set public policy, but said they have no illusions about having a major or lasting impact.

Former attorney and Lake Placid resident Randy Ludacer expressed an opinion that was typical among those interviewed.

"The message is more important than the messenger," said Ludacer.

John Dyce, of Lorida, is a former banker and businessman who regularly writes letters to newspapers, but doesn't seek accolades.

"I want to help people think it through," said Dyce. "It would bother me if the community made a big mistake or a silly mistake. I want them to have the information so they can make the best decisions. I want the things a community does to be thought through."

Jim Rahenkamp, of Avon Park, does not mince words.

"I write to get my point across," said Rahenkamp. "Most people are pretty well set in their ways, but a few people will read something and change their thinking."

Letter writer Dean Johnson, of Sebring, noted that America is not a melting pot, but rather a salad bowl.

"There has never been a doubt in anyone's mind that I'm not wishy-washy," said Johnson. "A lot of people think differently. That's what makes things interesting."

Ludacer, like the six other local letter writers interviewed for this article, is retired.

Besides often reaching the limit imposed by Highlands Today staff of two letters to the editor per writer per month, Ludacer writes autobiographically so his children will know him better.

The following is a portion of those essays titled, "Why Bother?"

"Most of the time I doubted whether my participation would really make a difference but that temptation to drop out always seemed like a cop out," wrote Ludacer. "If nobody cared and nobody tried to assist or create change or at least poke a stick in the eye of what seemed to be wrong, an abuse, then why do we have what we call a conscience and have an ability to determine right from wrong?"

Topics, From A to Z

Letters to the editor can cover almost any subject and local writers said they use several sources of information to form their opinions.

Johnson believes "the biggest hoax perpetuated" is global warming, while a Ludacer letter on whether Gen. David Petraeus' ribbons were too pretentious launched a letter-writing campaign in Highlands Today by Ludacer's detractors.

Many retired writers, like Ludacer, say they can only speak publicly without jeopardy after leaving high-profile jobs.

Johnson, like Ludacer, is a former lawyer.

"You get old and you see things and get aggravated with them and put them in a letter," said Johnson. "I still have plenty of time, and I have to keep active."

Johnson visited 142 countries and reads newspapers from all over the world through his Internet connection. Like Dyce of Lorida, who monitors the Fox network and watches Lou Dobbs, Johnson tries to look at things from both sides or from different perspectives, and reads what he said is the "liberal" New York Times.

Dyce looks at issues with the eye of a businessman, and while he might favor an individual program, he wonders how much it will cost taxpayers to implement such a program.

"What are the costs?" said Dyce. "What's it going to cost you when you're ready to put the pencil to it?
Former machinist and inventor Don Streeter pulled copies of articles printed in the '90s from a high mound on his kitchen table.

"I hate three things: crooked politicians, corrupt government and stupid commercials," said Streeter. "Those crazy commercials where cars climb mountains where a mountain lion couldn't, or cars going where an alligator couldn't go."

Former pastor Rahenkamp, 79, said he is a "little right of wrong."

"I believe the Bible," said Rahenkamp. "St. Paul said: Those who don't work, don't let them eat."
While mayor of a small town, Rahenkamp asked the town council to work together since the end result would be better than any one person could have thought of on their own.

Simply because they express their opinions more freely, letter writers aren't much different than those who keep mum, said Dyce who believes everyone gains wisdom through life's experiences and those "little opinions" add up to make a difference.

Not Everybody HasAn Ax To Grind

Judee VanBrookhoven, of Sebring, has written more than 20 letters to the editor during the past two years. While she sometimes complains when something irritates her, she also writes about non-political, community-based events.

VanBrookhoven recently wrote a letter complimenting the volunteer cast and crew at Highlands Little Theatre, in an effort to boost attendance for local community theater.

"I try to get people involved," said VanBrookhoven. "I always hear there's nothing to do here. They have to get off their rear-ends and do things. It's what you make it."

Eighty-nine-year-old Gerrie Matchus of Lake Placid also wants people to socialize and become more integral parts of the community, but stays away from politicizing on the Op-Ed page.

"Instead of sitting at home and criticizing, get out," said Matchus. "We've got enough controversial, hateful letters."

Writing To The Editor

Even Abraham Lincoln penned letters to the editor. One letter was published in "Outrage, Passion and Uncommon Sense, How Editorial Writers Have Taken On and Helped Shape the Great American Issues of the Past 150 Years," by Michael Gartner and the Newseum.

In the Aug. 25, 1862 New York Daily Tribune, Lincoln responded to Horace Greely. The president argued for preserving the Union.

"As to the policy I 'seem to be pursuing,' as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt," wrote Lincoln. "I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution ... If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time save Slavery, I do not agree with them.

"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not to either save or destroy Slavery."

Like Lincoln, elected officials still often write to newspapers.

The Advent Of The Form Letter

The Internet changed the types of letters many newspapers consider for publication. With a single keystroke, hundreds of newspapers can receive the same letter. Several times, identical letters to the editor have appeared in dozens of newspapers nationwide. At Highlands Today, those letters are discarded.

"We only want original letters, not copies of other letters or aggregations of information off the web," said Richard Hensley, editor of Highlands Today. "I value our local letter writers, and stand by their opinions and their right to share them. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing, it's about letting the community discuss matters of public interest."

Several organizations have Web sites that include detailed instructions on how to best write the editor at the local paper.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) referred to letters to the editor as "great advocacy tools."
"After you write a letter to your members of Congress, sending letters to the editor can achieve other advocacy goals because they reach a wide audience, are often monitored by elected officials, can bring up the information not addressed in a news article and create an impression of widespread support or opposition to an issue."

Both the ACLU and the Sierra Club Web sites suggest keeping each letter short and focused and to not forego submitting to smaller and weekly papers, since there is a better chance for publication.

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