This morning, I sent this letter to the editorial board of the Star Ledger.
Dear Mr. Aregood,
I have been a reader of the Star Ledger for a long time. While I understand the bias in the media, I also know that it is the responsibility of journalists to be ethical and present the facts. At a time when this nation is at war, it is imperative that we all come together to support our government, regardless of our political leanings.
As you know, this hasn't happened. Every day, hundreds of articles from around the country, most from the AP and reprinted in local papers present our government in a negative light. This despite our military's successes of liberating millions of people from the oppression of the Taliban and Saddams regime. We have witnessed the beheadings and the torture, yet all we see as viewers and readers are some insurgents that aren't covered by the Geneva Convention with panties on their heads. Five years ago, the nightly news shows highlighted for weeks the links between Iraq and Al Queada.
Yesterday the same programs as well as the Star Ledger and every periodical in the country headlined that there is no link. Both you and I as well as many Americans know that the Commission meant that there was no link between Iraq and Al Queada in attacking the US on 9/11. Yet it wasn't reported that way. This troubles me as an American and as a father of two young children that have to grow up in this world.
Honestly Mr. Aregood, I am confused. Pledging allegiance to our flag is almost a crime. Politicians have politicized and have jeapordized our very existance in the name of regaining the White House. Every Socialist and Communist government wants our current President out of office and they publicly state it. Socialist groups have web sites pleading for money so that they can continue their campaign of hatred against the administration. Even the terrorist organizations that want to destroy us want a change in government. I mean a terrorist blows himself up and kills twenty innocent people and the paper reports, "Man bites Dog." Doesn't anyone get it?
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican it shouldn't matter at this stage. What should matter is protecting our nation from another 9/11. What I am having trouble understanding and maybe you can enlighten me is why the Star Ledger and the press is going along with this anti-administration fervor. I know, "if it bleeds it leads." But this isn't about bleeding. This is about political realignment and from what we have been witness to communism and socialism do not work. It stifles our creativity and ability to grow as individuals. It takes away our liberty and right to express ourselves. Maybe you want to work for a paper like the "Peoples Daily." Because that is what the Star Ledger, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post and others have become. Your right to expression has been taken away and your reporters now write in support of a political party and not the facts, or for that matter what they feel. Or they are fed stories that are so blatantly politically slanted and rather than deciphering it, checking the facts and rewriting it, they print it verbatim.
Our nation is at war. It is a just war. It is a war to protect our freedoms and to bring liberty to millions of people. People like you and I whose only desire is to see our children educated, earn a decent wage, practice religion without interference and to be free from oppression, torture or death because we have different political views are being subjected to they daily bombardment from the media in support of a political philosophy that has been proven a failure.
All I ask is that the American people are presented the truth. Whether negative or positive, present the facts as you have been trained as journalists to do. Let us figure out what is right or wrong. Our views as Americans are driven by our freedom of choice. However if you do not give us that, you are no better than regimes that support oppressing its people. You are no better than the "Peoples Daily."
Beautiful letter! Right on target and kudos to you for taking the time to write it.
I will note for other freepers - I have written many letters to the editor. Some have been accepted.
Once I came onto FR to post a letter I'd written regarding the economy. I received an e-mail from one of the newspapers I submitted it to that they couldn't use the letter because it had been posted on the internet and I may have copied it!
They had no way of knowing that I was peach, of course, and so I would warn freepers to post their letters to the editor AFTER they have been accepted or after a suitable period of time when it becomes obvious it will NOT be accepted.
EXCELLENT LETTER!