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The topics varied from Senator Blackburn and Hagerty's words and actions on Jan. 6 to parental alienation to Fourth Amendment rights.

Countdown to The Tennessean's top 10 read opinion columns of 2021

The Tennessean presents its top 10 best read opinion essays and letters of 2021. Topics include Morgan Wallen, critical race theory and Trump.

David Plazas, Nashville Tennessean

As we near the end of 2021, The Tennessean looks back today on the top-read opinion columns of the year.

They range from a critique of Tennessee's new critical race theory ban in K-12 schoolsto a defense of country music singer Morgan Wallen and from addressing the impact of the late Weigh Down Workshop preacher Gwen Shamblin Lara to the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump.

The rankings arebased upon digital metrics of page views.

We include some excerpts below and you can also go to Tennessean.com to re-read them in their entirety or click on the hyperlinks below.

So, here starts the countdown.

"Former Southern Baptist Convention President Paige Patterson has controversial past church must reckon with," by Rev. Brian Kaylor, June 15.

Kaylor isa Baptist minister with a Ph.D. in political communication, president ofWord&Wayand author of fourbooks.

"Patterson helped make SBC what it is today and then sat atop his fiefdom until it all came crashing down when he was fired by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2018 for mishandling student sexual assaults."

"Why we need more conservatives to spread the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines," by David Plazas, Aug. 6.

This was my top-read personal column of the year. I wrote more about COVID-19 than I ever wanted to. The political divisions on vaccines and safety rules had a realand hard impact on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Tennessee.

"Politicians from Gov. Bill Lee to the state senators have emphasized that getting vaccinated is a personal choice and have gone out of their way to assuage the fears of people who want to be exempt from inoculation, whether for religious or medical reasons.They ought to increase the level of urgency of their rhetoric,that while it is a personal choice, there is something to be said about being responsible and accountable to your community."

"Morgan Wallen billboards patron: 'Were not bowing down to the mob'," by Darleen Ingram, June 10.

Ingram of Empire, Alabamapaid for the billboards around Nashville in support of country music artist Morgan Wallen.

"The music industry jumped so fast, without taking time to hear his side of the story or to evaluate who his friends are. How many in the industry are guilty?When Morgan asked for forgiveness and he meant it, it should have been over."

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"Mentalhealth practitioners confronta crisis in families:Parental alienation," by Alan D. Blotcky and William Bernet, Dec. 18.

Blotcky, Ph.D., is a clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Birmingham, Alabama. Bernet, M.D., is professor emeritus for the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

"The phenomenon of parental alienation is well-known tosomemental healthprofessionalsbuthas received very little attention in the mainstream media.Thepublic is largely unaware of thisproblem and itsharmfuleffects on children and parents."

"Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are complicit in the insurrection," by The Tennessean editorial board, Jan. 7.

I wrote this editorial on behalf of The Tennessean Editorial Board, which comprises Editor Michael A. Anastasi, Executive Editor Maria De Varenne, Planner Mealand Ragland-Hudgins and me.

"Tennessees senators played games with democracy and perpetuated false allegations of mass voter fraud, a cover-up by tech companies and the press, and a stolen election all to fit President Donald Trumps narrative that he was cheated out of a second term."

"Why is Pastor Greg Locke shunning mask-wearing congregants? | Featured letters" by readers of The Tennessean, July 29.

This article featured letters from people in Tennessee and beyond who read about how Greg Locke, pastor at Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, bannedcongregants from wearing masks when worshipping in person.

"To his congregation, I appeal: Would you please, if you are interested in staying alive, respond by not going to church at all?That should get his attention.God doesnt shun you if you are praying at home." excerpt from a letter by Harriet Stanton-Leaffer.

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"How critical race theory law makes it illegal to teach Black history in Tennessee," by David Barber, Oct. 5.

Barber is a professor of history at University of Tennessee at Martin.

"While we should be glad that Tennessee is finally outlawing the teaching of racial superiority in any form, our legislature should have passed this part of its legislation 60 years ago, when it would have counted for something."

"Brentwood can thank Gwen Shamblin Lara for making it the city it is today," by Bill Alexander, July 27.

Brentwood attorney Bill Alexander practiced law in Saudi Arabia for almost 10 years and serves as an arbitrator.

"Gwen Shamblin Lara, who died May 29in a plane crash, was an author and founder of the Christian diet program the Weigh Down Workshop and founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church. She was also a kind, respectful person who quietly helped in an unheralded way to preserve the Brentwood we know today."

Editor's note: While this guest essay first published in July, readers consumed it morein September, around the time when the HBO Max documentary about Shamblin Lara "The Way Down" premiered.

Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.

"When the government hides spy cameras on your land, fight back in court," byRobert Frommer and Daryl James, Dec. 13.

Frommer is a senior attorney and James is a writer at the Institute for Justice in Arlington, Va.

"Although the case is proceeding in state court under the authority of the Tennessee Constitution, the central claims point to a nationwide problem. Starting about 100 years ago, federal courts began chipping away at the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects.

Before we go to No. 1, here are the top-read essays of our regular columnists LeBron Hill, Keel Hunt, Cameron Smith and Kyra Watts.

"Readers respond to second impeachment of President Donald Trump," by letters to editor writers, Jan. 15.

We published seven featured letters to the editor from readers across Middle Tennessee after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for the second time, something that has happened to no other president in U.S. history.

Budge Blevins ofNashville wrote:"Some Republican members of the Tennessee congressional delegation said that they did not want to further divide the country by voting to impeach President Trump for inciting a mob assault on the Capitol Building while Congress was in session. Thats a laudable sentiment, but one that was absent when they voted the previous week to overturn the certified election results of certain states favoring Joe Biden. Or did they believe that challenging the will of the voters in those states would unify the nation?"

But Calvin Johnsonof Franklin felt it was overblown.

"Why have younot reported as much on the Antifa demonstrations in New York City,Portland andSan Diego. They were destructive, but I heard no condemnation or response from the media orthe Democrats. You only criticize what Trump supporters do."

As we enter 2022, please consider writing and submitting guest essaysand letters toletters@tennessean.com.Thank you for your readership.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He isan editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocastand curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters.. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him atdplazas@tennessean.comor tweet to him at@davidplazas.

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On Wallen, Shamblin Lara and Trump: 2021's top 10 opinion essays in The Tennessean | Plazas - Tennessean