Letters 6/2/10
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
By JH Weekly User
Heaven forbid it happen to you
Ben, your writings are thoughtful and intelligent, but with all due respect I feel like you wildly missed the mark with your “Coverage of suicides highlights the differences in community papers” [Reporter’s Notebook, May 26].
If these events had happened to you or to those close to you (heaven forbid), I bet you wouldn’t see this as a difference in style as much as a difference of respect.
Your view that the community will heal faster as a result of discussion may certainly be true, but publishing photos and names of the victims does nothing to serve the community, is abjectly dismissive of any concern for the healing of the families and makes your justifications of your actions sound very, very hollow. Perhaps the editor doth protest too much?
In order to help a community, respecting the individuals in that community seems a prerequisite.
– George Sweeney, Jackson
Respect people’s feelingsI’m Sophia Vickrey’s grandmother and I was greatly appalled over Ben Cannon’s article over my granddaughter’s death [“Teen Suicides devastate Teton Valley,” The Buzz, May 19]. He didn’t contact my son to ask permission to write about this and put her picture in the paper. I know of the 1st amendment but there is such a thing as respecting people’s feelings and being sensitive to their grieving. That young man has a lot to learn and as his editor it’s obvious you do too.
– Judith McDonough, Payette, Id.
Can’t turn our headsOkay, I get the point of view of the other author, really I do. However, I think we as a community should be made aware of this [“Coverage of suicides highlights the differences in community papers,“ Reporter’s Notebook, May 26]. I think our papers should put things like this up front and center when necessary.
We can’t all turn our heads when it happens especially in a small community. We are not Utopia we have tragedy just like any other larger town. We may feel it harder, and hurt more because we are more than “towns” we are families and life long friends, but saying “it happened now lets get over it” does not quicken the healing process.
Or maybe, getting people to open up and talk about it might help us understand why, or find signs we (friends and families) missed. I know those answers wont save those two lives, however there might be a chance they save others... So, kudos to you for telling it the way you felt it should be!
– Jeanie Malone, location unavailable
Can’t just sweep it under the rugI strongly agree with reporter Ben Cannon’s opinion on acknowledging an issue, even if it’s a traumatic one, rather than shy away from it. I think this issue in particular should be addressed in neighboring communities. Suicide is not something to be just swept under the rug. The lack of attention to this issue seems a little like denial. Thanks for trying to shed some light.
– name withheld
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Letters 6/2/10 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor
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