The ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas … The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market … That at any rate is the theory of our Constitution.”

These sentiments were part of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.’s dissenting opinion in the United States Supreme Court case of Abrams v United States in 1919. My own philosophy regarding opinion writing mirrors the words Holmes spoke 90 years ago. The opinion page should serve as a trading ground for ideas — a place where they can compete against each other based on the merit of the facts supporting them and the manner in which they are presented.

There are plenty of metaphors I could put forth as a means of explaining my vision of why the opinion page matters and how it should work, at least in theory.

I’ll step away from the marketplace of ideas for a moment and discuss the opinion section as if it were a stage in a competition. A beauty pageant, a body building contest, a dog show — or maybe something a little more intellectual, like a spelling bee or a public debate. Actually, a public debate — that’s perfect. That’s exactly what the opinion page is.

Argument A steps up and takes the podium. It is written passionately with strong words and high energy. But it’s not all flash — it draws you in with its colorful language and electric tone, and then backs up its assertions with hard facts. Emotion doesn’t get the best of the argument; rather it enhances an already solid arrangement of logic.

Then Argument B takes the stage. It holds a firm position but shies away from emotional language. It doesn’t get you as fired up as Argument A, but its message is equally powerful. Its impact starts to sink in after you’ve taken all of its components in. It moves you with its solid presentation of facts and bulletproof logic. What it lacks in emotion, it makes up in structure and thoughtfulness.

By stating their arguments on this stage, Arguments A and B have entered the competition of the market — the marketplace of ideas. They are out in the open for you to consider, to accept, to challenge, or to dismiss.

Why should you read the opinion page? Why does the content matter? This page is full of ideas. This is where the discussion begins and the debate comes alive. Maybe you read a column and think, “Wow, what an idiot — these ideas are absurd.” Maybe you completely agree, and think, “That columnist just perfectly articulated my thoughts.” And quite likely, every once in a while you’ll just scratch your head and ask, “Why would anyone ever write about that?”

But no matter what your reaction, the purpose of an opinion column, editorial, or editorial cartoon is to make you think. And then, hopefully your reaction will be to discuss. To debate. To react.

Opinion columnists don’t want a passive audience. Our intention — the purpose of our job — is to draw attention to issues that matter, and to get you to do something about it. So please, read the opinion page. But don’t stop there. Don’t silence the thoughts that come in response to a column. Let yourself be moved. Speak up, speak out — DO something.