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The Journal Editorial
By Cindy Sheets, The Perkins Journal
WINNING EDITORIAL-April 2004
There is an interesting article about former President Jimmy Carter in this week’s edition of American Profile magazine. Along with Carter’s humanitarian efforts, the article notes he has been involved with political mediation in countries around the world and
"has monitored 44 elections- sometimes putting his own live in harm’s way – in 22 countries."
National newscasts report occurrences of political power struggles with sickening frequency. But power struggles of this type are certainly not limited to third world countries. It can even happen here in Perkins.
The Journal has learned about an instance last week involving threats made to a local business owner because of that owner’s support for one of the candidates for Perkins mayor.
The business owner received an anonymous letter blatantly stating the support of the candidate must stop or the business would suffer.
Since when is it acceptable in this country to suppress the expression of opinion?
Countless citizens of this country have died to defend our right to do just that.
This business owner, just like everyone else in this country, has the right to support whomever they wish for political office. We also all have the right to express that support in any legal manner.
This writer, on the other hand, has chosen to express disapproval with vailed threats rather than simply respectfully offering an opposing opinion.
An anonymous writer, sending letters of this type, is in the same class as the person who spray paints obscenities on the sides of buildings during the night, or one who lobs a brick through a window from a moving car.
The person who wrote the letter should be ashamed of themselves. And what’s more, any political candidate who might approve of such tactics taken on their behalf should not only be ashamed, but should certainly not even be running for public office.
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