The three topics we're advised never to discuss at the barber shop, appear regularly in our newspaper, your newspaper.
On religion, the latest controversy arises with Brian Ojanpa's column where he comments on the absurdity or at least the oddity of the news that Pope John Paul whipped himself and slept naked on the floor as a way to endure a kind of spiritual experience, punishment, and suffering/
Dr. David Pence, a high school teacher at a religious school, took great exception and we published a 500 word response where Ojanpa was called juvenile, and out of touch with understanding certain depth of thought behind religious practices.
Pence made a few interesting points: the pope does this kind of stuff to welcome the suffering of those who really do have to suffer, to take their suffering on as a kind of spiritual gift....An interesting thought, something I wouldn't have consider had Pence not brought it up.
It was a somewhat scathing review, one we wouldn't normally accept, except for the fact that Ojanpa is a columnist, puts himself up for criticism and more or less fair is fair.
Can't say I agree with personal attacks by either our columnists or our readers, but I believe the airing of such views shed light on them and allow us all to judge whether we think they are appropriate or not.
The old saying goes, if you don't want to rattle cages, avoid talking about sex, politics or religion. We seem to be able to handle all three and stay in business.
Go figure.
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