Lowly words command attention

   Last Friday was National Columnist Day and I usually celebrate by paying tribute to my fellow columnists. But this year I'm using my column space to shine light on a different genre of writers.

   On March 7, in a letter to the editor Jim Threlkeld of Lawrenceville asked "who really pays as much attention to a letter to the editor as they do to a staff writer?"

   Lots of people, Mr. Threlkeld.
 
   First, professional clipping services, which comb through printed publications and Web sites and clip every word written about their subscribers. You mentioned Cal Thomas and Bill O'Reilly in your letter. Since the Post runs online, it's possible, through automatic scanners that they both received copies of your letter. And sometimes special interest groups reprint letters like yours on their own Web sites.

   Then there's microfilm on which every word written in every major newspaper is kept on file forever. When historians research, they read letters to the editor right along with staff articles. And some historical novelists create characters by reading letters to the editor. Just think, you could be the inspiration for a book. In fact, when author Rick Bragg spoke last year for Gwinnett Reads, he said the first thing he does when he visits a new town is pick up the local paper and read the letters to the editor to see what's happening with the people. 
   And there can be other perks. When I was a letter to the editor writer, I wrote about a local controversy that made national news. A talk show host from New Orleans called me to ask for more details. He then asked in case anything else in the Atlanta area made national news if I would be his "inside source" of information.

   About ten years ago when teacher Brian Bown refused to keep his mouth shut during the moment of silence, I wrote three letters to the editor about him because I couldn't keep my mouth shut about his behavior. The news show 20/20 called and interviewed me on the phone for 30 minutes. They said they were considering doing a feature on Bown and asked if I would be willing to appear on television. I wasn't sure I wanted to. As it turned out, they didn't do the feature, so I was off the hook.

   Then there was the time Neal Boortz trashed me for two days over a letter to the editor. And not only that, but dozens of callers gave me free psychoanalysis and free advice.

   So, Mr. Threlkeld, if you happen to read more than the news section (which many people don't, by the way) and you happen to be reading this column, then you have proof in writing that at least one person pays attention to your letters.    And please note that I've never used my entire column responding to the words of a staff writer.

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