The Columbus Free Press

Letter
to the
Editor		 Free Press needs to recognize that "times they are a changin'"

by Reg Dyck, May 10, 1999

Without a vision, the people perish, the prophet Isaiah said. It's true for progressive activists as well. I challenge The Free Press to reconsider its role as a voice for progressive Columbus. This challenge is provoked in part by problems I see in the last issue.

The "Editor's Note," "Enemies of the People," and "Don't be fooled by the fro'" are all counter to what I think the mission of this paper should be. Each makes personal and inadequately substantiated or unfair attacks that detract from the whole paper's credibility. That is a high price for a paper, and a community, to pay. Civic leaders, including progressives, should not be above scrutiny. A progressive paper needs to hold progressive leaders and organizations accountable. However, when criticism is presented, readers must be given adequate context, sufficient evidence, and a call for change. None of the three pieces mentioned above meets these standards. The medium, or style, is also the message of these articles. The piece on Dr. Rosa Smith was most egregious. Bombastic style is no substitute for serious argument. Calling friends who have shared in the struggle "former progressive people," as was done in "The Enemies of the People," does not substitute for analysis and evidence.

These are tough times for advocating the social/political principles we care about, but there are important opportunities. Progressive coalitions are developing around the Green's agenda, Living Wage, the FLOC boycott and other issues. This paper can help develop them by offering both a critique of the present and a just, equitable, and pragmatic vision for future. I call on the editors, board members, writers, and supporters to think strategically about the mission and practice of The Free Press. This responsibility must be shared by all of us. I suggest these principles:

  1. Most importantly, this paper must facilitate and support a progressive coalition for action. It should help us see what we share and provoke us to common action.
  2. It must be a paper that progressive labor and church people want to read. These two potentially powerful groups are key to change in Columbus. This principle needs to shape both the content and style of the paper.
  3. Minority communities, coalitions of and for poor people, as well as left social action groups must be included. Again, this paper can help us find common ground for action. Economic justice should be a central shared principle.
  4. The Free Press must present a vision for structural change that is both pragmatic and utopian. It needs to provide analysis, inspire us, and help us take concrete action toward a truly progressive Columbus.
  5. Its critique of the status quo must be framed by its vision for change.
I became involved in progressive social/political action a month after I moved here. That was because I picked up a copy of The Free Press and read about what organizations were doing locally. I value this paper. I think it often has the strengths and weaknesses of its 1960s roots. It's 25 year tradition is important but the times they are a changin' once more. We need a new left, a new progressive Columbus coalition that reflects present realities. The Free Press has a central role to play in developing the vision, strategy and critique that will make that possible.

In solidarity, for solidarity,

Reg Dyck
Copy Editor, The Free Press
Co-chair, Democratic Socialists of Central Ohio

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