On April 14, a letter to the editor made a request that The Durango Herald Opinion editor “get out in the community and provide insight on local issues” instead of printing what appears to be “regurgitated opinion pieces.” Four days later a news story was published with the headline, “Director of Bayfield music nonprofit tries to move past domestic violence conviction” as recent local news.

Why was this now considered recent local news when the incident failed to be included in the police blotter or be investigated by the Herald when it occurred seven months ago?

After another read, the article started to resonate differently. In this story about taking responsibility for one’s actions, the reporter presented factual information (not hearsay, rumor or innuendo), all verifiable through public sources.

How might our world be different if we all took responsibility for our actions and followed through with restitution, be it court ordered or otherwise?

It’s not news that our legal system is notably slow at providing “speedy” resolutions. Sometimes this “slowness” is the result of an overworked system and other times it’s a defensive strategy to delay or avoid conviction and restitution, which apparently does not apply in this case.

After careful and thoughtful rereading, I want to acknowledge the Herald for publishing an article that serves as an example of taking responsibility for one’s choices and one’s actions. Our world would undoubtedly be a better place if we all did this in our daily lives.

Mary Lynne Herr

Bayfield