‘What happened to your face?’ and other items from the week

One person just came out and blurted “what happened to your face?” At a later doctor appointment, I was asked “are you seeing a dermatologist?”

The answer to the second question is “yes” and the answer to the first question is “the dermatologist.”

There is a history of skin cancer in my family. My dermatologist prescribed a lotion which, in my understanding, inflames pre-cancerous cells on the skin, stimulating the body’s immune reaction to kill them.

The result is red blotches all over the treated area, such blotches becoming hotter and itchier the more the treatment is used.

The instructions from the dermatologist were basically to keep applying the lotion until I can’t stand it any more. We’re not quite there yet but getting close.

That said, the temporary, short-term discomfort and altered appearance is preferable to the possible alternative down the road.

Willow Park Elections

I can’t think of anyone who would not be happy that the Willow Park City Council elections are over, except for perhaps the losing side — but I’m betting even they are glad the process is finished.

I’m happy it is over, and regret that we got dragged into the process. 

I want to explain something about our process here that came up in our coverage of Willow Park and how the Commentary section works here at The Community News.

In covering the news, we do our very best to make sure no personal opinions make it into the news pages. The Commentary section is here for people to express their personal views and opinions.

It was admittedly a bit one-sided regarding the election, but not intentionally.

I printed every letter and guest column we received. We received nothing for publication from anyone supporting the challengers in the election. If we had, and it met our guidelines, we would have printed it.

The same is true for commentaries from Glenn Rogers. His positions are always well-thought out. I have people who thank me for running his columns, and I have others who don’t like it that I run them.

I even had a call once from a small group who said they would cancel their subscriptions if I kept running Rogers’ columns.

That is a sad reaction. Respectfully, the appropriate response if you disagree with anything you see is to submit a column or letter of your own.

Our democratic republic cannot function if the reaction to information is to attempt to bully someone who shares it. It is essential that issues are discussed in respectful public forums (newspapers!) where information is vetted, tones are civil, and accuracy is respected.

I inserted newspapers above because they are the only place where real dialogue can take place.

Social media inevitably devolves into name-calling and insults because there is no referee (editor) calling balls and strikes and keeping it civil.

We live in an age of stark divisions pitting even family members against each other and leading to political violence which then elevates the name-calling and finger-pointing, with each side blaming the other.

I would like to think we can get past this, but it almost certainly requires unplugging from far-right and far-left news sources and sites who demonize opponents.

I have my own heart-felt opinions, and often wonder how anyone could possibly disagree, but often I am in the minority with my opinion. There are four words we should all commit to memory that could make conversations and debates more peaceful: “I could be wrong.”

Randy Keck is owner of The Community News and serves as president of the National Newspaper Association Foundation.