The online comments to our stories about a drug bust at a Monroe apartment earlier this week have brought to light a very disturbing undercurrent of racism in Monroe.
Im angered, saddened and disgusted that my town the town I vigorously defend as a great place to live and raise a family has so many bigots and hypocrites who are so quick to pen such vile comments. So much for All-American.
In case you didnt read it, the online discussion about the raid immediately went off course with allegations about the legal residency status of the three charged men. We even have one comment accusing a Times reporter of purposefully withholding the suspects residency status to promote a personal political agenda. (That comment itself is promoting a personal political agenda, but I digress.)
Heres the thing: we dont report the residency status of someone involved in a crime unless it is germane to the story. If its a story about an immigration issue, than the residency status of a suspect is probably relevant.
Consider an item in the police blotter Friday: A man with a Chicago address was also arrested on drug charges this week. He has a name that does not sound typically Hispanic. Based on previous experience, its highly unlikely anyone will comment online, asking if he is a legal resident of this country or demanding his immediate deportation.
So, should I assume these posters only want to know the residency status if someone has a name that sounds Hispanic? Thats a broad term are we talking people from Spain, or any of the numerous countries in Central or South America? We dont mean Puerto Rico, do we? Is it just people of Mexican descent were concerned with?
Go ahead and send in comments telling me Im a bleeding heart who doesnt care about the fate of America. Thats OK. But before you do, I respectfully ask you keep a couple of things in mind.
First, these three men have not been convicted. They have been arrested and charged, and if the justice system is working as it should, they will have a fair chance to defend themselves. (Any Constitutional scholars out there? Id love to hear from you on this topic.)
Second, the story was about a drug raid, not the issue of illegal immigration. The cops did what they are supposed to do: investigate a crime and arrest the suspects. Thank you, SLANT and the other agencies involved. Now, it is up to the court system to make the determination of guilt or innocence.
Third, keep in mind this is a newspaper. We are a private business in the industry of providing news and information. We try, in every instance, to be as fair and accurate as possible with respect to ALL. Even to those folks who cant read our newspaper.
It is not our job to provide a platform for racist or bigoted comments. Theres plenty of other venues out there for that.
As angry as these online comments have made me, I calm myself by remembering online posters actually represent only a small percentage of our readers. I know the vast majority of Monrovians, including me, are concerned about keeping our community safe from anyone pedaling illegal drugs just not at the expense of unfairly rushing to judgment or spewing racist rants from the anonymous safety of their laptops.
Right?
Im angered, saddened and disgusted that my town the town I vigorously defend as a great place to live and raise a family has so many bigots and hypocrites who are so quick to pen such vile comments. So much for All-American.
In case you didnt read it, the online discussion about the raid immediately went off course with allegations about the legal residency status of the three charged men. We even have one comment accusing a Times reporter of purposefully withholding the suspects residency status to promote a personal political agenda. (That comment itself is promoting a personal political agenda, but I digress.)
Heres the thing: we dont report the residency status of someone involved in a crime unless it is germane to the story. If its a story about an immigration issue, than the residency status of a suspect is probably relevant.
Consider an item in the police blotter Friday: A man with a Chicago address was also arrested on drug charges this week. He has a name that does not sound typically Hispanic. Based on previous experience, its highly unlikely anyone will comment online, asking if he is a legal resident of this country or demanding his immediate deportation.
So, should I assume these posters only want to know the residency status if someone has a name that sounds Hispanic? Thats a broad term are we talking people from Spain, or any of the numerous countries in Central or South America? We dont mean Puerto Rico, do we? Is it just people of Mexican descent were concerned with?
Go ahead and send in comments telling me Im a bleeding heart who doesnt care about the fate of America. Thats OK. But before you do, I respectfully ask you keep a couple of things in mind.
First, these three men have not been convicted. They have been arrested and charged, and if the justice system is working as it should, they will have a fair chance to defend themselves. (Any Constitutional scholars out there? Id love to hear from you on this topic.)
Second, the story was about a drug raid, not the issue of illegal immigration. The cops did what they are supposed to do: investigate a crime and arrest the suspects. Thank you, SLANT and the other agencies involved. Now, it is up to the court system to make the determination of guilt or innocence.
Third, keep in mind this is a newspaper. We are a private business in the industry of providing news and information. We try, in every instance, to be as fair and accurate as possible with respect to ALL. Even to those folks who cant read our newspaper.
It is not our job to provide a platform for racist or bigoted comments. Theres plenty of other venues out there for that.
As angry as these online comments have made me, I calm myself by remembering online posters actually represent only a small percentage of our readers. I know the vast majority of Monrovians, including me, are concerned about keeping our community safe from anyone pedaling illegal drugs just not at the expense of unfairly rushing to judgment or spewing racist rants from the anonymous safety of their laptops.
Right?
