Dear University Times,
I am one who fully believes in the freedom of speech and the right for all Americans to have their voice heard on an issue. However, in Thursday, November 6 issue of the paper, that line was crossed for all the wrong reasons. The main article written was of Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States, as it should have been. However, the spin the University put on the information is despicable and downright disrespectful. The mass of celebratory people outside of the dorms was justified and understandable yes.
But let me tell the campus what the paper won’t: When I expressed my views as a Republican to the crowd, I was greeted with aggression and threats of violence. My comments were not racist, ignorant, and disrespectful but rather my political views on the election. Is this what our next four years will be like with Mr. Obama in office? Will I be entrenched in masses of people who will threaten opposition with ignorance and terror?
That is only a small part of what of the major issue of this editions paper is. On the continuation of the article onto a page two, a picture of Senator McCain with devil horns and a stereotypical “evil” mustache was placed in the article. The abhorrent nature of this picture is why I write to you now. Isn’t the goal of news to be subjective? This picture demonstrates to me why I am Republican and always will be. To portray a man who served his country for most of his life including Vietnam and was a prisoner of war for years is something that simply cannot be tolerated. Let me ask a simple question to any readers of this or perhaps just the newspaper staff itself.
If that was a picture of Obama with the same traits, would that have been tolerated? I’d like to believe my freedom of speech would say yes, but anyone with a reasonable intelligence could tell you it wouldn’t have been. Looking at the bigger picture of this I suggest is freedom of speech for all, or only those liberal enough to be able to claim it?
I am not alone in my opinions of this despicable article. Many of my constituents feel the same way I do. Those friends include active military members, white men and women, Hispanic men and women, and even black men and women. Freedom of speech is for all, but the line is fading of what’s acceptable and what is not. I tell you now that you have crossed that line with liberal bias and objectivity. ‘
You can call yourselves journalists if you wish, but I call you ignorant and downright rude to the world around the liberal agenda you obviously support. I am not afraid to express my views to anyone who disagrees with me on this issue. Anyone who reads this and feels I am wrong or right can speak to this paper to contact me, I would care to see how people feel on this issue.
Sanford Hall Resident
