We have this important news bulletin concerning the volatile topic of natural gas drilling in our area:
At a forum Monday night that drew about 300 people at the Oneonta Holiday Inn, there was an outbreak of ... civility.
This was followed by sustained periods of comity, reason, tolerance and intellectual curiosity.
Actually, when we think about it, it shouldn't be stop-the-presses news when a large gathering of folks with strong opinions _ pro and con _ about hydraulic fracking are courteous to each other.
Yet, because of the importance of the issue, some previous forums have turned rancorous, and important information becomes lost amid the sound and fury of shouted argument.
There was none of that Monday night at the event organized and sponsored by several concerned town of Oneonta citizens who have not even bothered to give their group a name.
They are to be congratulated, along with the presenters at the forum. Proponents of fracking were Richard Nyahay, John Conrad and Steven Palmatier. Taking the anti-fracking side were Dr. Ronald Bishop and Lou Allstadt. All made reasoned presentations, and even sat at the same table for a question-and-answer period.
But even more to be praised were all those members of the audience who sat patiently through two hour-long presentations, never once interrupting or showing disrespect despite hearing things with which they must have disagreed.
On Friday, Otsego County's Natural Gas Advisory Committee is taking a field trip to Dimock and Towanda, Pa., sites of tremendous controversy when it comes to natural gas drilling.
Members of the committee and others will meet with officials in the two towns, and possibly those in Leroy Township in Bradford County, where there was a serious wastewater spill.
We hope that those on the trip keep an open mind and emulate the courtesy exhibited by those who attended the Monday night forum, which was moderated by Daily Star Editor Sam Pollak.
Hydraulic drilling, particularly horizontal fracking, has been easily the most contentious topic around here for the last couple of years, and it will continue to be as far as the eye can see.
When you have the potential of vast earnings colliding with the fear of contaminating our drinking water, it makes for some strong opinions on both sides.
But there is so much more to be learned by listening to each other rather than shouting at each other. Anger is not an argument. Its absence at the Holiday Inn forum has set a standard that we can only hope will be equaled in future public discussions about natural gas drilling.
Opinion
Civility breaks out at frack forum
- Opinion
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In Memoriam
This message appears each Memorial Day weekend in The Daily Star.
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Letters to the Editor: May 26, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 25, 2012
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Facebook’s fizzle was no surprise
Facebook’s IPO last week was supposed to be a moment of triumph for the social network, but the event quickly devolved into an ugly tale of duplicity, hubris and greed, as the stock lost 18 percent of its value in the first two days of trading.
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Letters to the Editor: May 24, 2012
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Heegan must show vision for Chamber
In selecting Barbara Ann Heegan as its executive director last week, the Otsego County Chamber would seem to have chosen a safe rather than a bold path for its immediate future.
- Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 23, 2012
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Can't have a third party without a candidate
What if they gave a party ... and nobody came?
- Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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Cheers
To Bike to Work Day, Cooperstown Quiz Team, Arts Field Day, the SUNY Delhi Centennial.
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Letters to the Editor: May 22, 2012
- Monday, May 21, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 21, 2012
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The world does move
To look at a newspaper from 1912, 1937, 1962 or 1987, it can seem as though positively everything has changed.
- Saturday, May 19, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 19, 2012
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Graduates, take acquired skills, set sail on job voyage
This weekend, many colleges and universities -- including SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta -- will bestow degrees of various levels and types upon their students.
- Friday, May 18, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 18, 2012
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'Whale' failure shows how little has changed
One positive development resulting from JPMorgan's recent $2 billion trading blunder is increased scrutiny of the regulations put in place since 2008 to prevent a repeat of that year's financial collapse.
- Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Taxes spoke louder than sentiment in voting
It has become a virtually immutable fact of modern-day industry and politics. Given the choice between financial interest and sentiment, money always wins.
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Letters to the Editor: May 17, 2012
- Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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Letters to the Editor: May 16, 2012
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Gas companies need to play nice with residents
"You need to assure me that you are going to talk to the towns." This was Rep. Chris Gibson's plea to the gas companies that are seeking to lay natural gas pipelines through the local area.
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In Memoriam
