[IMC-Boston-Editorial] new feature? (per request)

[visnusdream at juno.com]

Personally, I am ambivalent towards that article as a feature. If you want to center it, that's fine by me, but I think it reads more as propaganda for a cause than actual news. I think this goes back to our vision for the site as a group, which I think we need to discuss. 
In general, I like the idea of using the center column a lot more than we do. No one should feel like they have to check in with me to center something. I basically advocate changing the site every single day. I want the site to appear active. I would also be interested in being more tolerant in what we allow with some of the postings in the comments sections. I see a lot of right wing stuff getting shut out, for what appears to be just plain ideological disagreement. I have no sympathy for military recruiters, but would we center an article like this with an opposite viewpoint? No!!! (but here in Massachusetts, right now) a right wing group campaigning for giving recruiters more access to youth would be more news worthy than this so-called article.)I know we are not necessarily going for complete balance but I also want us to appear credible. 
I am not interested in editing a strictly left wing propaganda web-site. I think we should host progressive discussion. This particle article may be a an accurate telling of the truth but it lacks any analysis. Its basically an advertisement for an activist's efforts. If we center it, lets not censor Veteran or Sid when they say, "Yeah, but you stupid fuck, without a military and military recruiters we will all lose the right to protest at all." I mean, I don't agree with them, and sometimes they come off as jerks, but these people need to be heard if society as a whole is going to make informed decisions about these sorts of issues. (Most of the time they destroy their own credibilty with their BS anyway. I think we can trust our readers to see trash when its right in front of them. It can sometimes be difficult to determine what is genuine sarcastic commentary, in the mood of a political cartoon, and what is simply 'disruptive.' Sometimes, the BIMC editors seem to disagree about whn making this sort of determination, which is completely healthy, in my opinion. However, I advocate that we err on the side of inclusion. We can center stuff like this, but we should expect people to call us and the author names. We should also be willing to recognize that right wingers also make news, and I think we should be ready to report that sometimes as well.)
I hope that sheds light on where I stand. 
Jamie