Special Feature,
Where’s the Outrage?
An Editorial
Despite ABC’s report of direct quotes by George Bush Jr. that he approved of the
methods used by the CIA to interrogate detainees at Guantanamo, including
waterboarding, few newspapers have covered the story, outside of the Seattle Post
Intelligencer, the Washington Post and scattered others. This is surprising because it
is the responsibility of the media, as “the Fourth Estate” to serve as a check on the
use and abuse of power. No wonder the public distrusts the media as it distrusts its
politicians. The failure to uphold the primary purpose of the press, and instead to
entertain rather than inform, coincides with the equivalent failures of politicians who
undermine the democratic process and the liberty of us all.
A brief survey of 37 citizens in our small town found that 19 of these individuals
believed that torture was appropriate if “the other side tortures.” They also said they
were Christians. People follow where they’re led, and it may be that government has
surpassed religious authority on matters of importance.
The Real Views is a small town newspaper, located a short distance from what is
referred to as the nation’s heartland. But that doesn’t mean that we should fail in
our obligation to inform the public---to protect liberty—even when others fail to do
so. Thus we express our outrage that the President of the United States, using the
advice and counsel of people he appointed and not those directly elected by the
people, has condoned and allowed torture and other acts that violate democratic
principles and the Constitution of this country. And we grieve that many of our
citizens are either apathetic about this or agree with the policy.
If Thomas Paine, the great writer of the treatises of liberty at the time our nation
began, were alive today, he would carry his message of outrage everywhere. We can
do no less.
Carol and Randy,
Editors
An Editorial
Despite ABC’s report of direct quotes by George Bush Jr. that he approved of the
methods used by the CIA to interrogate detainees at Guantanamo, including
waterboarding, few newspapers have covered the story, outside of the Seattle Post
Intelligencer, the Washington Post and scattered others. This is surprising because it
is the responsibility of the media, as “the Fourth Estate” to serve as a check on the
use and abuse of power. No wonder the public distrusts the media as it distrusts its
politicians. The failure to uphold the primary purpose of the press, and instead to
entertain rather than inform, coincides with the equivalent failures of politicians who
undermine the democratic process and the liberty of us all.
A brief survey of 37 citizens in our small town found that 19 of these individuals
believed that torture was appropriate if “the other side tortures.” They also said they
were Christians. People follow where they’re led, and it may be that government has
surpassed religious authority on matters of importance.
The Real Views is a small town newspaper, located a short distance from what is
referred to as the nation’s heartland. But that doesn’t mean that we should fail in
our obligation to inform the public---to protect liberty—even when others fail to do
so. Thus we express our outrage that the President of the United States, using the
advice and counsel of people he appointed and not those directly elected by the
people, has condoned and allowed torture and other acts that violate democratic
principles and the Constitution of this country. And we grieve that many of our
citizens are either apathetic about this or agree with the policy.
If Thomas Paine, the great writer of the treatises of liberty at the time our nation
began, were alive today, he would carry his message of outrage everywhere. We can
do no less.
Carol and Randy,
Editors