REACTION TO THE MESSAGES I RECEIVED ABOUT MY ARTICLE ON WILDFIRE SMOKE

Since my recent letter to the editor of The Washington Post regarding the smoke from Canadian wildfires and the impact of the pollution in the United States, I have received messages from some of the readers.

Additionally, I have also written a blog post on this matter.

First, I would like to state that it is always great to know that my writing is being read.

I believe in freedom of speech. And writing an article for publication in a major newspaper or in a blog is a way to exercise one’s right to free speech.

Of course, diverse viewpoints exist in society. Any published article may face criticism because of the existence of different opinions.

As always, I welcome people to read my articles and to either agree or disagree with me. As a writer, I am open to reading and listening to what the critics have to say.

I think that paying attention to criticism helps a person become a stronger thinker and a better writer. Constructive criticism helps a writer understand the breadth of opinions, re-evaluate one’s views, learn from other writers and commentators, and be a more informed person.

Next, I believe that we must foster an environment in which people can fearlessly state their opinions on pressing public policy issues.

Effective and successful writing often comes in the form of a reaction to an event or news about something happening in our city or country.

When the smoke from the Canadian wildfires covered the skies of Madison, Wisconsin, I felt a strong drive to write about the issue.

As the news stations were alerting people about the unhealthy air quality, I felt that I must write my opinion on this topic.

When senior citizens and people with chronic health conditions expressed their worry regarding the polluted air, I knew that I absolutely had to write about this serious matter.

While growing up, I suffered from bronchial allergy. To this day, dust and pollen bother me. Therefore, I fully understand the health concerns that people have because of the smoke from Canadian wildfires.

When I wrote my opinion, I knew that there would be counterarguments. And I was right. I received messages from those who have different viewpoints. And still, I firmly stand by what I wrote. Diversity of public opinions is a wonderful feature of a free society.

Finally, we must look for ways to reach a bigger audience.

I have been fortunate that the letters to editors and op-eds that I wrote have appeared in many publications across the United States. More than 110 of my writings have appeared in newspapers. And of course, there are many blog posts, too.

The more readers there are, the more confident a writer becomes.

The more time goes by, the more encouraged I feel to continue to write.