Viewing the documentary “William Allen White: What’s Wrong With Kansas” at the EJSHSchool on Sunday, Aug. 14, as the opener for Cowtown Days week and in celebration of the Independent-Reporter’s 150th, awoke in our hearts a renewed appreciation of community journalism and quality local newspapers.
White’s hometown courage to take on the Ku Klux Klan, Doc Brinkley and other fearmongers and scheisters, should empower all newspaper journalists, readers and others today, to value the truth.
His ability to model transparency and civil discourse, seasoned with journalistic zeal, remaining a gentleman all the while, is a practice society should return to.
How far might we propel global relations if we were to employ these best practices that seemed to come naturally to this homegrown pundit who had the warmth of Ike, the wit of Will Rogers and a life’s worth of dedication to doing what was right by writing what was true.
Thanks to the Ellsworth community for hosting this fine documentary film, produced by Oscar-winning Kansas talent Kevin Willmott. If it’s screened again in your area, I hope teachers and students can attend.