Thank you, Greg Kesich, for your 15 years of devotion to Mainers and Americans through your editorials in The Portland Press Herald.

Yes, we readers let you know what we all thought. But, more importantly, you allowed us to do so. Ably aided by your associate Sarah Collins, you respected not only your readers, but the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

You gave us freedom of expression in print. I know you printed quite a few of my opinions with which you may not have agreed. Your standard has been to permit – even encourage – countless others to share their different and contrary opinions. That does not happen in the media often. In your final column, you said democracy should be a “conversation.” No! In your years at the Press Herald, you gave us much more. You gave us lessons in democracy. Thank you.

Joe Pickering
Bangor