PRIDE; sense of one’s own dignity or value, self-respect….and

VANITY; excessive pride, conceit.

These are not just two names that Tom Purcell might name a pair of puppies in his column, they are emotions that can be confused for each other, alike and un-alike at the same time.

When the runner crosses the goal line or when the receiver catches one under the goal posts, the ‘victory dance’ that follows may be the result of one, the other or even a combination of both?

I my case, I feel PROUD to be included in my local newspaper’s OPINION page. Some may chalk it up to vanity only, but I disagree. When you are a part of a winning team and you feel you might have contributed to that success, it is a PROUD feeling you get. Some, in the height of the moment with adrenaline flowing, get a little too carried away…some just dance or kneel to pray. Different strokes for different folks.

But to contribute to the world of the printed (etc.) world…to get your thoughts out there for the reader to see, agree, or reject is an act to be PROUD of…especially if the venue you chose is one that deserves recognition for its own efforts.

Yes, the writer, the author, editor, publisher, copywriter (and in days of yore, the typesetter), etc. should all feel that sense of pride when the ‘paper’ rolls off the press, as well they should. “Good job y’all…see you tomorrow!”

The new D.E.I. might be DREAM up something, EXERCISE your fingers on a keyboard or with a pen and get INCLUDED.

An invitation to ‘join the club’ has been extended and is my expectation that many will soon take it upon themselves to ‘try it, be brave and to become PROUD.’

Richard Phillips

New Iberia