Editorial:

From the right

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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John N. Frary, a retired college teacher from Farmington, will add a conservative voice to the opinion page of the Kennebec Journal with a weekly column that begins Friday.

Frary was one of more than two dozen writers who responded to our request for a writer who could bring a conservative perspective to state and national issues.

The three sample columns Frary sent us demonstrated that he is thoughtful, that he has a witty and compelling writing style and that he is beyond any doubt politically conservative.

That is good. Our goal in adding Frary to the lineup of Kennebec Journal columnists is to expand the points of view our readers can consider as they debate the issues affecting Maine and the nation. We do not expect readers to agree with all he writes -- or everything anyone writes -- but we all benefit from considering as many perspectives about the issues as we can.

Adding a conservative writer to the mix should make the discussion of important issues richer and more thoughtful.

It also might increase the number of letters to the editor as readers write to express their agreement, or disagreement, with Frary's opinions. That is fine; letters are a good forum for public debate.

Frary is a native of Farmington. He is a graduate of Farmington High School and the University of Maine at Orono. He earned a master's degree in Byzantine history at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He taught 20th century history, military history and the history of western civilization for 32 years at Middlesex County College in Edison, N.J. He retired in May 2004 and quickly moved back to Farmington.

He has a long-standing interest in military history and events and is associate editor of the International Military Encyclopedia. Forty-five volumes are planned; eight have been written.

Frary has kept in touch with Maine during his years in New Jersey, returning frequently to visit family and friends. In a meeting with the newspaper's editorial board, he said that now that he has returned to Maine full time, he plans to immerse himself more into issues affecting the state.

The search for a conservative columnist was a rewarding experience. It was encouraging to find that so many thoughtful people who were interested in sharing their views with our readers. I hope many of them will be part of the ongoing dialogue through letters to the editor.

David B. Offer is executive editor of the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel. He can be reached at 621-5630 or at doffer@centralmaine.com.