NEWSDAY
UNPUBLISHED
In
light of recent criticism of our regional jewel of news reporting, Newsday, I find it only proper to share
three of my opinion submissions that failed to make the cut. Admittedly, volume
may have played a part, but I cannot dismiss the weight of subject matter. I
share this with you, my reading public,
to decide for yourselves. Enjoy!
OBAMA’S MESSAGE
Regarding “Obama’s Message: Don’t quit” News,
Sept. 8], I look forward to the Newsday publication listing the school
districts that banned the president’s motivational speech dedicated to the
children of our nation. Among the 56
districts open for business on that day, let those that censured the president
bare their embarrassment.
The White House preview of the speech
effectively removed suspicion of any political agenda, while receiving
endorsements from former first lady Laura Bush and former Speaker of the House,
Newt Gingrich. The message: Don’t quit,
is a call to our youth to take responsibility for their future while respecting
their parents, teachers and mentors in an environment that’s not always
friendly. Evidently, there are some custodians of our children’s education who
did not get the message. Using the manufactured threat of politics to hide
personal bias, these elected symbols of authority committed the ultimate
political sin. They used our children as
political ponds. How dare them!
OUR
CHILDREN, OUR MIRRORS
How often has a parent gloated over an accomplishment
by his/her child? Whether it be a goal
scored on the soccer field, touchdown in full armor, academic honors at
graduation, not to mention the college commencement film that will last forever
as proof of economic sacrifice; on such occasions, parents do not hesitate at
taking credit for the accolades afforded their offspring. This is part of living the good life,
celebrating our progeny while investing in hopes of a future destined to
survive us. Commendations to all.
As parents, do we perform in like manner when
choices our children exercise are less than admirable? This is a question growing at fever pace with
the advent of front page hate crimes perpetrated by our young. Unfortunately, many a young person is made
aware early the real world is fractured, commonly the result of a fractured
family. That in itself does not provide
a “get out of jail free” card, either to the young person or the parent. Of course there is the other picture, the
intact social unit with mother and father present. With due respect, this
idyllic life style does not guarantee the yellow brick road.
Insult to injury; let us not forget the sin of
omission, otherwise known as denial.
This is the plateau on which too many parents, social pundits, and
elected officials find refuge.
Interestingly, if the district attorney’s office proves correct, many
indicted youth offenders are less intrigued with this refuge. They willingly attest to the scenario of the
charges. We of the parent and
grandparent generations will probably find that astonishing; not for their
honesty, but for the audacity to throw their actions in the face of
authority. Not to the credit of our
legal system, the recent codification of a hate crime deserving its own level
of punitive retribution is testament to a history of jurisprudence denial. Crimes of hate date back to the book of
Genesis.
What is the foundation for this de facto
recognition? After a century of activism
and martyrdom for the advancement of civil and human rights, America has
matured in its admission of racial and ethnic atrocities of man against his
neighbor.
Hate is not born but acquired. From the womb we are all a blank canvass,
pure in the sight of our Creator and in any court in these United States. Respect for self and fellow man is taught and
learned by example. The gravity of the
fruit from the tree may be simplistic, but proverbs themselves are born from
example. School begins at home. For too many neighbors school is out. Their children are no longer children. For good or bad, they will be judged
accordingly.
Perhaps gloating at our progeny is an exercise
at looking in the mirror. If we employ
the tools of honesty, integrity, and self-assuredness, then we should be happy
at what we see.
UNFORGIVABLE JOURNALISM
If and
when this letter is published, the decision regarding the occupant of the Oval
Office will have been made. Unfortunately, it won’t alter the journalistic
damage emanating from Newsday’s presidential endorsement (Editorial, Nov. 5).
It is generally understood the business of a newspaper is to sell newspapers;
but, it is expected to do so with responsible journalism.
The
tepid endorsement of Mitt Romney was riddled with disclaimers sufficient to
endorse his opponent, Barack Obama. Additionally, Newsday’s version of “tale of
success” does not accurately match the former governor’s record, particularly
in Massachusetts. This reflects a disconnect between its reporting sources and
editorial perspective. The final insult is the utilization of Mr. Romney’s
deficiencies as reason for endorsement (wavering positions and unspecified
plans for solving the nation’s problems).
It comes
as no surprise the repercussions were overwhelmingly negative and may lead to
cancelled subscriptions. On a positive note, I was pleased to be reassured that
perceptive readers still exist in our region and the ghost of Alicia Patterson,
Newsday’s founder, is alive and well. I look forward to the restoration of a
paper we once held in high standing.
BY LINE:
RON SCOTT
