Sound Off for March 8, 2009
| Saturday, Mar 07 2009 09:34 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:16 PM
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Reader: In the March 3 Californiana headline reads, "Could This Gun Kill You?" Maybe it's just me, but what kind of headline is that?
That Californian headline alone gave readers the assumption that Bakersfield Police Sgt. Scott Thatcher made the wrong and ill-advised decision in shooting a person who was reaching for a BB gun instead of a real gun.
Let's get this straight. A police officer is in a confrontation with a suspect, the suspect reaches and pulls out what looks like a gun. He then is supposed to determine if the gun is real or fake? What law-abiding person in the first place would wave a gun, fake or real at any person, let alone a police officer?
Let me go on record and say that Sgt. Thatcher did what any police officer should have done in that situation. Let's not place Sgt. Thatcher and the Bakersfield Police Department at fault. Maybe The Californianshould worry less about "shock" and more about "truth" when reporting such news stories in the future!
— Vince Maiocco
Jenner: The reason the Bakersfield Police Department released the image of the gun — and the reason we published it on the front page — is so all our readers could see what the officer was up against when he had to decide what to do.
This wasn't a toy or a green plastic squirt gun; it was for all appearances a menacing sidearm. The presentation was intended to make that point. The headline was meant to draw readers into the story. I'm sorry if you interpreted it as a criticism of Sgt. Thatcher.
Here's what Assistant Managing Editor James Bennett, who oversaw that day's front page, had to say: "I hope everyone but Vince realizes that his point is EXACTLY the one we were making with the headline and the story. It would be impossible for anyone to know from a distance the gun the suspect was holding wasn't deadly. And Sgt. Thatcher was obviously justified in protecting himself."
•••
Reader: This is the fourth e-mail I have sent to The Californianand I'm sure, just as before, this one will be ignored as well. I find that people just don't like to face truths, and they are eager to accept whatever anyone (especially newspapers and the media) "shove down their throats!"(as "factual")
On the Faith page of your Feb. 28 edition is a three-word headline:
FAITH
PENANCE
AND REMEMBRANCE
Why would the #1(?) newspaper in the land choose a "religious" word, and embolden it and sandwich it in between two of God's words? The word penance is not a word from God — (which means it's not found anywhere in His Holy Word, The Bible). It is a made-up religious word which obviously many hear, but know nothing about.
Jesus' first word of His public ministry was REPENT! Now that's a good word, but people don't hear words like that and SIN and SINNER anymore because they are not politically correct in this day and age. Does anyone know what repent means?
Before Satan took over the entertainment industry, God's word and laws (commandments) were revered, even in the old movies. There was such a thing as respect for the God who created this great nation of ours.
But this is a nation that is greedy and always takes the easy way out. In this case, and history proves it: our beloved country has deliberately done its level best to kick God out of our country. The last "stand," so to speak, is on, you guessed it: Our money! (And they are still trying to take Him off of that, mind you).
What people tend to forget (since they don't read God's word, yet they insist they know what it says) is: God is a God of Love — not of hate. He is forgiveness. He would never make his people get drunk as this religion would have you believe — God is Holy and cannot do things of this nature. It's man — evil man who has taken the word of God and twisted it, re-shaped it, and changed it to fit his (their) agenda(s). In fact, religion is the greatest weapon against mankind that the devil ever devised! But many go to church every Sunday, smoke, drink, beat their wives and kids, have adulterous affairs, love an unGodly gay lifestyle which God hates and we accept, steal, and the like, wouldn't know what a Bible looked like if you put it in front of them; and then a great newspaper in Bakersfield has the unmitigated gall to put a man-made word in big bold letter on the cover of their back page. How very sad indeed.
What has the Devil promised you that keeps you clinging to him and his ways? (I'll give you a clue: it's not Heaven).
This newspaper will not have the guts to print this, because someone could be saved from the pit of hell for all eternity should The Holy Spirit convict them of their sin, on the spot as they read it. The Bakersfield Californianwouldn't want that to happen now, would they?
— George A. Bieller Jr.
Jenner: Thank you for straightening us out. Sorry our headline offended you.
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Reader: What a wonderful article Louis Medina wrote about the West Kern Oil Museum in last Sunday's Californian. We are all totally thrilled. Louis is certainly a gifted writer who not only told about the museum, but also grasped the feeling of the place in a marvelous way.
Ever since I read his article on Allensworth, I have hoped and prayed he would do the same for our museum, and he most certainly did!
The photographs by Henry Barrios were great and added so much to the story. The picture at the top of the page was beautiful.
I was pleased you received the essay from the inmate, which added yet another dimension to the story.
Thank you again for editing my "Why I Volunteer" piece. It read so smoothly and actually makes sense. Thank you so very, very much!
I will send copies of the paper to Mrs. Wena Dows, Dr. Kenneth Heuler and Mr. John Silcox. I know they will enjoy it as much as we have.
Sincerely,
-- Agnes Hardt, director of volunteers West Kern Oil Museum
