I've known Day Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere and radio talk-show host Lee Elci for many years.

For more than a decade I was a weekly guest on Lee's radio program, and not a popular one. I didn't always agree with Lee and the majority of his listeners rarely agreed with me. But Lee kept inviting me back week after week because he felt it was important that opposing points of view at least be heard.

As a fellow journalist, I competed with Paul for nearly 30 years and we didn't always agree, but I admired and respected his commitment to making sure that every voice at least be heard.

In my opinion, the readers of The Day and WJJF listeners should feel fortunate to have them on their behalf working every day to make sure every voice is heard. It's acceptable and appropriate to disagree, but they should be celebrated, not criticized, for what they're trying to do because airing differing opinions will ultimately produce the solutions to the problems we all face.

But that's just one man's opinion.

Ray Hackett

East Lyme

Editor's note: Mr. Hackett is a former editorial page editor and political columnist of the Norwich Bulletin, now retired.