When newspapers publish one of those stories on a controversial issue in which all sides get their say, they like to wrap up the debate with someone who takes the long view. This long view may be an uncertain forecast to what the future will actually bring, but it’s a helpful guide to the predilections of the newspaper.
For instance, the New York Times on Monday carried a reaction piece on the repeal of the Pentagon’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The article ended: