by Lynn Mandaville

It seems fitting, somehow, to say some words when something of significance comes to pass.

And I believe that the passing of Ranger Rick from the pages of Townbroadcast is a significant event.

As I understand it, the founder and editor of Townbroadcast, David T. Young, solicited Rick (not his real name) to be a contributor nine long years ago, in order to provide a conservative voice and conservative balance to his on-line newspaper.

Young also agreed to allow Rick (not his real name) to write anonymously.  If it can be believed, Rick (not his real name) requested anonymity in order to protect other members of his extended family, whose political views vary widely from his own, from any harassment or unwarranted attention from the reading public.

I didn’t begin reading Ranger Rick, the column, until around the time I began to write for Mr. Young.

His views were what I consider to be far right, and his tone was almost always negative, each column ending with the bright sentiment “The rotting of America from within continues…”

As the Trump years came to an end in a blaze of insurrection and The Big Lie, Rick became more extreme in his claims, distorting history and encouraging Republican lies, egging on a certain portion of his readership to make their own extraordinary claims about current and historical events, and to taunt other writers and responders to the opinions expressed within Townbroadcast.

He had a loyal following of sycophants who believed everything he wrote was gold.

He could have been a valued contributor had his conservative views been more moderate, or had he used a filter of common courtesy in his rhetoric.  After all, what value is public discourse if not promoted by reasonable discussion, where information is offered factually and unemotionally?

But Rick’s method of communicating was inflammatory, if not bullying, in nature.  And that’s what it produced in those who responded to his columns and to anyone who dared disagree with him in print.

I know that I am no paragon of virtue as a contributor to Townbroadcast.

I have lapsed into emotional diatribes, particularly when gun violence has reared its ugly head again and again in recent years.

I have employed hyperbole to make a point, and have probably even resorted to what is arguably name-calling in my four years as a liberal blow-hard.

But I have never resorted to bullying and purposeful distortion of history and fact to further my political point of view.

So it is that Ranger Rick’s departure from the electronic lines of Townbroadcast is a significant event.

It is important that differing points of view exist within real world publications.  Army Bob offers what, in my opinion, is as fairly balanced as my own.  Bob does his research.  He relies on his own personal experiences as former member of the military.  He does, indeed, speak for a sizable portion of Townbroadcast readership.

The difference between Army Bob and Ranger Rick lies in the degree of animosity displayed toward anyone who disagrees with their points of view.

Both can be accused of having only one arrow in their quivers where the subjects of their columns are concerned.  And neither ever acknowledges that there may be a kernel of truth to opposing views.

At least Army Bob can be civil in most of his disagreements, and make use of a personal “filter” on his comments, whether as contributor or responder.  RR rarely did either.  (And, I hope, RR did not speak for a sizable portion of Townbroadcast readership.  Those people, I believe, are what my Pop would have described as the lunatic fringe, whether or not they were right-leaning or left.)

I don’t mourn the “passing” of Ranger Rick so much as I am relieved to see him gone, much like I used to be relieved when my schoolyard bully Bart Bale was absent from school.

There is a liberated feeling now, knowing I won’t have to anticipate the venom that might result from whatever my mind might care to share.

And that goes double in the knowing that another anonymous mouth has been silenced with the “cancelling” of Don’t Tread On Me.

It is my own opinion that along with the tremendous freedom of the First Amendment comes the obligation of ownership of that speech (with only a few exceptions, such as whistleblowers, where the identity of the speaker could cause him dire harm).

It is my own opinion that those who hide needlessly behind pseudonyms are cowards, and that their speech must be taken with a grain of salt because of their lack of commitment to it.

With the “passing” of Ranger Rick I would encourage a passing of the anonymity with which readers rely to find their courage to speak out.

Anonymity breeds false courage and an exaggerated bravado in exercising free speech.

Owning up to one’s opinions takes some guts, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a profound hope that those who agree with you will come to your defense in a civil manner.

The significance of Ranger Rick’s self-imposed exile lies in the fact that truth will overcome falsehood by virtue of its own strength.

Opinions offered in the full light of day, regardless of political leaning, carry more weight than those offered under the cloak of anonymity and the shadow of incivility.