Hilary Lehman's article on Wednesday was the epitome of journalistic arrogance. She argues that facts are "undebatable," and despite your opinions, some things cannot be questioned. Is this why we came to college? To accept what we're told? Or was it to learn how to think critically?
After all, how can something be called a fact unless it is tested? The public wouldn't have known that H.R. 3200 doesn't provide coverage to illegal immigrants if it weren't for Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) false statement.
Who draws the line between fact and opinion? There is evidence (or lack of it) for and against the validity of everything. Each person evaluates that evidence and then decides whether to accept the idea as fact or reject it. Lehman's arrogance is that she wants to make that evaluation for us.
Plagiarism scandals and ideologues aren't what damaged the news industry, as she suggests. Rather it has been the media's insistence that it has to reach conclusions for people because they're too stupid to do it on their own.
It's obvious journalists are frustrated by the free flow of information that is destroying their monopoly on "the facts." But I 'd rather live in a marketplace of ideas than in one where some things aren't allowed to be questioned. So bring on the conspiracy theories.
The truth stands on its own and is not afraid of debate.
