Headlines On An Editorial Page

I arrived at the page without seeing a news story of interest. The headline of the editorial was an admonition to readers to "make sure your council hears your voice" and "exercise your right to participate in the decision-making process"

I was a second year homeowner when I decided I wanted to participate in the decision-making process. I became a candidate for the office of Councillor.

I was not successful. The term of office was one year.

Two terms later,giving birth in the interim,I was once again a candidate. Again unsuccessful.

Another two terms. Another birth. Once more,I was a candidate. This time successful.

I made my views known during intervening years in letters to the editor.They
appeared on the editorial page of the publication in my hand this morning.

The editor invariably took a strong and cogent positions on local political issues.

We did not always agree.

During this past Council term, residents did exercise their right to convey their views. On important issues,like the Byelection, they were ignored completely, while those whose vested interest was the salient feature, were shamelessly indulged at great expense to the majority.

Editorials on issues were conspicuous by their absence.

Merciless harrying, hounding and humiliation of staff passed without a whisper of editorial sanction.

Few news stories conveyed the facts nor did editorials take a position.The community might be scandalized by a shameful lack of fairness or civility from those elected to positions of trust and authority. The editors maintained silence

On the same editorial page this morning, a letter writer lamented that bullying still exists in schools despite tons of funds expended to correct the situation.The writer clearly expects correction to come from within the institution.

The press has long assumed the role of public watchdog. There was a time when they competed for the title.

How profound and compelling must the silence be, in the face of shameless pandering and clear and obvious injustice, before it is acknowledged, the conventional institution of media has abandoned it's traditional role?

How long before all of its pretensions are shattered?