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Letters to the EditorsWar coverage has too much of a negative focus© St. Petersburg Times published March 27, 2003 I have been a loyal St. Petersburg Times subscriber since moving here two years ago. But I have to say that I am disgusted with your coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The front page of Tuesday's issue was just another case in point (the others this week have been equally negative). Instead of printing the positive progress made by our troops, you print an isolated incident that shows Iraqi irregulars celebrating one downed helicopter. Is this an accurate representation of our progress over there? Is this balanced coverage of the entire campaign? Does this picture positively contribute to the morale of the many families that live in the bay area and have loved ones over there fighting for our country? Is it responsible journalism where you only portray one side of the story? No! You should be highlighting the progress that we are making against this outlaw regime that has continually suppressed, tortured and hurt its own citizens. An outlaw regime that gasses its own people and violates the Geneva Convention. Are you for our troops or against? It's amazing how negative one can feel when exposed to the constant negative slant of particular news organizations. God bless America!
Making things seem worse than they are There are times when I'm truly embarrassed to be a Democrat. One of these times was Tuesday after reading the front section of your newspaper. Could you folks be any more blatant in your antiwar, antimilitary, anti-Bush approach to reporting? Your coverage was perhaps the most depressing of area newspapers, starting with your front-page picture of cheering, dancing Iraqis celebrating the downing of a U.S. helicopter, the pilots of which are now captive and probably being tortured. Are you proud of yourselves? What? You couldn't find a picture of our young men and women performing their heroic duties in defense of our freedom? Then from the first page to virtually the last page of your front section was a stream of articles designed, I suspect, to make our situation in Iraq appear more dire than it actually is, and many articles that pretty much portray us as the real evil-doers. Congratulations! I'm sure Saddam Hussein would appreciate your contributions to his propaganda war against those fighting against global terrorism. It is biased, almost anti-American coverage like yours that just might make me a Republican before this is over.
Inexcusable reporting How could you be so insensitive as to display a giant front-page photo of the only helicopter the Iraqis have shot down in the entire war? This kind of negative reporting is inexcusable during a war. You should be showing positive photos of all the many successes our young heroes are achieving. Although we are not completely in favor of this war, we feel that our troops should be supported by the American press in a truthful and fair manner. We are winning this war by an enormous margin. Report it that way.
Give encouragement to our troops On the front page of the Tuesday paper is a large photo of some Iraqis jumping around a downed U.S. helicopter. How comforting that must have been to the families of those soldiers who flew that 'copter. It seems to me that your paper as well as other media and news stations seem to be only concerned with news of our losses and defeats. What I want to know is, if 70 percent of America is for the war and our president, why do you only show the minority out there protesting and demeaning our country? How about a couple of good old flag-waving events and photos to give encouragement to our troops? I have a relative serving there and I know he is upset to see the protests back home, when he is putting his life on the line every day. War is never a good thing for any country, but sometimes it is inevitable. Now is not the time to nit-pick and second-guess our leaders. I say, if you're so damn upset here, get the hell out. I'm sure you could find a nice home in Baghdad.
Where are all the flags? My 19-year-old son, Pvt. Chase Riter, is currently in basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. As I drive throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, I wonder why I don't see very many American flags on cars. Sept. 11 initiated an overwhelming display of patriotism and support for families and rescue workers, and a show of unity to the terrorists. Where is that display right now, as hundreds of thousands of our men and women put their lives on the line, overseas and all across the country? Please put your flags up. And add a yellow ribbon for those captured, missing, injured and killed in action. Our military personnel, and their families, deserve a display of appreciation and spiritual support. Send a message to Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and those at home and worldwide who feel compelled to protest against our liberation of the Iraqi people: We shall overcome!
Don't cancel right to dissent In reference to the statement made by the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks and the reaction to it: Since when has dissent and freedom of speech been canceled here in the good ol' USA? The right to object and dissent is the backbone of our freedom. The use of a steamroller to crush the Dixie Chicks' tapes and CDs in protest brings to mind the book burnings in Nazi Germany. Whether you believe she was right or wrong, her right to voice her opinion is not to be taken from her because she is famous and maybe too many people will rethink their stand because of that. If you take this freedom from the Dixie Chicks, beware, because your freedom could be the next to go when there is something you do not agree with. Am I a Dixie Chicks fan? No, never have liked their style much -- till now! Osama bin Laden did not come from Iraq, the killers of 9/11 did not come from Iraq, but from Saudi Arabia. Yet we are attacking Iraq, because we can beat up Saddam Hussein while ignoring the real source of the attacks on our shores and the murders of our people.
Critics haven't a clue Re: Michael Moore letters. The so-called American patriots now denouncing director Michael Moore haven't a clue to their own selfish hypocrisy. They have no idea that Moore is an American icon whose role and function in our society is similar to the role Will Rogers played during the Great Depression. Apparently the letter writers have no complaints with the president's use of the free media to sell us all a war based on a lie and they have no problem telling us lies like Michael "Moore hates everything about this country." And they think they are displaying their patriotism by boycotts, with boring intonations of, "I for one will certainly not attend any pictures he directs." How about some French wine and cheese with that boycotted movie, along with some German sausage, Russian vodka and anything Chinese? I'm curious as to what the letter writers' response would be to the idea of boycotting Halliburton (getting the oil contracts in postwar Iraq) and Brown & Root (building contracts for garrisoning our troops around the world)?
Moore's message was needed I, for one, congratulate Michael Moore for his well done speech at the Oscars the other night. The world needs to know that there are still many, many people who have not forgotten the stolen 2000 election, are angry about this dirty little war, the pandering to the wealthy, and George Bush's continued environmental decimation of our beautiful country. Thanks, Michael, for taking your time in the glory of your win to make a difference. And you did.
When protests go too far One of our most precious freedoms is freedom of speech. We have seen many in our area peacefully demonstrating against war. That's fine! But to see unruly mobs demonstrating, requiring the services of hundreds of our police officers who should otherwise be ferreting out the evil ones infiltrating our land -- that's a shameful abuse of those rights! God bless our troops and our president.
Headline excesses Re: Excess use of headline ink, March 24. With possibly 20 Americans missing or killed and 50 or more wounded (in both accidents and combat), after five days of battle, out of a force of 250,000 or more is -- do the math -- 0.028 percent! If you were reporting the Battle of Antietam, Sept. 16-18, 1862, with more than 23,000 killed, wounded or missing, what size headline would your editors have selected? Not enough front page to accommodate it. The choice of the photo depicting two U.S. Marines carrying a wounded fellow comrade off the battlefield was the second excess. Your maps and narratives inside the paper for the past several days are excellent. Your headline choice canceled out a lot of the good stuff. Please "cool it" and be proportional with the headlines. Back troops and the war effort I've given this a lot of thought: You can't be antiwar and still say you are supporting our troops. All you're saying to them is: "What you're doing is wrong and you're only the president's puppets." The only opinion that counts is that of our men and women in the military. They're the ones putting their lives on the line for our freedom. Remember that the next time you want to spout off against this war.
The 'ugly American' Re: Ignore our former friends, letter, March 22. The letter writer refers to France and Germany as our former friends and ends his letter with: "They are insignificant countries with insignificant people." How arrogant! He has presented us with a portrait of "the ugly American."
SPIFFS' message of understanding Even though the war began on the Elementary School Students Day of Folk Fair at Bayfront Center, SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society) still gave to the students the message of tolerance and understanding that is our mission. Our member groups from so many countries work together all year. We teach our children to dance the dances they danced at home when their countries were free. On Saturday, Sabra Mohid, a Jordanian officer at CentCom at MacDill Air Force Base was welcomed to the fair with his wife and two little sons. This world is so complicated and difficult that we all need more than ever opportunities to understand and respect one another. SPIFFS is already preparing for our 29th annual Folk Fair in 2004 and we are welcoming new member groups who are committed to our mission.
Share your opinionsLetters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. They can be sent by fax to (727) 893-8675 or by e-mail to letters@sptimes.com (no attachments, please). They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.
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From the Times Opinion page |
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