Writing revisionist history while witnesses survive will bring a rebuttal

Writing revisionist history while witnesses survivewill bring a rebuttal
EDITOR:
In an op-ed piece published in The Vindicator on Oct. 22, James P. Pinkerton attempted to tarnish the reputation of Edward R. Murrow, a pioneer broadcast journalist who became well known for his radio broadcasts from England that did much to bring World War II into focus for Americans. A few years after the war ended, Murrow got involved with covering the doings of the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Pinkerton implied in his essay that Murrow falsely "helped cement McCarthy's image as an irresponsible demagogue." In fact, that's exactly what the senator was. The nation was properly grateful to journalists like Murrow who put their jobs and reputations on the line as they laid the facts before the American people.
Your essayist was wrong in asserting that, "In those days it seemed obvious to all that the broadcast television news existed to advance the beliefs of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party." The truth is that most TV journalists worked harder then at being nonpartisan than the folks on some networks do today. Writers like Mr. Pinkerton shouldn't publish revisionist histories until the people who actually witnessed the events in question have died off -- there are still many of us around who read about Joe McCarthy and watched him self-destruct during the televised Senate hearings of 1954.
Pinkerton also erred in slamming "liberals" for believing that crime rates have something to do with poverty and racism. Those two factors are actually quite relevant. People who think seriously about crime agree that prevention and enforcement are both essential, and that neither can do the job without the other. If you only throw people in jail and don't address underlying social problems you can expect a never-ending stream of young felons and, yes, a continuing tragically high murder rate.
ROBERT D. GILLETTE
Poland
Time to drop the 'I' word
EDITOR:
The Mahoning Valley area is one of much poverty and hardship and has been increasingly so since the steel industry started to decline in this area.
However, since the Bush administration, we are feeling even more difficulty just managing to survive, as not only has the economy gone down, but commodities such as gasoline and medicines have gone up. We are struggling, and we are getting increasingly angry.
I know I am far from alone when I am angered seeing spending going to an unnecessary war -- and I also know that I am far from alone in my feelings that this war is unnecessary. Friends, coworkers -- all but a few right-wing extremists that I have come into contact with -- take it as a given that this war is not about what it was stated to be about, that oil money has a lot more to do with the true intentions. The working class is on to the charade, and we are tired of it. To the average citizen, an impeachment would be at the least a relief, and to many, a victory.
RACHEL BAIRD
Warren
What do you believe?
EDITOR:
If you believe that God created all people, you have to believe that God wants peace, kindness, compassion and respect for all. With that in mind, do you think that God was in favor of the United States and other countries liberating and freeing the people of Iraq? Or do you believe that God wanted Saddam to remain in Control? Do you think that God is in favor of democracy? Or do you think that God wants a dictatorship?
Remember, evil grows when good men do nothing.
PHIL PANNO
Boardman