MONDAY'S LETTERS: E&P 'Abusing Its Unchecked Power', Strupp Defending 'Grave Sin', Zarqawi Pics 'Disgusting'

By: E&P Staff In today's letters, one reader feels E&P's slant is a little too ivory tower, a couple of slames for Joe Strupp's gay marriage article, and readers feel the media is losing public faith, at least in part, because they choose to run graphic pictures like the ones of a dead Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.


***

E&P 'Abusing Its Unchecked Power'

About a year ago, E&P published the results of a survey in which Americans said they trust politicians more than they trust the media. It's a sad state of affairs, but one entirely of the media's own doing.
The homepage of the E&P web site on June 11 provides a perfect case study of why Americans have such a negative image of the media that allegedly exists to protect it: the ongoing, unyielding and inexplicable attack on the nation, its people and the values of its citizens.

The article titled "Details of Attack on Zarqawi raise new questions" was unconscionable. A bloodthirsty rat who reveled in filming the beheadings of civilians has been wiped from the planet. To any rational, ethical and moral person who values civil society, this event should be welcomed, perhaps even celebrated. Instead, the media appear determined to put on trial those who ended the life of this inhumane vermin.

Then I'm shocked to see Joe Strupp's column declaring that newspapers should come out in favor of gay marriage -- despite the fact that just 39 percent of Americans support it. A more impartial column -- one that better exemplified the supposed role of the media ? would have looked intently at the role of the media in this debate. Instead, Strupp declares that the media should take sides. The media will win trust when it stops taking sides and does a better job of serving as impartial observer and record-keeper of life. Instead, the media ?take sides? ? invariably, it?s the side that conflicts with mainstream American values. This, of course, merely serves to ingrain the belief that the media is ?out of touch? and prefers to mock those it is supposed to serve.

In his column, Strupp made the comical leap of comparing the black civil rights movement to the gay "rights" movement. Perhaps Mr. Strupp believes that homosexuals are being herded off to segregated schools or kept from voting by various poll taxes or other means. Maybe he believes gays are being lynched by marauding bands of intolerant scum. If that's going on, then the media is missing one hell of a good story. Otherwise, don?t embarrass yourself and make the comparison.

If you?re looking for the source of mistrust between Americans and the media, look no further than the pages of E&P.com. Time to come down from the ivory tower, folks. Only then will the media begin to win the trust of the people it alleges to serve. At least we have some control over politicians by virtue of the ballot box. The media remain unaccountable to anybody, and apparently intent on abusing its unchecked power.

Kerry J. Byrne
Quincy, Mass


***

Phallic Flood Control Article Ignored 'Vast Difference' Pun

You failed to mention the wretched pun in the subheader: "City design with a vast difference" (vas deferens -- that would be the squiggly, urethra-like "arrow" leading from the testes to the tip of the ... flood control project).

Yeah, I know we have too much time on our hands in Des Moines.

D.L. Smith
Des Moines, Iowa



You mention in your story that "The headline for the piece is: "Des Moines' well-endowed flood control." But it doesn't stop there. It's followed by the heading " City design with a vast difference." Think about it.

John Michaelson


***

Newspapers Should Lose Readers Over Zarqawi Cover Pics

When I saw the tabloid cover photos of the dead Musab Abu al-Zarqawi -- even on the New York Times (albeit somewhat indirectly)--I was ashamed for journalism and for the United States.

Frances Chapman



People wonder why circulation is declining at major newspapers. Newspapers are not giving what their customers want.

When newspapers choose to run graphic images of dead people -- even terrorists on the front page of a newspaper -- it is, to me, disgusting.

I would never buy a newspaper if I saw a graphic dead body on the front page.

I am sure the publishers of those newspapers who ran the photo of a dead terrorist would not run a death photo of their relative on the front page if they were the victim of a crime.

Pam Stiles


***

Strupp 'Irresponsible' on Gay Marriage

Having worked for Gannett's Cincinnati Enquirer, and being a conservative Catholic, I can tell that papers coming out for gay marriage will rightfully lose circulation and advertisers and eventually go out of business.

Certainly, Christians and the American Family Association will call for a boycott of those advertisers who advertise in any papers supporting gay rights. They will also encourage true Christian readers to stop subscribing as well.

Homosexuality is and always will be a grave sin. This is the view of every major religion. Additionally, anyone who supports the gay rights movement and/or encourages gay marriages, is as guilty of that sin as the perpetrator.

[Joe Strupp writes] that gay rights have "found a place in society with laws in Massachusetts and Hawaii condoning it, as well as numerous domestic partner statutes in cities and towns nationwide, including my home state of New Jersey. Add to that the many corporations that give rights and benefits to workers and it is almost embarrassing that gay marriage is not a legal entity"

[He's] partially right here, though. Homosexuality may find a place on earth, but never in heaven. Gays need to turn from this sin of the flesh before it's too late.

Love the sinner with tough love and hate the sin. ...

Steve Markovich



While I agree that a constitutional ban on gay marriage is a waste of time, as New York, California and Mass would never ratify the ammenment, I think it is irresponsible for [Strupp] to call for editorials in favor of gay marriage. This issue strikes at the very core of our religious beliefs. I don't want the government or newspapers telling me what I should believe in.

In my humble opinion, you cannot equate gay marriage with the civil right movement of the sixties. This is not the same situation at all. We are not making gays second class citizens, we are merely stating that a male/male or female/female union does not measure up to the time held definition of marriage.

Lance Lewis
Advertising Director
The Gettysburg Times