Letter to the Editor: Make it stop!

To the Editor,

To my chagrin, and I can assure you many others, who opened your website to see another edition of the local amateur’s medical opinion/propaganda. This is what happens when a person watches too much Fox TV and becomes susceptible to the influence of celebrities and propagandists.

I know that Vinton Today likes people to mix it up especially when politics are concerned but providing a constant platform to one person to parrot a “cure” that may or may not work is no different that the snake-oil salesman hawking their product as a miracle drug. As a purveyor of news, Vinton Today has an obligation to provide correct information sans without opinion especially in these perilous times.

If Vinton Today was really interested in providing a platform for open debate about this drug, you would seek out a local medical professional for their view. Someone who actually has professional standing. Instead your appetite for political controversy outweighs your responsibility as part of the media to present two sides of this important story.

I will not comment about the efficacy of this drug. I am not qualified to give an opinion, but neither is John Stiegelmeyer. I ask Vinton Today to stop providing a platform for unqualified, self-professed medical know-it-alls and find true medical professionals to weigh in on this subject.

Rosemary Schwartz

Comments

Submit a Comment

RS April 15, 2020, 9:23 pm Why is it have to be all or nothing at all? Somehow I think if I wrote these long multiple letters bestowing my beliefs and "feelings" about Democrats, someone would be complaining that Vinton Today was being taken over by those progressive, liberal, Democrats because all media especially coming from Democrats is fake. (that is sarcasm) All I am asking for is a little restraint. Nothing John has written the last couple of weeks has added anything to the subject. He only repeats over and over what he has heard on Fox or what our "genius" president says. I think we got it.

TH April 15, 2020, 7:50 pm So, Rosemary, you are saying that Vinton Today should allow you to express your opinion but John should not be allowed to express his? I read many things on the editorial page that I don’t agree with but I would never suggest that what the author “feels” on a particular topic is not valid or at least worth acknowledgment.

RS April 15, 2020, 7:37 pm Bethany, I am not talking about censorship. I am talking about Vinton Today having a policy like other media with guidelines on how long an article is i.e. The Gazette limits their letters to I think 300 words, and limit on how many times a person can send in a letter, once a month, once a quarter whatever. John has gone on and on about the malaria drug. Nothing new in the last 3 or 4!! We all know he will support anything that Trump does or says. A policy should be in place that does not allow one person to write over and over a few days apart on the same subject, whether that is John or me. (I remember a few years back when I wrote letters more frequently than I do now and a similar request came from readers that did not like seeing my writings often complained and a policy was set then to limit entries. Where did that go?) Plus, the subject of John's advertising of this malaria drug is particular dangerous because it is not a miracle drug. We do not know whether it will be effective or not and it is dangerous for the President, Fox news and John to keep promoting this until we know what those affects are. All 3 entities do not know what they are not qualified to give any opinion of this subject. Rosemary Editor's Note: Vinton Today has never turned down any letter to the Editor, ever.

WJ April 15, 2020, 5:44 pm Thank you for speaking up, Patty Morgan.

DL April 15, 2020, 4:23 pm Patty Morgan, Why do you think it's necessary to ask what Al Gore knows about science? Look up his bio and see what it says. Otherwise, it has nothing to do with this letter. Bill Nye isn't a scientist. He's a science communicator. Much like high school teachers are. They aren't scientists, but, they can't certainly teach about science. But again, that has nothing to do with this letter. Who's Greta? Does she have anything to do with this letter? I don't know how much Bill Gates knows about medicine. But, as one of the richest people in the world, he certainly has access to put together a forum of the most educated medical minds available, to educate him on a subject at hand. But again, what does that have to do with this letter? It's hard to educate people that can't focus on the topic at hand. When their mind is trained to go into defense mode, and start firing off the first things they think of, that might distract from ability to actually focus, it's a lost cause.

NG April 15, 2020, 4:02 pm What Al Gore says or Greta says are entirely different than what impeached 45 says. Some people swallow what he says hook line and sinker and believe he can do no wrong. One man already died from taking fish tank cleaner because it had the same ingredients in it as the drug 45 is pushing. Some people would jump off a bridge if he said jump. He is not a Dr. and should not be prescribing medication but he and Giuliani both are benefiting from owning stock in the company that makes the drugs he is pushing. It is money in his pocket, why else would he be pushing it but to benefit himself. It is always about him. John gives out a lot of false information that needs to be corrected and i along with others feel the need to do that and I will continue to do that. John the other day gave a list of things that Democrats added to the Corona bill, all lies and someone else added that they gave themselves a raise another total lie. Sorry but I will correct things like that. Anyone who doesn't fact check their information needs to be corrected and that includes me. Norma Gould

BT April 15, 2020, 3:58 pm Opinion articles are just that, an opinion. Vinton today can not and should not ever control or censor opinion pieces. That would infringe on the Freedom of Speech. I for one, have high regard for this on-line paper.

SL April 15, 2020, 3:22 pm I must admit that when I see most of those lengthy diatribes I scroll down to the signature then I delete. That part is good advice.

DE April 15, 2020, 2:03 pm I find John’s work informative, interesting, and thought provoking. In these times, I find his willingness to share his thoughts publicly a courageous thing to do. Thanks John for your voice. I’d like to continue to hear more.

BG April 15, 2020, 1:14 pm Hi Rosemary, I didn't see John's letter to the editor posted in the news section, but the opinion section. The opinion section is just that-opinion. If you ask the editor of VT to censor John's opinions, and she does so, what is she to do if someone asks her to censor your opinions because they disagree with you? The opinion section is intended to reflect varying views and I appreciate news sources continuing to make opinion pieces a feature on their respective platforms.

PM April 14, 2020, 6:51 pm I think Vinton Today has done an outstanding job not commenting on these posts. Let me ask this. What does Al Gore know about science? Is Bill Nye a scientist? Is Greta? What does Bill Gates know about medicine? All these people are considered "experts" yet they are not. The President says that a medication has been used to treat this virus, he doesn't say everyone should, just says that it has been and the world loses its mind. Hint: If you want John to stop, perhaps you should all just ignore or better yet scroll on, there are plenty of other things to read on here, or try reading with an open mind, you might find something worth pondering.

Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Make it stop!

Comments