JOHN E. SETTLE JR. EDITOR FOCUS SB NEWS SETTLETALK
Hard-hitting political writers rarely, if ever, win popularity contests.
If that's one's goal, then writing social columns is a better choice.
I publish this area's, if not the state's, best social columnist: Maggie Martin. I also publish the best local, if not state's,
I also publish the best local, if not state's, political writer: Prentiss Smith.
I write political, not social, columns.
Because I step on toes, challenge decisions and don't kowtow to egos, I have a large number of persons who don't like my columns.
And most don't separate my columns from me, personally.
To my detractors, the following definitions should be reviewed:
1. "fact": a thing that is known or proved to be true.
2. "journalist": one who writes for a newspaper.
2. "muckraker": journalist who investigates and reports shocking public issues.
3. "rabble-rouser": one who speaks with the intention of inflaming emotions for political purposes.
4. "demagogue": political leader who seeks support by appealing to desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than rational argument.
5. "freedom of speech": the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint.
6. "color-blind": not influenced by racial prejudice.
7. "apology": a regretful acknowledgment of an offense.
Facts are colorblind.
How facts are interpreted depends on intellect, education, maturity and mindset.
I am proud that I am a journalist and a muckraker and that my writing is colorblind.
I am thankful that I live in America, where freedom of speech is guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
I categorize many of those who lash out at me in person, at public meetings and in social media as rabble-rousers. And those who are in politics, I label them as demagogues.
For those who continue to hold onto to my phrase that a political campaign would become a "tar baby," then they either have not read my apology or did not accept the same.
To those who criticize my paper/writing playing the "race card," it is obvious that have not been looking at the cover of The Inquisitor for the past year.
Complaints that The Inquisitor covers’ pictures of Shreveport council members James Green and Tabitha Taylor, along with Shreveport City Attorney Ron Lattier, are racially motivated ignore the facts.
Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler, Bossier Council member David Montgomery and Bossier City Attorney Charles Jacobs have all been on the cover of The Inquisitor.
Maybe those rabble-rousers and demagogues will read this column. But I doubt it.
If nothing else, they should understand that I will continue to be a muckraker.