Other ‘promising’ young people die before their time
Re: “Afghanistan war ends promising life: Helicopter crash kills DeMatha, Navy star,” Sept. 23
This front-page headline was incredibly offensive and insensitive. Does no one responsible for writing or approving your headlines understand that all young lives are “promising,” not just those of star athletes?
You owe an apology to all families in the area who’ve lost a young son or daughter, whether in Afghanistan or Iraq, or because of a car accident, a street shooting or a blood clot — like the 18-year-old from my congregation who died last Saturday. I hope to see it on the front page, in equally large type.
Perry Beider
Silver Spring
No comparison between Islam, Ku Klux Klan
Re: “Government, journalists cower at threats to cartoonist,” Sept. 20
There are three reasons I don’t read your rag. First, I have an advanced degree. Second, I have an opinion that is not wholly borne of regurgitated Fox News talking-head rubbish. And third, I am not cowed by your insipid “analysis” of the so-called news.
In your editorial, you analogize the Muslim faith to the Ku Klux Klan. While I do agree that it is unfortunate that journalist Molly Norris had to go into hiding because of death threats from Islamic radicals, I can’t support your comparison.
The KKK is not a religion with diverse viewpoints and millions of devotees committed to a common cause of peace. It is a political ideology grounded in hate and a policy of divisiveness. Comparing the KKK to Islam is like saying the whole barrel of apples is rotten to the core — which is obviously your intent, but is not factual or fair given the long historical record.
If The Examiner ever hopes to be taken seriously as a source of newsworthy journalism, I hope Fox parrots like you will stop leading readers down a rabbit hole of false comparisons.
Faith Grant
Arlington
Editor’s note: Is it the advanced degree that enables you to quote from an editorial in a newspaper you claim not to read?
Tea Party should be start of nonparty alignment
Re: “GOP moderates should practice what they preach,” editorial, Sept. 19
Here’s another perspective about GOP candidates irked by their losses to Tea Party candidates that’s less constricted by history and more hopeful about the potential for change in a system that really hasn’t ever changed. Perhaps it’s time to take the risks inherent in not aligning oneself within currently polarized limitations, but to stand with conviction on ideas rather than party names.
Could it be that victory at any cost — whether by Republicans or Democrats — is finally being shaken down for its constrictive lockdown on new ideas? Isn’t it true that those in a system that allows for more ideas will have more in common, more overlap? Isn’t commonality the foundation for compromise? And doesn’t compromise — the gray area of exchange between the deadlocked left and right — invite movement, dialogue and results?
The way things work now, ideas have to be reshaped to fit comfortably into one of two platforms in order to be considered viable. The consequential neutralization of new ideas destroys progress and opens the door to rage and radicalism.
Suzanne Peterson
Woodbine, Md.
