LETTER: Coverage was too one-sided

Editor,

I wish to comment on the article which appeared Oct. 6 regarding the protestors that frequent the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I appreciated the effort to portray the opinion of these protestors; however, I believe the article was way too one-sided.

In it, protestors are lionized for speaking out. I also attended the conference this weekend, and saw some speaking out, but many others shouting – not about their own beliefs, but about others’. The article quotes a man who compares their efforts with the missionary efforts of the LDS Church. Making a simple request at someone’s doorstep, however, is much different than verbally abusing a crowd in a public place. Another quote in the article relates how these “peaceful” protestors risk life and body for the sake of God. A following citation from local law enforcements denounces this. Anyone who was at the conference should have been able to see where the real hostilities lie.

Conference goers are forced by so-called civil-rights organizations to walk calmly by those who name them liars, deceivers, seducers, and worshippers of Satan. They must endure as things most sacred to them are ridiculed, thrown in their faces, and laughed at.

Is this the freedom so many have given their lives for? The freedom to demean and degrade our fellow citizens? If this is the America celebrated by the storm of patriotism which has swept this country in the past couple of years, then I think I need to pick up some change of address forms.

I wish to make it clear that I support everyone’s right to speak their mind, and make their opinions heard; it is these protestors’ tactics which I find appalling. And even more appalling perhaps is the way they were largely ignored by the article in The Statesman. I would challenge this paper to be a bit more conscientious in their reporting.

Richard W. Corley