While politics is business as usual, the “war” in Iraq continues unabated and problems with Iran loom on the horizon, other discussion points of the day.

Anna Nicole Smith. A young woman, who seemed to have been a lost soul most of her life, should be let go to rest in peace. The media blitz on her passing, her past, her looks needs to be put to bed. Instead, press and tv are crawling maggot-like over her body and every detail of her life when the only matter of importance is the welfare of her five-months old baby girl. Even then, do we need to intrude on this? I guess so, nobody seems to mind the media excess.

The astronaut. Hah! In a jealous state of mind she allegedly sets out to torment, torture, if not murder another woman. Supposed incriminating evidence is found in her possession, she is charged with attempted murder and…gets to go home to Texas? Not only…but also…throws the first ball at a baseball game and the media fetes her for this? I suppose…haven’t heard anyone complain.

But the Dixie Chicks. Boycotted, cursed, accused of treasonous behavior yet, because they are lauded at the Grammy’s, folk are outraged? They didn’t break the law, no scandal (other than that perceived a few years ago) behind their names, stand behind their belief and, well…might as well put them to the stocks and batter with stones. What is it about what they said…and believed…and stand by…makes them worse than ghoulish behavior toward a young woman, dead before her time. Or a revered astronaut out to hurt, maim or kill some other woman over a guy, living free for the moment in some demented celebrity.

The Dixie Chicks were honest then, remain honest now. You may not like what they said…and it doesn’t really matter that where they said it makes the difference. Why would it? The country in which Natalie Mains made her statement was also dragged into and through the hypocrisy she had no desire with which to be associated. Doesn’t matter that they are entertainers…they are also human, entitled to speak freely and believe how they believe. You can enjoy their music, their harmonies…or not. They are entitled to their political beliefs which, at a guess, I’d say they espouse both privately and publicly…pretty much as any of us do here or as any caller to our local morning or afternoon programming. And the difference is…..???

     When the police give the media descriptions of wanted criminals like murderers, armed robbers and the like, the News Journal newspaper likes to conceal the identity of the wanted individuals by censoring the complete description.  The recent murder in the Rehoboth Beach area is a perfect example of this misguided newspaper policy. 

 The police told the public to be on the lookout for two killers, one in his 20’s, one in his 40’s.  We were told of the height, and the approximate weight, we were told about the type of footwear, the color and type of clothing, the hair color, and even about a distinguishing tattoo.  We were also told the alleged killers were white.  The News Journal doesn’t want it’s readers to know the perpetrators are “white” and edit out that part of the description.  Even more baffling is that fellow Gannett publications, The Salisbury Daily Times, and the Delaware Coast Press have no problem telling the public these were white males, only the News Journal edits out this crucial information.

     Roger Hillis a Gannett reporter for the Coast Press wrote a great article following up on the murder and it appeared in the Coast Press and the News Journal on the same day with one very telling difference; Rogers paragraph about the race of the suspects:

One intruder was described to police as a white male, 20 to 25 years old, unshaven, 5-foot-7, weighing about 165 pounds, wearing a wool hat, a hooded jacket and white gloves. The other suspect was described as a white male with a small tattoo under his left eye or on his left cheek, approximately 40 years old, about 5-foot-6, 200 pounds, wearing black overalls, brown construction boots and dark gloves. Papili refused to elaborate on the type of tattoo. Papili said that the race of the suspects was released by police the day of the crime, yet some media chose to censor that information.

That excerpt came from the Coast Press.  Here is the way the News Journal ran the story from the same reporter:

One intruder was described to police as 20- to-25-years-old, unshaven, 5-foot-7, weighing about 165 pounds, wearing a wool hat, a hooded jacket and white gloves.The other suspect had a small tattoo under his left eye or on his left cheek, is approximately 40 years old, about 5-foot-6-inches tall, 200 pounds, wearing black overalls, brown construction boots and dark gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.

No white males, and no word from the police about the media (News Journal) censoring descriptions.

Roger Hillis complete Coast Press story here. (uncensored)

Roger Hillis complete News Journal story here.  (censored)