Our thirty-third president, Harry S. Truman, was quoted in 1956 as saying, “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it is hell.”
Around The Times, the confusion of truth with hell is not too surprising to us. We almost expect it. It could be from a political figure who is being questioned in an editorial; or it could be a person arrested by the police (If we had not mentioned it no one would have known about it); or it could be the coach or sports fan who does not like our report about their team losing; or … the instances go on and on.
Recently a person arrested and convicted for a crime nearly 10 years ago wanted us to take the information off the Internet. Did you do what we reported? Yes, but there was more to it than what you wrote. When I Google my name on a computer your story comes up for everyone to see, the caller said. The Internet could become a crime deterrent, I thought when I heard this story. That is one of the things people should be most cautious about; once something is out on the Web, it takes a life of its own.
We like to think of ourselves as bearers of the truth. As your grandparent might have said, “The truth hurts.” To Truman it hurt so bad sometimes it felt like hell.
People who become public figures almost always do so with the best of intentions of always being truthful with the voter. Usually they were motivated into the public arena by the lack of public cooperation between them and an official of government.
Any newspaper worth its salt exists mainly as a defender of the First Amendment of the Constitution. “Congress shall make no law … prohibiting the free exercise … of speech, or the press; …”
Our current president has promised “transparency” in his government. Georgia Governor Perdue, who has not exactly been a flag waver for Freedom of the Press, has established a state Web site to bring more sunshine to state departments, state boards and local boards of education. You can check this out yourself at www.open.georgia.gov. It is not complete but it is a good start.
We applaud both men for their actions.
Locally we need to do a better job of heeding the Sunshine Laws and exercising more openness in government. The actions of public officials, whether elected or appointed are done so as an extension of the public.
Earlier this year, a senior Georgia Attorney General Stefan Ritter spoke to the Cobb County Board of Education about open meetings and open records. To Ritter, the Open Meetings Act is pretty clear. “If there’s any doubt about openness it has to be interpreted in favor of openness.”
Lunches with a quorum are considered meetings, he told the Board. Behind door exceptions are few, he added. “No votes in closed session. All votes of all kind are in the open,” he explained.
“If you violate the Open Meetings Act everything you did in violation of the Act is void,” Ritter said.
If my boss asks me a question or wants to see a file in my office, I respond in the positive without excuses. I know who hired me and who signs my check. Our public officials need to do a better job of remembering who they work for as well.
What We Think
From the publisher: Harry Truman had the truth down pat
- What We Think
-
-
Elections: Creating a two-party region?
Twenty years ago, most area elections were decided during the primaries. Then, almost every candidate qualified as a Democrat. While there may be plenty of challengers on the ballot, many seats were decided in July or a few weeks later during the primary run-off.
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To South Georgians making fine impressions on television singing competitions. Phillip Phillips of Leesburg won “American Idol” this week. Meanwhile, Lowndes High School graduate Stacia Watkins participated in the new ABC show “Duets.” Well done!
-
Farewell to the vanishing ace
Donald S. “Bush” Bryan was not only a rare individual. He was part of a vanishing breed.
An Adel resident for the past 30 years, Bryan was a World War II flying ace. Not just an ace but a double ace. A pilot must down five enemy aircraft to become an ace; Bryan downed 13.3 enemy planes in Europe. The fractions represent planes downed with other pilots. -
A widespread mosquito alert
In announcing the discovery of a mosquito carrying the West Nile Virus strain, city and health officials did not include the specific location of the discovery.
-
Of Guantanamo Bay and a Founding Father
Some readers may wonder how a Valdosta High School graduate could bring himself as an attorney to represent a Guantanamo Bay prisoner charged in connection to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
-
Congratulations, VSU Softball!
This weekend, Valdosta State University Blazers Softball became the latest team to add to Valdosta’s TitleTown legacy.
-
School’s out so watch out!
Summer is a time of rest, vacations and trips. It is a time when school is out, when people take time off from work, when people may stay out a little later. It is a time of swimming, trying new things, and seeking adventure.
-
Qualifiers are next leaders
While the national media focuses attention on the presidential election, it should be remembered that we will also choose our local leaders this year.
-
Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To the 2011-12 arts season. Theatre Guild Valdosta’s rollicking comedy, “Caught in the Net,” officially brings to a close a magnificent schedule of shows ranging from theatre to opera to concerts to art exhibits and more from a variety of area venues. Theatre Guild will also open the 2012-13 season this summer with the musical “Into the Woods.” Until then, arts lovers can soon enjoy a new series of exhibits from the year-round Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and three musicals starting in two weeks from Peach State Summer Theatre.
-
Events that get things done
Finding something that repeatedly attracts the public is difficult enough, but finding an event that accomplishes that feat while also promoting your organization and helping others … well, in many places, that’s a rarity.
Not so for the Valdosta area. - More What We Think Headlines
-
Elections: Creating a two-party region?
