The “Mother of Pride” was a

EDITOR’S NOTE I’ll be the first to say that we’re not that we stay on the platform longer a newspaper. We’re not. We’re a and longer. And yes, that includes magazine, an editorial publica- news. So, your newsfeed could tion with opinion pieces and look entirely different from articles discussing an array of mine, with a constant bar- topics related to the Central rage of opposing viewpoints Valley. And if you ever catch from not so credible sources us referring to the Flyer as a that would ultimately put “paper,” it means we’re merely us at odds. And passionately, referencing the physical ma- I might add. It’s become the terial the words are printed on, basis for so many arguments that nothing more. We do have deep aspi- almost never find common ground. rations to include in-depth journalism on our The root cause of a deep divide between our pages one day, but we’re not there yet. neighbors and us. The reason I bring it up is that I find You ever heard the saying, “there are that people have a hard time telling the differ- three sides to every story, your side, my side, ence between news and anything that isn’t. It and the truth”? It’s probably the best advice means that we’re losing touch with our ability I’ve ever been given about analyzing and di- to critically think and evaluate what’s in front gesting information that’s been given to me. of us as a society. Let’s face it, how many times It’s amazingly easy to do with media outlets have you reacted to a headline before reading I don’t agree with, but it’s an uphill battle or watching the entire story? Or didn’t dou- to practice with those that I do. However, I ble-check the site that headline was coming make it a point to work through it by asking from? Here’s the harder question: How often myself a couple of fundamental questions. do you look at news outside of social media? What could they have left out? Who created Because that’s the real kicker, many of us don’t the story, and what is the purpose? What val- go out of our way to get information from a ues does it depict, and how would different variety of sources, making things worse. people interpret this? When we agree with a point of Processing information through a view, we’re less likely to question or criticize critical lens ensures that the conclusions we its legitimacy. We don’t wonder if it’s 100% draw are our own. It makes us aware of any accurate or if there’s some ulterior motive. motive for division and helps give us an open- Call it human nature, but if it sides with our ness that allows for common ground. It gives beliefs, we absorb it as truth. And that’s ex- us a better chance at unity – something I’m actly how social media works – it is designed sure we all feel we could use more of these to feed us more and more of what we like so days.