I would like to congratulate the CW’s former opinions editor Paul Thompson on his move toward the middle of the political spectrum from his former location at the far right, as he describes in his column of August 25.

I remember reading his weekly column a few years back. I almost always disagreed with what he had to say, but I also remember marveling at how like an old man he was in the certainty and crotchetiness of his views.

I’m a little left of center, so Thompson and I would probably find much to disagree about even today, but since his shift toward the center, we could at least now talk.

Thompson’s years at the University seem to have followed the trajectory of some students. When they arrive, they are sure that they have all the answers, but after a few years of study and honest reflection come to the realization that there are other, equally valid ways of interpreting the world.

Bob Dylan observed this phenomenon in a lyric:  “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”

Jay Robbins is an ESL Instructor at the English Language Institute.