Filling space cheaply

What is the contribution of “Op Art” included on nearly every op-ed page? Except for very rare instances it contributes absolutely nothing to the commentary that it interrupts.

It has the same effect as the computer-generated music (noise) added in the background of anything on television that might otherwise be worth listening to or the 120 decibel drumbeats from the car stopped alongside at a traffic light.

As usual, the July 2 Whitney Azoy column is very informative. Why should such a thoughtful piece be decorated (?) by a meaningless distraction? There may be a place for abstract art, but it isn’t on a page that should offer stimulating comment. If this is your way of supporting artists without talent, start a charity.

If you need something cheap to fill up space, buy books of pungent quotations by the likes of Churchill, Mark Twain, Harry Truman, Dickens, or Will Rogers and quote the quotes that enlighten today’s social and political debates.

If you much use these things, why not reduce the size? After all, space is valuable in a smaller paper.

M.R. Clement

Hampden