“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

If you’re thinking of Dorothy, Toto and the yellow brick road, you’re honed in to the correct analogy.

So, what is that analogy, you ask?

It’s a nightmare that plays out in our community on a daily basis. Many cowardly lions, heartless tin men and brainless scarecrows can be found in this vision.

But the name of the road has changed. It’s now called the yellow “back” road.

Welcome to Topix.com.

While concealing the yellow in their spines, anonymous snipers, whose specialty is to hide and fire their ammunition in the shadows, continually take target practice on the Ironton section of this Web site. While here, they find that they can say whatever they wish with absolutely no personal accountability.

Just give yourself a nameless moniker and let the gossip fly, they find. Start a fire in your own back yard, but never give a thought to what it might burn.

Their name isn’t on the deed and the cowardly cover of anonymity is their insurance.

Maybe I’m doing the just an injustice by even shedding light on this dark pit full of wretched lives.

But I do have a point.

About a month ago, I submitted an opinion article to The Tribune speaking of “weeds” in our community. Topix.com and the Tribune’s comments sections on its Web site is what fueled that article.

Alongside the totally inept, several educated, articulate people with valid viewpoints post on these sites. Their opinions, however, have the bite of a newborn, leaving no observable marks because they are afraid to leave their name with their comments.

Think what you want about me, but I put my name on everything I write. I don’t hide around corners and take pot shots at passersby.

And I certainly know I make mistakes. Sometimes I allow my passion for particular topics to cloud my vision. But, since I sign my name to my opinions, others are able to correct me.

If you need an example of this, call Carol Allen. I respect her more than anyone in Ironton, even though at times she totally disagrees with my viewpoints.

The point is this: When challenged, I’m willing to admit if I’m wrong.

What about all of you anonymous posters out there who claim to have Ironton’s best interests at heart? If you are passionate about how you feel, put some teeth in your bite, and a name behind your chomp, and let everyone know where you stand.

When you do, be ready to have your viewpoints challenged. Defending your beliefs will be your litmus test.

And don’t be afraid to admit that, sometimes, you might be wrong. I face that challenging fact every time I put my name on an article.

The cowardly lion didn’t realize he had courage until he stood up to protect those who were important to him.

The same goes for the tin man and the scarecrow. They already possessed what they thought they lacked.

Courage, heart and intelligence.

We have it. When are we going to use it to our advantage?

Billy Bruce is a freelance writer who lives in Pedro. He can be contacted at hollandkat3@aol.com.