Your comment triggered a thought. What if this is all a ploy to sell more papers? The timing is perfect...it has started debates here on QL and who knows where else.

IT IS ONE OPINION---but this could be what the paper needed CONTROVERSY--perhaps even spawning other controversial opinions like this one to be in future editions.

This will also give readers an A-HA! thought: Wow, the paper actually allowed this article to be written and published? What other controversial articles will be
allowed? Will there be any backlash due to the article being published? I guess I will log on or buy a paper to find out.

If the reporter is leaving due to the publishing of this editorial----that's more controversy!

Controversy sells papers.