ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 1, 1993                   TAG: 9306010234
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WHEN SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN

WHY IS THE Roanoke Times & World-News so prejudiced and racist? On March 21, a scathing editorial on Ollie North was written about his joke ("Funny as in `ha-ha'? Not really"). On May 1, Clinton makes a racist joke. Where is the scathing editorial against him? Nothing but silence from this newspaper.

Our president jokes that the only reason a white man comes to the defense of a white woman is because the attacker is black. What a racist joke! Where are Gov. Wilder and Jesse Jackson? They are quiet. All of a sudden, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is very quiet - when normally it is screaming racism. And where is Charles Green? Strangely quiet.

Mr. Editor, should our newspaper be balanced in decrying the actions of all, regardless of persons? What do I find buried on the obituary page? An article about Wilder making a "gay joke." He said of Ollie North, "You don't get it," and then does it himself. Mr. Editor, since you've been quiet twice in a row, please explain to your readers why you are so prejudiced.

Will integrity ever be found in America and at this newspaper? GENE HARTSELL TROUTVILLE 


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