From My Point of View

By Michael Zimmermann

Welcome to UNCP and the politically balancing force here at the paper. To the incoming freshmen, I’m sure you are already sick and tired of being welcomed, but it’s here for you once again. For everyone else, welcome back. I hope everyone has found their old friends and is in the process of making new ones.

It’s been an incredibly eventful summer for me; I hope it has been for you as well. In the past three months, I’ve had a long lost friend come back into my life. I’ve seen marriages, suicides, major moves, a new career path, realization of unknown talents, child abuse, loss of a best friend, finding new friends, the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. While some of these experiences I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, I do hope everyone reading this has experienced positive growth over the summer.

God bless my returning readers. Since I’m editor of this page, I can basically do what I want, for the most part. And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m dedicating this column to become, over the course of the next semester, a balancing force to the liberals and the political left running rampant on this college. Now, if some of you are so shallow-minded and insecure in your political and religious convictions, then feel free to stop reading and go ahead and hate me now. It will make your life easier. There are those, however, who are neither, and still choose the left. I encourage your response. In fact, I challenge those of you with active grey matter to write to The Pine Needle and show the campus how well thought out your opinion is – or is not.

For everyone else, if you’re feeling alone on the conservative right, then feel alone no longer. This is part of the vast right-wing conspiracy, and home to the “Church of the Painful Truth.” I am here to instigate deep thinking, personal reflection and the return to real family values. If I hurt your feelings – good. That means you’re doing something the average American isn’t: thinking.

In addition, we have instituted a new verbal boxing match – the Left Corner / Right Corner column. We here in Opinions arena always love your feedback; good, bad or really ugly. So write in.

So, welcome to a place where you can learn who you are, who you are meant to be. Welcome to the new school year at UNCP.