Saturday, June 11, 2005
"liberal leaning media"
Tony Rivera, in his most recent tirade against the "liberal leaning media" and liberals in general including most if not all Democrats, makes the accusation that Newsweek magazine "specifically intended to do harm to our president, his administration, the military and our countries reputation" when it published the story about the Koran being flushed down a toilet by a prison interrogater. Newsweek has subsequentally retracted this allegation.
The fact is that the administration has since admitted this
sort of 'violation' has occured, albeit officially unsanctioned.I agree with Mr. Rivera that such incidents pale in significence compared to the monstrous crimes Islamic extremists have committed against innocent civilians
of all nationalites. Where he and I part company is when he lumps all liberals, specifically liberal Democrats in the same stew pot as being unpatriotic, even treasonous for opposing
this administration's policies, here and abroad. We don't require the media to impugn this nations reputation. We have elected officials on hand that seem to be managing quite well in that department. There is no point in belaboring the fact that the nation is divided as to the pros and cons of going to war in Iraq,but Rivera's claim that the"liberal media" intends to harm the millitary is, to use his words, "a ridiculous premise". As for "harming the administration", is'nt it every citizens right to speak out against government policies he believes to be detrimental to the welfare of the country? Not only is it is a right, it is a duty ,regardless of which party is in power. We keep hearing about the liberal leaning media and the liberal leaning Democrats from the conservative leaning Republicans. Does'nt this look pedantic and silly in print? Everybody does and should lean
in the direction his conscience and values guide him.
Are liberals and or Democrats biased? Of course they are, but none more biased than Tony Rivera when he proclaims
them to be unpatriotic and treasonous. You might say we are all just one big dysfunctional family, always at odds, but in the end, all we have is each other. God help us all.
George Morin
Auburn
The fact is that the administration has since admitted this
sort of 'violation' has occured, albeit officially unsanctioned.I agree with Mr. Rivera that such incidents pale in significence compared to the monstrous crimes Islamic extremists have committed against innocent civilians
of all nationalites. Where he and I part company is when he lumps all liberals, specifically liberal Democrats in the same stew pot as being unpatriotic, even treasonous for opposing
this administration's policies, here and abroad. We don't require the media to impugn this nations reputation. We have elected officials on hand that seem to be managing quite well in that department. There is no point in belaboring the fact that the nation is divided as to the pros and cons of going to war in Iraq,but Rivera's claim that the"liberal media" intends to harm the millitary is, to use his words, "a ridiculous premise". As for "harming the administration", is'nt it every citizens right to speak out against government policies he believes to be detrimental to the welfare of the country? Not only is it is a right, it is a duty ,regardless of which party is in power. We keep hearing about the liberal leaning media and the liberal leaning Democrats from the conservative leaning Republicans. Does'nt this look pedantic and silly in print? Everybody does and should lean
in the direction his conscience and values guide him.
Are liberals and or Democrats biased? Of course they are, but none more biased than Tony Rivera when he proclaims
them to be unpatriotic and treasonous. You might say we are all just one big dysfunctional family, always at odds, but in the end, all we have is each other. God help us all.
George Morin
Auburn
