Cartoon's publication showed a lack of common sense

We Americans value the right to speak our minds and we believe in the right of free speech. So if Rob Roberts, editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, decides to display his ignorance and bias in a particularly insensitive and offensive manner, we afford him that stage. His depiction of the Catholic Pope as a crazed tweeter espousing “15th century views” certainly says more about the cartoonist than about Pope Benedict.

But, we Americans also believe that those who are given a position of authority and public trust should exercise a measure of common sense and maturity when they use that position. The decision of the Bonner County Daily Bee to amplify Mr. Rogers’ display in the Thursday, Dec. 13 edition, showed neither common sense nor maturity.

While not agreeing with every interest group, a community paper should treat each group with respect. The readers of a local paper trust that the paper will reflect their views in a reasoned and thoughtful fashion. The decision to run Mr. Rogers’ cartoon has removed a good deal of that trust for many Bonner County readers.

Calls for public apologies and the subsequent statements of regret have become trite, but the editorial staff of the Bee needs to make amends for the careless publication of the Rogers cartoon.

FRED OMODT

Sandpoint