I believe that The Olympian has done a disservice to the community in regard to what has been its biased coverage of the Isthmus debacle. I submitted a letter to the editor last week (on Wednesday the 24th of September).

I just telephoned the paper today to ask about it - because I usually receive a verification call within a couple days of submission. Not so this time. It turns out the letter was not selected for publication. The letter contains a critique of The Olympian's coverage of the Isthmus Rezone.

Another letter I can remember having gone unpublished was a critique of The Olympian's "comments section" - where hate speech against gays, against people of color, against ethnic groups, and etc., is tolerated.

Does The Olympian have a policy of not publishing letters that are critical of The Olympian?

Maybe the newspaper would be more successful if they found a way to integrate constructive criticism.

Here's the unpublished letter, without further ado:

September 24, 2008

To the Editors:

Coverage of the isthmus rezone proposal in The Olympian has been disappointing. Coverage has been incomplete and biased in favor of the rezone. Where is the appropriate skepticism and attitude of oversight?

Meanwhile, the Olympian has portrayed those who oppose the Urban Waterfront Isthmus Building Height Rezone (proposed by Triway Enterprises) as "simplistic nay-sayers." Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, opposition to the proposal is based on a multitude of reasons: reasons that are both complex and meaningful, and sophisticated and solid. To brand the opposition as somehow simplistic is, quite frankly, insulting.

Hello All, while taking an espresso at the Cafe Vita, I picked-up an copy of the "Bicycle Paper" Winter 2007, and read the editorial on pg. 11 by Maynard Hershon, "Are They America?"...I just have to say >wow<.

I'd like to quote the editorial a bit to stimulate some thoughts and conversation, and also in memory of those who have lost their lives on bicycles in Thurston County this year. Please share the road in 2008 and let us all work towards zero fatalities amongst pedestrians and bicyclists in the South Sound for 2008.

From the editorial:

"If a driver uses force or the threat of force to intimidate cyclists, what is he or she but a terrorist?"

--terrorist, no; but an inconsiderate driver, "yes".

I'm frightened by inconsiderate drivers, but not terrorized (yet). I'm curious if anyone on the OlyBlog has ever felt terrified while bicycling, and/or has anyone been frightened/terrified by bicyclists?

any thoughts?