April 3, 2005

Dear Editor – Seattle Medium Newspaper:I happened across your newspaper this week, as well as heard your broadcasts for the past few months, and must say we, the public, are really sick of the “mess” the Black “press” is engaging in. (Please read on…)Being neither Mt. Zion nor Evergreen connected, I say anything gets old after awhile – and this mess is so old it stinks (phew). This isn’t about repression of the “press”, but cessation of the “mess” that probably couldn’t exist in the public realm if the “press” didn’t participate.Really legitimate newspapers do NOT print anonymous material – you must include name and phone number – and they do verify. The Supreme Court’s ruling (mentioned in your lengthy editorial) was about content (which must be true), not anonymity, as is the case of your ‘advertorials’. In such cases, the Newspaper can be held liable for content. In other words, whoever may be considering a lawsuit need not be concerned about who wrote the material, but who published it. (No form of the media is exempt from law- suits).Your editorial also stated that ‘at some church the Medium Newspaper made it to’, the pastor spent time denouncing editorials by your newspaper, thus, ‘dishonoring’ the Black press. What do you expect? Everyone has the same rights – to speak about issues from their “pulpit”, — whatever constitutes their ‘pulpit’. Believe it or not, many churches have done and are doing the same, which is why this letter should be a wake-up call to all the so-called leaders of the Black community. It seems everyone’s ox is being gored!It would be great if you all could cover issues that are truly positive and relevant to the Black community, as a whole, instead of devoting valuable time to a few bickering dissidents. WE, your listening audience, are worth more than that, and certainly deserve better. ” For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints”: I Corinthians l4:33Sincerely,Ruth AnnC: Ken Curl, Evergreen Baptist Assn. Alfoster Garrett, NAACP President Mt. Zion Pastor & Congregation