Choice of cartoon shows lack of ethics


Published/Last Modified on Monday, September 14, 2009 8:48 AM CDT


No one expects a small rural newspaper that publishes three times a week to adhere to the same journalistic standards of a New York Times or Washington Post.

However, the decision to print the editorial cartoon which appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 9 edition of your paper demonstrated a complete ignorance of the basic precepts of ethics in journalism. I refer, of course, to the cartoon which depicts a young, clean cut elementary school boy transformed into a Fidel Castro like monster wearing a Che Guevara tee shirt after hearing the speech of the President of the United States given to the nation’s school children.

One of the missions of a free press is to promote fair and reasoned discourse. Such discourse presumes knowledge of the subject of comment.

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Obviously, your decision to run the cartoon was made without any knowledge at all of the content of the President’s address. The full text of the speech is readily available. I commend its reading to you. In it you will find the President, just as Ronald Regan and George H. W. Bush before him, encouraging his listeners to assume responsibility for their lives and education. He tries to inspire them to success through diligent study. The only remotely political comment he makes is a pledge to try to provide the facilities, books and computers they need to succeed. There is no hint of political indoctrination.

Bogalusa and this entire area suffer under an intolerable burden of ignorance. It is this ignorance which has contributed to our history of racial intolerance and bigotry. This ignorance now threatens to overwhelm us with a generation which has replaced thought and ideas with crime and drugs.

I therefore encourage you to raise your standards. Please, work a little harder to dispel ignorance, not add to it.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Watts

Franklinton

Copyright © 2010 Daily News

Comments

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 23, 2009 4:14 PM:

    " ... Wasn't it Patrick Henry who said:

    "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it" ...

    YES, folks, this is STILL AMERICA!

    LET FREEDOM RING! SPEAK OUT AND BE HEARD! ... "

    ... "CAN YOU HEAR US NOW" Lou Majors

    GOD BLESS AMERICA!
    GOD BLESS BOGALUSA!

    ..... GO BOGALUSA! "

    Thought wrote on Sep 23, 2009 11:55 AM:

    " The wonderful thing about living in America Mr. Watts is you have a choice. You don't have to read the paper or look at the Television. Or you can buy a paper that idolized Obama and read it if you like. People make statements and think everyone should think and feel just like they do. Heck, I even do it myself sometimes. But, I stop and say to myself this is America. People have the right to say, read, write what they want without being crucified for it. It's called FREEDOM!!! "

    Jamie wrote on Sep 21, 2009 11:40 AM:

    " If you dont like it start your own newspaper. "

    Why me wrote on Sep 18, 2009 10:26 PM:

    " Amen, Ms J. America the land of freedom? "

    Marcus wrote on Sep 17, 2009 11:00 AM:

    " Excellent Mr. Watts, ingorance should not exist at a newspaper. "

    Ms J wrote on Sep 17, 2009 9:59 AM:

    " I think the thing being forgotten is that it was a joke! Come on people, when we can't laugh at things anymore because it's not politically correct we are in more serious trouble that we realize! "

    old school wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:47 AM:

    " The journalistic standards of the New York Times and Washington Post seem to lean left, its good to see a smaller paper still have the journalistic interagrady to print items which provoke thought and discussion. (Freedom of speech) Yes, the content of the Obama speech was released the day before the speech, well after the lesson plan which was released by the White House. ----What can I do for Obama? Etc.etc. (Sounds like Hitler Youth Education or North Korean change out obama for leader)
    The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Thomas Jefferson "

    HartBeats45 wrote on Sep 16, 2009 1:48 PM:

    " Very well said Mr. Watts. That is one thing that I've stated time and time again. There are so many people out there that rely soley on what is printed in the paper or spoken on their favorite news channel. They do not take the time to research nor check other paper or channels to compare. So when the local paper print something such as the cartoon, it adds fuel to the ignorance fire. "

    AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:41 PM:

    " Total agreement. Thank you for speaking the truth, Mr. Watts. "

    Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 14, 2009 3:43 PM:

    " Very good, Richard. Well said. "

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