To the editor:
I read reporter, Barbara Scott’s response to my husband, David Corey’s letter regarding coverage of a city council meeting. I would like to respond as it seems she misunderstood his intention. First, his request for “the rest of the story” was regarding the council’s response to Mr. Getchell’s speech. Did any council member respond to anything Getchell said? (Besides the Mayor stating Mr. Getchell would have to leave if he continued to swear.) Was any reason given as to why Caribou didn’t have flags up on Independence Day? Many of our friends, family and co-workers were wondering the same thing.
It seems most of the coverage of the flag issue was focused on Mr. Getchell’s behavior rather than the problem he placed before the council. The story came across as something to gossip about, rather than to report the council meeting without any bias. It started with the title of the story being “Sparks fly over flags during city council meeting”. Her story included phrases such as “aggressively approached the panel”, “all the while angrily declaring …”, “Getchell continued his tirade”. She even pointed out that Mr. Getchell made a (second reference) to the wellness center. When she referred to Councilor Miles William she added “(with whom he evidently served in the military at some point)”. What is that about?
There was no question left in my mind that Mr. Getchell was angry and upset. But what about ‘the rest of the story’? However, the one response stating the Getchell might have to leave, did note the mayor being calm.
Secondly, Ms. Scott, my husband did not make a blanket statement stating you don’t know the value of freedom or the price paid for it. He made no mention of a “list of things that are priorities in your life” He was not insulting your family or the way you were raised. In fact, his letter insinuates that you were brought up to have respect and understanding of those same things. He came to the conclusion that you needed to be “refreshed” because of the way your article came across as your view of Mr. Getchell’s behavior rather than the issue he was presenting to the council.
Regarding the impressive military background of your family, you have every right to be proud. I am sure your heart swells with pride, as does mine, when you hear our National Anthem, and you stand holding your hand over your heart, giving the respect our military men and women deserve. Although we know the name Edward Knowlton — as in Lister/Knowlton VFW Post 9389, we would have no reason to know he was your uncle, as we don’t personally know you. However, we do know the names of many, many military people, both active and retired, many in times of war, who are equally “famous” to all who know and love them. We have many military people in our own family including grandfathers, uncles, cousins, my own father, my husband, my son (currently active in the USAF, already served one tour in Afghanistan) and myself having served eight years as an officer in the Army Reserve.
As for my husband’s remark about “the coffee and donuts”, it wasn’t made out of disrespect or to insult you. It merely was his opinion that you might want to consider sitting aside for a while until your opinion doesn’t color the writing of your story. You wrote “I don’t take offense when my writing is criticized. I can take those remarks, I even encourage them.” It appears it hurts your heart a little more than you thought. So before you offer that “serving of crow, or even a slice of humble pie, (by the way they both basically mean the same thing), I suggest you look back at your original story. The crow is waiting on a silver platter.
Caribou
