PRINTEditor's Letter: The world around us
Vox as a vehicle for authentic discussions
melissaklauda
May 24, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
My face is new to this page but not to the Vox office. I was a reporter last year, and I’m thrilled to be back as editor this summer. We have so many fascinating stories in the works for the coming weeks, and I’m excited to help bring them to you.
Our feature this week centers on Katherine Irwin, a woman who escorts abortion patients into Planned Parenthood. She acts as a shield between patients and the protestors stationed on the nearby sidewalk who hope to persuade patients to change their minds. One sentiment reflected in the story has stayed with me because it distills some of the feelings surrounding the pro-choice, pro-life debate. Protestor Kathy Forck says both her church congregation and Planned Parenthood are pro-woman. But what that means for each of them is very different.
There are all sorts of conflicting perspectives in this wide world of ours. Dissent is a natural part of living elbow-to-elbow with 6.8 billion others. We have distinct experiences and come from different backgrounds that shape our worldviews. Our definitions of what’s right, wrong or somewhere in between vary.
Disagreement is not only natural but also crucial for a healthy society. It says we’re not just living. We’re also thinking, reflecting and evolving.
Although I haven’t been editor very long, I’m quite certain about Vox’s role in Columbia. It’s a vehicle for telling the stories of some of those 6.8 billion people. You might not always agree with the expressed views of community members featured in these pages. Sometimes the Vox staff is in dissent, as well. But we’re committed to facilitating authentic discussions about the world around us.
