Reader disgusted by column

When I heard that we would have a new editor at the Valley Press, I was so interested that I made a point of reading the articles she wrote. When I went into the Valley Press to talk with Ms. McBride about an article that she wrote, she said, “She had the right to her opinion,” and if I would like to comment about the article that I could write a letter to the editor. So…Here is my opinion!

I have lived in Paradise nearly my whole life. My folks, my siblings, my five children and I went through the Paradise/Plains School systems. Then I have worked for 30 years as the Paradise School clerk. During that period of time our Paradise School always used the Valley Press (The Plainsman) to publish all of our legal notices, schedules of events and special school news articles. The parents and students relied on the Valley Press for the latest school news.

However, when I read the article, “Of Parasites and Politicians,” written by the new editor, Jennifer McBride, published July 23,2008, page 4, I had to doubt my trust in the integrity of this paper. Calling Hillary Clinton a “menopausal millionaire,” was tack and crass, but the reference to Barack Obama, in paragraph 7 was crude and vulgar. It was an insult to the readers of these small western country communities. If it was suppose to be funny, it wasn’t. It smacks of “sensational journalism,” done for no other purpose than to catch everyone’s attention. Do you want your children reading such trash?

I feel an apology, published in the Valley Press would be in line here.

Disgusted reader,

Karen Pickering

Paradise