LETTER: Timothy column missed the point on faith-based iniatives
Dear Editor,
After months of biting my tongue, I find myself compelled to express my feelings about the non-journalistic journalism that occasionally manifests itself in the Statesman. Journalism, including editorial journalism has the responsibility of propagating factual information to the masses. If I were looking for sensationalism and shock value, I’d buy the Enquirer. I can see the headlines now: “Bush Brings Fascism to America!” The article would briefly mention a measure passed for the purpose of “curbing crime, conquering addiction, strengthening families and neighborhoods and overcoming poverty” (see Executive Order at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20010129-2.html), then twist the measure to resemble a blatant attempt by the current administration to put into submission all non-Christian peoples and organizations. The Faith-Based initiative recently passed simply sets up a means for the government to work together with “private and charitable community groups, including religious ones” (Executive Order) to give aid to those so desperately in need. Show me a satanic church that provides compassionate aid and I’ll show you one that qualifies for this program. The initiative appears to me to be a very intelligent means of helping a whole lot of people. The government will never be as efficient as civic organizations and organized religions at reaching those who need help. The liberal idea is to increase the size of the welfare program. The fact is that the larger the organization is, the less responsive it becomes. The column “The Way I See It” in the Friday issue left me wondering whether the author had ever actually read an Executive Order. I do think editorials and opinions have a place in any paper, however the column in question should have sufficient factual content to distinguish it from a supermarket tabloid. In conclusion, I applaud the Statesman staff on an otherwise great paper, and suggest that columns be evaluated prior to print, not only for entertainment quality, but also for some thread of factual basis and maybe even a nominal amount of social redemptive value.
Eric Aston