Different perspectives

Thank you to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for the opportunity to read different opinions and perspectives in the Voices section. I believe we have a responsibility to educate ourselves by listening to each other (Braver Angels) and expressing our views, to help our divided nation arrive at policies that will build a better America. However, we must understand that each piece is one person’s opinion, and their source of information could be questionable.

For example, a column by Mike Masterson on Jan. 17 stated that there were voting irregularities in U.S. elections, leading readers to believe the conspiracy theory that voting by mailin ballots is still not trustworthy.

Mr. Masterson’s questionable source is Judicial Watch, a far-right advocacy group which exhibits extreme bias, promotes propaganda, and has a huge failed fact-check record, according to the World Press Freedom Ranking. Judicial Watch assertions of mail-in voter fraud were debunked by lawsuits in U.S. courts by conscientious judges who refused to allow politics to sway their decisions.

We must move forward in 2021 toward truth, and stop promoting conspiracy theories that further divide our families, friends, state and nation. Perhaps Mr. Masterson can be encouraged to stick to topics that build bridges between people. As a dog mom, I do enjoy reading his dog stories.

If readers want to learn more about Mr. Masterson’s info source, Judicial Watch, please Google it. There is plenty of info about it that is cause for questioning its reliability. I cannot support Mr. Masterson’s “voice” if it spreads conspiracy theories from a source with very poor fact-check record.

So, gentle readers, do your factcheck research, and go out into the world to love your neighbor, but tell the truth, and build bridges.

GEORGANNE ROLLANS

Russellville