I

T R

I, or we, or have been enlightened, by the editors of the editorials,

your choice of definitions.

"An editorial, on the other hand, is designed to reflect the opinion of the newspaper and its owners and usually deals with important issues affecting the community as a whole"

"It goes right back to the clubhouse, and the leaders of the clubhouse, its my
ball and if you won’t play by my rules I won’t let you play. Its just on a higher level."

3/10/03

A few questions for the editor.

Is it the policy of the Humboldt Sun that letters to the editor do not need to be signed? Do you choose which letters are printed un-signed and does the content of the letter influence that decision?

First I’d like to say I think the Humboldt Sun has a far better format than in recent years, including the editorials. Especially those editorials written by the editor, at least he signs his name. Mr. Begin has lots of opinions and isn’t afraid to stand by them, a hard thing to do when some of the time his ideas and opinions aren’t attacked, he is. Mr. Begin I hope you don’t take some of the concerned citizens requests and leave town, lest we go back to the thoughts of the previous editor, who advised that, "An editorial, on the other hand, is designed to reflect the opinion of the newspaper and its owners and usually deals with important issues affecting the community as a whole". The key words in that quote are, "designed" self explanatory, "newspaper", synonymous with anonymous, "usually" unusually the writers thoughts, but who knew , and last but not least "its owners"

Even though we don’t own the newspaper, the editorial page is our page and it is a place where we can announce our opinions and ideas to a wide audience. Letters to the editor are no more letters to the editor than a letter to our congressmen or senators. Rarely are these letters responded to by those they are sent to. At least Mr. Begin responds when attacked and further signs his name. If our representatives would respond, in public, to our concerns and questions, as does Mr. Begin, we would then know what we got for our vote.

I strongly urge those that write to the public through the editor, sign their names Otherwise our opinions become nothing more than press releases, an edited version of hogwash written so that no one takes responsibility for its content.

Bo Bennett

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The very nature of an editorial is an avenue for the public to bring out issues that communities need to be aware of.

The editor, however, is not the public and the business of a newspaper and the editor is to selectivly report.

THIS IS WHERE THE MEDIAN/MEAN PETITION

Every administrator has the program of their advisors, team, friends etc. to consider. Your ideas are considered after, and only after

Since that does not allways happen, I welcome you to where it will.

Question # 2.

I was looking over my sample ballot and I learned some things. I thought Question # 2 was to amend the constitution to allow same sex marriages and I was going to vote no. Not that there is anything wrong with that or that I necessarily favor same sex marriages. I just don’t think it is my business how others wish to live their lives and I certainly do not feel it is the states business to make life style choices legal or illegal. If I am asked to participate in helping others legitimize their personal life style I become uncomfortable and prefer to leave things as is. Not my business. But, Question # 2 is to change and make it law that same sex marriages can’t legally happen. That premise for this measure is a question in itself and that is considerably more far reaching than personal views. This is nothing more than gathering at the polls, instead of the corner, to run those we don’t agree with out of town. Somehow this just doesn’t fit with the American ideal. Who is sponsoring this separatist type legislation? I sure hope the majority of our population votes a live and let live attitude, i.e. freedom for all. I suggest to those who create and sponsor this type of segregating legislation , that they leave those alone who don’t fit their idea of a correct life. Go about your own life.

Bo Bennett

6/13/99

Parents can only guide their kids.

This has got to be one of the most telling articles I have ever read. President Clinton and the President of the Association of Theater Owners agreeing to tighten enforcement of the ratings system. Isn’t it great to have such wonderful leaders thinking about whats best for our teenagers. Its sad that he has no credibility and the Association of Theater Owners can’t enforce this thought. ( Hey I thought, R meant under 18 not admitted, unless accompanied by an adult)

Anyway, I don’t think the point was to stop kids from seeing R rated movies, it was more for the Presidents ratings.

So, nothing has changed, as our local theater owner doesn’t think voluntarily compliance should supercede what the parents might think is best. I hereby give my proxy to any theater to use reasonable judgement when my teenager wants to see an R rated movie. If you have trouble recognizing my kid, err on the side that it might be any teenager, or preteen.

When your kid comes to my house, I won’t let them watch MTV, or visit inappropriate web sites , regardless if its OK with you, because I have boiled it down, and yes I do want the theater owners to use judgment. This censor word, has become an obscene word, it has pried this free speech thing wide open to where it means anything and everything is OK. Everything is OK if one can make a informed decision. Children and teenagers haven’t lived long enough to make these decision. In conclusion, just who is responsible here.

Think about this, the next time we argue whether its our constitutional right to upload "bomb plans" to the internet. Or if it is all to difficult, sell em a ticket, and thanks for the effort. Bo Bennett

How about some equal time in opposition to all the jokes about Gore and the Dimple thing. No disrespect to the author of the song but I believe the editorials are for serious issues. Poem stuffs are for the funny page, its not real. After a while even repetitive silly things are accepted as fact, especially by those who are not so informed. First off, I hate to be the one that takes a simple poem and turns it into philosophical issue, but, when was this about dimples and chads? Dimples and chads became an issue because it was good material for jokes and the press. And, the press and the power brokers know if they feed this garbage to the public, the public will accept it. I don’t accept it. This is called skewing the facts. It doesn’t make a difference what the motive is to change the point of it all, ratings, paper sales, or political needs, the real point is the point was changed.

Each time I get done laughing at the jokes I can’t help but wonder what President elect Bush was thinking when the other side wanted a recount. A few thousand vote margin that kept getting smaller and smaller, before any further counting. Whatever Bush was thinking he was not saying we should be sure and recount. The message sent was, win, even if!!! This from a self proclaimed Washington outsider who is going to bring together and heal this nation and bring integrity to the office. In addition to the poems I think this is funny, ha ha.

So now, after eight years we have an outgoing president who was also a winner at any cost. Clinton won. He legitimized lying as legally correct and as the president of the greatest country in the world Clinton fought vigorously to defend his needed position that oral sex is not actually sex at all. That was an abuse of power towards women, position and laws. We were fed successfully and given a healthy economy and we traded it for a few new warped and skewed values. What we have now is another president who will look the other way to get what he needs. Please don’t make the misjudgment that some of our leaders are looking the other way for the country’s benefit. True leaders, at least those I hope our young folks get to follow, are those that stand up and say, I was wrong or it none of your business. What we keep accepting are those that will use a system that was designed for fairness and destroy its meaning, for their personal need.

I think the winners were; the lawyers the press and half the political structure. The losers are everyone else, everyone else. Every last dime of this multi million dollar event was paid by our tax dollar. Funny, ha ha.

Roses are red violets are blue, whoever has the gold, will make the rules.

More laughter for those who own a little gold, not so funny for everyone else, not so funny for everyone else.

Gregory R Bennett

How many out there have given thought to freedom of the press. I never gave it much
thought as to its effect on me. As long as the press is allowed to freely report activities
that influence society, what more is needed.
Nothing other than a media who will practice that philosophy. Where is it?
I see a media that promotes itself, (private business), and sells salacious stories, (gossip
and beyond). Is this freedom of the press or capitalism. Hey don’t get me
wrong, business and such is good, but accomplishing it through such a lofty fundamental
principle. I don’t know but I have to think about that
It goes right back to the clubhouse, and the leaders of the clubhouse, its my
ball and if you won’t play by my rules I won’t let you play. Its just on a higher level.
Most editorials are not much more that thank you commentaries. Hey don’t get
me wrong, public thank you’s are needed. Not many real issues are brought out through
this way, and then only if the particular paper has already made its comments and stance
known. If there is an ongoing issue, that gets more than one entry, what generally
takes place is the editor will comment on the editorial, and side with the established.
Isn’t it wonderful to have local businesses that support one another. Hey don’t
get me wrong, supporting one another is what it is all about.
From all the history lessons I had, best I can say is this country was founded to get
away from tyranny, government control. Hell if you couldn’t write about it, it didn’t
exist and if you wrote about it, you were hauled off to the dungeon, or worse.
No dungeons now, just money, the law and the threat of lawsuits. Enough to put
the brakes on most.
I agree, that directed accusations in public are, to the very least, shows no class.
From the accuser or the messenger. But there are enough things happening out there that
the only thing that will slow it up is to expose it. The law takes care of murderers and
thieves and robbers, because it is visible. Rarely do they or the local print, even censure
the public employee that uses their position to self promote.
I am guilty of many of the things I rail about, as I believe most are. Years ago I
was unwittingly brought into an insurance scam. After I played the part that was expected
of me, I was told what had taken place, A staged break in and theft. I was pissed, but
took a months free rent, and forgot about it. At that time, the only thing that would have
made a difference as to my complicity would have been if I had been suspected and my
people knew.
Something about being brought out in the open that causes a change in our
morals.
So how about we moral up our communities. Something to think about

9/17/98

A Letter For The Editor
I well remember those stories we had to read in school. Then after reading them
we would have to pick the correct title. Man, I just could never get the right title.
We all view the world from a different drum beat. However, a lot of folks want
a lot of us to hear the same music, from the same tune. Those that choose to comment,
to the contrary, are stoned. What I would like to know is, why .
Going along with the program, only keeps the program stable, it does nothing for
progression. I don’t know jack about, grammar. But I think my point is well taken.
I am sure that from time to time, a grammatical error bends the context, of a single
sentence. I’m also sure, happily so , it just binds up those anal types, while I
trash their rules, their funky little clubhouse rules.
For myself, the advantage for going against the norm is, I get to laugh,
my unemployed ass off. The disadvantage is, I get to laugh my, unemployed ass
off. The end results for not following the rules, disregard for the message. Not
necessarily because the message was not clear, but because, (wha, wha) you are not
suppose to do that. Give me a break.
All the important things happening out here, they are all lost. There is no
message, its all delivery. Substance does not sell, team group, sells, and team
group, buys At some point, the employment for these local groups, will be pushed
away with a dry wind. What most editorials are left with will be word games to
justify why hindsight was not heard. What most readers will have learned to accept is,
newsworthy importance, is to be based on cost, and accepted grammar. All in all
what will be left is a good time had, by those that make and remake, the rules.
For those of you who are fed up with the status quo, stand up. For the rest, think
about this. All the tax money that has been pumped into this county, all the adult
entertainment, all the pet projects that our civic minded team group citizens are using
this money for. For all the groups that want it their way. I want you to know, the
majority of us do not belong to your special interest beliefs. I, for one, am tired of
supporting and watching others support, this, ( and most) communities. while we
remain the buffer for your greedy little team groups and your games.
Friday nights the main drag is getting a little crowded. While your doing what
you enjoy, think about that.
Bo Bennett

Man, I’ll tell ya. I think its high time to change the format of local news. Since I’m only a reader, I have not a chance in H e w hockey sticks to change it. But that don’t mean I won’t try.

Now I know this is huntin country, but there are still those of us who would rather read about the beauty of, and watch the habitat, than hunt it. So how about a recurring insert called Watching & Habitat.

I think its time the public got a chance to be fairly represented, by an opposing viewpoint. I mean look here. I had the privilege of reading the graffiti on the westbound side of the mile post 172 exit overpass, KILL ECOLOGY FREAKS for quite some time. Never, never, have I seen Graffiti with a statement such as, real hunters shoot blanks. I mean, why else would they trick animals, by saying "dinner time" bang.

I would wager, there are more, non hunters, than hunters. Were just not as vocal. When we voice up, were hung on the local overpass. Maybe, if we had a local newspaper, that would allow some opposition to the loudtalking minority. We could move in a positive direction.

I can just see it now, 2050. Not a wild horse left, hamburger, is $50.00 a pound, (never did have anything to do with the price of hay). A hummer tooling through nature , loudspeaker blaring a taped recording of lambs at slaughter. Dinner time.

Whenever there is an opportunity to do something a "different" way. Some loud talking, non changing, narrow minded, good citizen comes along as says, its a way of life. Think about that , Elmer Fud.

In response to, Lorrie Baumann’s article, "Mining firms aren’t defending themselves"

Specifically, a comment made by an employee of Barrick’s Goldstrick Mine, regarding a study on birds nesting in the Humboldt Sink. " the public would only be confused by the information about the study "

Most likely that is a true statement. However I fully understood, from this article, the possibility of birds that nest in the Humboldt Sink could be being poisoned by heavy metals from Mine dewatering.

I have lived on the Humboldt River for over 15 years. There has been a decline in the wildlife, and fishing. Now I certainly would not want to infer that the large amount of mine dewatering has contributed to this decline. I will without a doubt conclude the statement, "We think the less publicity, the better", to mean you all are afraid to let the public know just what kind of an impact your industry may have on our wildlife. Since I have no other information, I will also conclude that "we" does not a represent the prevailing thought of your industry. I will conclude ‘We" to mean the immediate group that would be affected by a negative environmental impact.

You certainly do not represent many of us who feel the Humblodt River System, belongs to us, and the birds.

Unfortunately, we seem to have the same type of attitude, at the lower end of the Humboldt River area, as well as the upper area.

In referance to the statement from our local mine manager "if his company wanted the public to know something about its operations, they’d put out a press release". "he had a business to run". Does he think he owns the information that affects environmental issues or legal issues, in our county. My thought is he has a career to protect, at anything or anyones expense.

Once again, I have no other information to go on, so I will just speculate on the issues.

For those of you, who do not care for the likes of the Sierra Club or those people who chase big ships with little boats. Maybe we need to realize, its these types of responses that create these types of responses.

I do not have a problem with sharing my opinions in a public format. If my opinions were based on speculation, I would, stay on the porch.

My name is Bo Bennett, who are you?