A Disapproving Caller

I got a call at home today about my column in the West Bend Daily News last week.  This happens from time to time.  People call to offer their opinion, agree, thank, or whatever.  It’s great to have the opportunity to talk to folks and get their feedback. 

The lady who called this evening was not happy with me.  She thought I was wrong about the three West Bend Aldermen who walked out of a meeting last year in protest.  She objected to my “Gang of 5” label.  She said that she thought that she thought that the whole reason we were fighting the Iraq War was to enact democracy and yadda yadda yadda. 

I appreciate the commentary.  Really I do.  One of the frustrating things about writing a column is the lack of - or extremely delayed - feedback. 

But I think the lady who called got frustrated with my responses.  In essence, my responses were limited to things like, “okay,” and “uh huh.”  The reasons for this were two-fold.  First, she called in the middle of dinner and I was anxious to return to the marvelous meal that Wendy had cooked me.  For this reason, I declined to engage my caller in debate. 

Second, with all due respect, I just didn’t care.  She disagreed with my opinion.  Fine.  Good for her.  Whatever.  I write an opinion column.  I’m fine with people disagreeing with my opinion.  It just doesn’t rankle me.  But I think it might have rankled her that her disapproval didn’t rankle me.  Oh well.  When you’re opinionated, you get used to people disagreeing with you.