From the Pana, IL, News Palladium, 7 February 2002

Blasts Perceived Media Bias

Dear Editor,

I find the media's newfound concern for objectivity, after the recent attacks to be quite interesting. What puzzles me is why weren't they concerned about it in the past ?

I can think of several examples of their bias, like when they had their love affair with "Uncle Joe" Stalin (because they shared the same ideology), but they failed to report the suffering under him or his murdering of tens of millions of his own people.

Or more recently they're bias against the NRA or their bias towards high taxes, a big intrusive federal government, etc. How about the recent presidential election - did you see the expressions on the network anchors faces when they had to report that Bush won? Peter Jennings almost cried. I wonder if he cried when he saw the planes crashing? I know Dan Rather did (He's not an actor, he just plays one on TV). This striving for objectivity is so phony given the media's past track record.

Now of course when I say media, I mean the majority of the mainstream press. Fortunately not all of the press shares the same views. I also realize that most everyone has an opinion on certain matters, but these feelings should be limited to the opinion pages.

Concerning the attacks, here are a few examples of what passes as objectivity to them, disallowing flag lapel pins by reporters; calling the murderers "alleged hijackers" having no opinion as to if the Pentagon was a legitimate military target; or frowning on the display of our flag because it may offend someone.

Excuse me, but if displaying our flag that some many have died to protect offends a U. S. citizen or an alien, then they can get the hell out and I mean now. I'd gladly donate to and help raise funds to send them on a fully gassed up "Taliban Airlines" jet with no landing gear.

I appreciate bias-free reporting, but I could forgive them for a little pro-American bias considering the circumstances, but when the chance came to show a little appreciation for the freedom they have been given, they refused. Apparently they consider themselves not as Americans, but as global citizens who don't see any real differences in the types of governments in the world.

Do they think they would enjoy the same freedoms in the perceived socialist "Utopias'' they so admire? Or would Barbara Walters like it if she was living under Taliban rule where women are severely beaten and worse for idiotic reasons? The media elitists desperately need a reality check.

If it weren't for America what would they be doing? Still slaving for the King/ Queen of England? Harvesting Castro's tobacco? Working in a mine in Siberia? Planting rice in Vietnam? But our media loves to make us feel ashamed to be Americans. Ted Turner even thinks the Star-Spangled Banner should be replaced because it is a war song. What a clown. If I'm not mistaken it was a war that established this great nation.

They constantly dwell on our post mistakes like slavery, which, by the way, I agree with them that slavery is/was wrong, but why do they think it's fine to pay 40% or 50% or more of their income to many of the taxes we have? Is a 50% slave okay? They also make us feel guilty because we got off our tails and worked for what we have and that lazy people didn't get enough of the fruits of that labor.

The one good thing that may come out of this sickening tragedy is that it's exposing the anti-America crowd in the country further and that the press politically minded people may become more involved in combating this disease.

Sincerely,

Kerwin Law Owaneco