Concord Monitor mea culpa over the Marland cartoon (GW Bush flies into WTC/Social Security)

Concord Monitor ^ | 2/8/02 | Mike Pride, Concord editor

[VA Advogado]

Wrong! He printed it. He's a grownup and knew exactly what he was doing.

And he admitted as much, so what is your point? He's done the right thing.

[VA Advogado]

Everyone knows the budget will have zero impact on SS checks. Except the elderly the cartoonist and this editor were trying to scare out of their wits.

So you want the government to ban campaign commercials that do the same thing?

[catonsville]

It is amazing how the internet and talk radio have changed journalism. Whether it is Peter Jennings or some obscure cartoonist, they will be held accountable for their actions.

I believe they have every right to say and print what they want, I have the same right to criticize the hell out of them.

[VA Advogado]

I happen to appreciate the first amendment. Perhaps you need a refresher course.

[VA Advogado]

NOT! He only feels bad that it got out of their local.

Exactly. And thats fine with me. His concern with your objections should be absolutely zero. Unless you live in the newspaper's reading area and are of value to him and his advertisers, where I him I would tell you to kiss my. . .

[Temple Owl]

Finally, running the cartoon was a mistake because we live in the world of the Internet. A local editor no longer makes decisions in a vacuum.

He's got that right. They can no longer get away scot-free with printing biased garbage. That's two in a row. Freepers ( with the help of Sean Hannity) straightened out the New York Police big shots who tried to keep a hero from going to the Olyhmpics with a special flag. Let's keep it up. We should gone after that damn Ku Klux Klansman from West Virginia too.

[VA Advogado]

Oh brother. It was just a dumb liberal cartoon. People freak out and demand apologies waaaay too damned much nowadays.

Sandy, most of the people on this thread (see Seamole) seem to fake the outrage in order to have forum to post their letters to the editors. lol weird if you ask me.

[randog]

The correct response by you to this editorial error should have been a full apology without reservations or explanation.

First of all--great letter. Secondly, you're correct about about the explanations.

[gaspar]

Please review what you have written. Isn't it time to take a refresher course in the English language? Your spelling and grammar are execrable.

[CIB-173RDABN]

Well, these days, news travels fast. Even though Marland's cartoon was copyrighted, it was on the Internet by midday Friday. Monitor editors' e-mail queues and voice mails were soon filled with messages from New York and elsewhere expressing disgust and anger over the cartoon.

---

The printing press changed the world by taking knowledge out of the hands of a few, and making it available for all.

The internet is changing the world right now, and we are part of it.

Before the internet, few would have ever seen the cartoon, and any protest would have been small, and I will guess the editor would not have apologized.

The power that newspapers and the major news networks once had is slowly slipping away. At one time, individuals sitting home reading a paper or watching a news broadcast, and seeing something that upsets them, had little recourse but to maybe call or write a letter. These tiny protest were easy for the media to ignore.

Today, if you see something that bothers you, you can post it on the internet, and thousands more can see it. Your once powerless voice is now amplified a thousand times.

This editor now knows he is being watched. This will have an effect on his future decisions. Oh yes, the internet has changed the world.

[newzjunkey]

This editor needs to be fired. In no way was that cartoon appropriate. It's impossible to imagine this editor thought 9-11 was "safe" fodder when it's still a daily topic, we just had the (mindless, imho--as an aside, that was the worst show Keyes has had yet) controversy with the IOC regarding the WTC flag, etc. He was never in danger of "censoring" anything. The editoral which the cartoon accompanied was plenty expressive of the paper's concerns over the Bush budget vs. Social Securty, I'm sure. The cartoonist was free to publish online or through other avenues. This "mea culpa" reminded me of the old line, "It's easier to say your sorry than to get permission." I believe the decision to run the cartoon was a calculated move for political and perhaps business purposes.

Fear not, there's more exploitation yet to come: CBS plans to run, on the eve of the 6 month anniversary, exclusive film from inside the second tower as it was struck, as rescuers ran into the building and workers attempted to flee. The film was provided by two French brothers. They were in NY filming a documentary on NYC Firefighters and are the source of the video footage of the 1st plane hitting the towers. IMHO, it's too soon. I saw the photos online, in the stairwell, in the lobby. Is it really time to bring the video to the national audience?

[MassExodus]

Oh brother. It was just a dumb liberal cartoon.

YOU should have to live here in New Hampshire and be forced to suffer these fools and many more like them on a DAILY basis.

This is only one note in the constant drumbeat of their tin pot band march.

It just happened to be the most loudest.

[MassExodus]

oops most loudest - strike "most"

[calvin sun]

YOU should have to live here in New Hampshire and be forced to suffer these fools and many more like them on a DAILY basis.

LOL I guess I must modify my thinking about NH and VT. I always thought VT was the "liberal" state and NH the "conservative" state. But sadly, both states are the liberal?

[calvin sun]

I happen to appreciate the first amendment.

So do I, and most others here. Toupsie said it best: we have a right to speak, but not a right to be heard. Furthermore, with rights come responsibilities. Mr. Pride is free to print what he wants, but he must be prepared to face the consequences. In this case, I think he got more than he bargained for.

[MassExodus]

But sadly, both states are the liberal?

New Hampshire is in the process of it's own Balkan-ization.

I can't shoot my gun out back without the damn Mass#ole transplants ( of which I'm one ) calling the cops !

New Hampshire is just an island of quickly shrinking patriotism in a SEA of Communist wanna be states.

We won't give up the ship - count on it!

[VA Advogado]

Please review what you have written. Isn't it time to take a refresher course in the English language? Your spelling and grammar are execrable.

I've watched your posts over a significant period of time. The other readers should know you've established quite a mode of operation. You consistently run from the issue and instead attack the messenger. This post to me is no different.

[VA Advogado]

Toupsie and Seamole are just (and I mean this is the nicest way) blowhards who want an excuse to repose their silly letters to the editor. It carries no weight with me when both their letters and the content of their ideas posted here are so completely wrong.

[EllaMinnow]

It is time, because of idiots like this editor. The scab needs to be ripped off so they can see and feel for themselves how far from "over" America's grief is.

As far as I'm concerned, there are some things that we shouldn't recover from.