March 8, 2007 8:17 AM
Leesburg Today and news bias in Loudoun County - Part 2
Yesterday I had an email conversation with Charlie Jackson - the reporter from Leesburg Today I took to task for biased reporting.
Charlie was mostly upset because I ascribed hate to him. In other words, I had taken the words he had written and his manner of presentation and drawn a conclusion that he was motivated by hate.
We actually had an intelligent and civil discussion - writer to writer - unlike some of the rather stupid and obnoxious emails and comments (four of them altogether) that I received from people who wanted to defend him. Hey, you know what? Charlie doesn't need anyone to defend him. He presents himself much better than his defenders - who I'm sure would turn on a dime if he ever wrote something they didn't like.
I've thought a lot about our discussion. I've thought about what it's like to be a Christian and to truly care for others and to do your best to serve, yet to be wrongly accused of hate - as are Christian leaders who are misrepresented and maligned in the media.
I've thought about how the left accuses its enemies of tactics they use - for instance, how Mainstream Loudoun criticizes Deltano for "cherry-picking" facts and yet they come to his presentations not with open minds but open notebooks to write down anything they can find to discredit him.
I've thought about how Mainstream Loudoun has created this whole bogus issue: the fact is that we already have a Sex Ed program in Loudoun County schools which teaches all the facts they want taught. Deltano coming to make an hour-long presentation supporting abstinence is offered as an alternative. So this representation of their Shelby Knox deal Friday night - which they tout as an "alternative" (and which Charlie reported that way) is actually not an alternative at all - just the same-old, same-old.
In any case, one thing I've learned as a Christian that I never understood as a radical leftist is that it's okay to listen to the other side and see if anything they have to say rings true.
My conversation with Charlie rang true. I am very sorry that I accused him of motives that he says he does not have. I am very sorry that I accused him of hatred.
In addition to apologizing, I've revised Leesburg Today and news bias in Loudoun County to reflect only my observations on news bias.
When it comes to Charlie's reporting, I do stand by what I said - and I think the articles he's written speak for themselves in terms of editorial-type word choice and - most obviously - in the lack of contact with truly mainstream parents. I am hoping he will seek out a broader base of parents for input in the future. We have agreed to stay in touch.
Believe me, this is not prompted by the ridiculous threats of lawsuits I received from people who couldn't even spell (as I said, I received only four emails and comments from Charlie's defenders) - because that sort of thing doesn't move me at all.
What moved me was Charlie's integrity during our email conversation - he was speaking from the heart - and then reflecting on what he said with an open mind. And I will say my mind is actually more open since I became a Christian than it was before - 25 years ago I would have been one of the grim-faced women cherry-picking "evidence" against the "Christian comedian" and completely unable to hear the other side. There's something truly sad about people who can never say they were wrong.
Anyway, Charlie, about the hate thing - I was wrong and I am sorry.
Posted in Loudoun County, Media Bias | Permalink
Comments
Obviously something changed your mind about this man (I am not familiar with him other than the post you had up) but what is wonderful is that you can come out and say you were wrong. To me, that is the mark of a mature person. Having apologized more than I care to say, it is hard to do! I am glad that you were able to sit down and have a good talk. That is the best thing for people to do where there is disagreement. I wish more people were willing to do so rather than act like children and take the low road. That too, has happened more than I care to say, not from my husband and myself but to us.
God be with you Mrs. C -
Mrs. Damian Garcia
Posted by: Mrs. Damian Garcia | March 8, 2007 10:35 AM
Hi, Long time lurker is now loyal reader after reading this post! I hate to say this, but as someone who has friends on both sides of the aisle so to speak, I just can't quite imagine my "liberal and accepting" friends ever admitting they were wrong, let alone having a civil discussion with someone they didn't see eye to eye with politically. Go you!
Posted by: Katie B. | March 8, 2007 11:07 AM
A lot of us could learn a lot from you about how to handle conflict. Thankl you for sharing this process with us!
Posted by: Mel | March 8, 2007 2:34 PM
