Having spent most of our adult life in the opinion journalism business, we are no stranger to the instinct for provocation.

WSJ: Best of the Web Today: Those Courageous Racists

In my opinion, a man in public life must think always of the public welfare.

NPR: A Public Man Must Live in the Present

"Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but deep down, if there was an opportunity for a life-changing contract, he's shaving his damn beard, " Wells said.

WSJ: Yankees: No Beards��And That's Final

Giving wealth to young and future unborn children, in our opinion, reduces or eliminates the character building challenges ahead of them in life that they would otherwise face.

FORBES: Billionaires and their feelings

He may have had a point: Mrs de Melgar, though she was promising better schools, less corruption and a fairer life for women, was miles behind Mr Flores in the opinion polls.

ECONOMIST: Honduras: Campaigning | The

In my opinion, it's the best song he's ever written in his life, and I'm a fan.

NPR: Conor Oberst: When Love Turns Sour

One recent opinion survey indicated that the French now regard honesty as the most important value in everyday life, and consider the perceived decline in honesty to be almost as regrettable as the decline in politeness.

ECONOMIST: Eva Joly, France’s elite-hunting magistrate | The

Is it racial profiling or life's cumulative experiences and knowledge or simply common sense that would cause one to formulate an opinion?

CNN: Trayvon Martin shooting wasn't a case of racial profiling

But in January, she backed a political candidate for the first time, announcing her endorsement of Obama during the Democratic primary season with an opinion piece in the New York Times that drew days of the kind of media attention she has spent her life avoiding.

CNN: Senate seat for Caroline Kennedy would extend legacy