Always listen to the opinions of others

The strength of The Acorn, our community newspaper, is not necessarily the articles and editorials we deliver to you, but the comments and letters you return to us to complete the feedback cycle.

Unfettered letter writing is the purest expression of First Amendment freedom, and during the past several weeks—with the election in full swing—those freedoms were exercised to the fullest.

Letters to the newspaper expressed anger, frustration, happiness, and hope. They criticized and complained, debated and deliberated.

An informed citizenry never ceases to sound off.

In today's letters, Pam Williams of Agoura Hills said religion should unite people, not divide them, as it did on the hyper-senstive issue of gay marriage.

Denise Forston, also from Agoura, felt disappointed that members of the community failed to show tolerance during the campaign season. "Throwing objects at people who have a different view is called intolerance," Forston said. "I'm left to wonder what we are teaching our children."

One reader expressed thanks to the local school teachers who put politics aside and taught students the importance of learning both sides of an issue.

But as fast as it came, the election fever is departing. Acorn letter writers are moving on to other topics.

A Westlake Village resident whose elderly father suffered a nasty fall wrote to say thank you to a good Samaritan who passed by and offered a lending hand.

Another person said he was frustrated over unwanted city intrusion regarding septic tank inspections in rural Calabasas. Something fishy is going on, he said.

Thank you, readers, for your letters to the editor, and please keep them coming, either by e-mail—to newstip@theacorn.com— or by regular mail; your voice is waiting to be heard. Silence, like the vote that is never cast, counts for nothing.

Send us your letter to the editor, and as long as it's not meanspirited and libelous or more than 300 words, we'll make every effort to print it. We do not pick and choose letters or take sides. Your name, address and phone number must be included for verification, but only your name and city will appear in print.