But more important, you read what I wrote. And that’s not “self-aggrandizing” as one new fan declared in an email offering. It’s just a simple truth directly related to not what I write, but rather why I write.

I do write in hopes people read it. But, again, most importantly, I write because I want people to think about what I put on paper. And then talk about it. Engage others in it. Make freedom better because of it.

Lofty goal, that last one. And yes, I realize I’m not the most eloquent or well-spoken of writers on the planet. I fully realize that I’ll never be in anyone’s upper echelons of “literary greats.” I’m fine with that. I just try to get my message across the best way possible in the manner that I have been writing for over two decades. And to my shock and amazement, some folks have been reading what I write for that long.

Then there are those who pick up a random paper, read my stuff, and write to me.

And whether I like it or not, those are the folks who tell me I might have a topic wrong. No, not my opinion, as some of you non regular readers or leftist members of Restore the Balance (but I repeat myself) would be hoping. I stand firmly in my opinions.

No, this time I’m referring to something I said in a column or two back – see, even I can’t keep track of my own brilliance-spewing as it now hits the presses so often – which had something to do with how this weekly thing is growing, and we now have more readers than ever. All in all for a newspaper, the best thing.

Then again, there are days where I begin to think I could use a few less of you. Then I laugh and say, “Now Craig, to be in the newspaper business, you have to respect this whole ‘Freedom of the press’ thing for yourself and ‘freedom of speech’ thing for the leftists who engage you as the result of them.”

And that’s no matter how poorly their diatribes are written or how many times they attempt personal attack “zingers” while claiming they don’t want to engage. But I have to admit, these musings confuse me, because some folks need multiple emails to tell me they won’t engage on one hand and on the other hand they appear to have no concept of grammar and punctuation, which leads me to believe I might just be in that upper-echelon of great writers I hear so much about.

Quite the conundrum for a little newspaper-owner-publisher-editor(?)-guy in small-town, western Colorado.

But as a human being with feelings (the most important human aspect according to the left), I must admit, sometimes the folks who take the time to write get to me. It used to be personally, but I get over that quickly anymore. Now, it usually comes in the form of: Just what in the name of cognitive dissonance are you talking about?

So, just for fun, let’s put another sample of these (not worthy of a “Sentence to the Editor”) ditties out there. As always, I’ll leave in the grammatical mistakes – as they do with mine.

“What facts support your opinion that the LEFT is breaking the law? Trump is a convicted felon, and he breaks the law on a daily basis by denying immigrants due process. That’s just one example. There are plenty of lawsuits to support his complete disregard for the constitution, the rule of law and the truth. I will never pick up your newspaper again.”

On the first part I have one word: Seriously? On the middle part, I did say you can’t use “lawfare” or “talking points” and as expected, you did. Lastly, I’m not sure you have ever read the paper, because I’ve been writing like this for 25 years. But I had to ask and got this.

“No. I picked it up once or twice before and didn’t like it. I only picked it up this time as I know Scott High. My point is you’re spreading misinformation. And that’s all. I’m not going to engage further.”

Now, I could ask what she didn’t like about the paper as the Scott High story was excellent. But I also know already it’s a who, not a what. And then to close with the misinformation and engagement ceasing without providing any information contrary to what I wrote previously and engaging over two emails tells me one thing: This writer doesn’t believe in freedom of speech, doesn’t care to engage those with opposite viewpoints and has the ability to reduce the quality of a publication with dozens of great stories down to the fact they didn’t like what someone wrote.

In other words, they appear to be a leftist, “drive by” (as Rush would say) caller projecting talking points and then hanging up. What they don’t realize is that I’m fine with that if that’s your style, because I look at your taking the time to write in this way from William F. Buckley.

“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover there are other views.”

Keep those emails coming. And I’ll have another for you next week that attacks my closing.

In Christ and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com