[Peace-discuss] A curious omission by the News-Gazette

[Randall Cotton]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marti Wilkinson" <martiwilki at gmail.com>
To: "Randall Cotton" <recotton at earthlink.net>
Cc: <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] A curious omission by the News-Gazette


: It didn't occur to me that I was being quick to 'defend' the
News-Gazette.

OK, but that certainly was the appearance. Soon after I posted (less than
an hour), presumably without actually looking at the NG article in
question and doing the comparison that I did, you took the trouble to post
a response blunting my criticism of the News-Gazette, saying you thought
the edits had a totally innocent explanation.

I cannot know your intent in this situation, but your actions are
indistinguishable from a deliberate effort to defend the News-Gazette even
without knowing the details, stating an opinion that the edits were "a
fairly common and mundane editorial practice", implying that my criticism
was unfounded.

: My comment was to the effect that what you observed may be a reflection
of a
: standard practice in newspapers. As for your decision to 'challenge'
me - I
: have to ask why are you so quick to judge my response?

Well, I think I had all the facts necessary to make a quick judgment that
you were casting doubt on my claim of expurgation by the NG to favor the
military. I made the criticism, and you took the trouble to post a
counter-argument, claiming an innocent alternative explanation for the
edits, which had the effect of defending the News-Gazette against my
criticism.

Some more details:
=============
Also snipped from the article was the following passage, regarding the
trouble Kelly and Joshua were experiencing in trying to get Joshua into
counseling in a Warrior Transition Unit. This passage reflects poorly on
the Madigan Army Medical Center (again, where Sgt. Barber drove his pickup
to commit suicide):

"Kelly Barber said the couple worked with Madigan officials to help
approve his transfer, but there were numerous delays and no decision had
been made at the time of his suicide. Sharon Ayala, spokeswoman for
Madigan, declined to comment because an investigation is pending."

***

Total space allocated for article photos: 120 square inches
Total space allocated for article text: 70 square inches
Total additional space needed to fit entire original article: 9 square
inches

So instead of printing the full article (for which there was clearly
room), the News Gazette took the trouble to clip out the bits that
mentioned:

1. how there were "numerous delays" getting Joshua into a counseling
situation
2. the fact that Joshua made a point to dress in his "old combat uniform"
before commiting suicide
3. the fact that his wife thinks Joshua was "making a statement to the
military" by dressing in his "old combat uniform" and killing himself in
front of the Magidan Army Medical Center.

I maintain that whatever statement Joshua might have been trying to make
would tend to reflect poorly on the military.

Perhaps he meant something like "My combat experience in the military
drove me to commit suicide and the Army wouldn't help me".

But thanks to the News-Gazette's surgical censorship, its readers will not
be allowed to ponder Joshua's message, which might lead the reader to
think more negatively about the military.

R

: On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 11:00 PM, Randall Cotton
<recotton at earthlink.net>wrote:
:
: > Well I think it's clear that you tend to give the NG the benefit of
the
: > doubt, much moreso than I. Did you see the original article? Did you
: > compare the two? Why are you so quick to defend the NG?
: >
: > If you were to study the two articles side by side, you would see that
: > there several edits. A sentence here, a sentence there, with at least
one
: > other instance of removing material unflattering to the military. It
: > wasn't just a matter of lopping off the last few lines. Yet so little
: > space was saved. The large front-page photo could have been something
like
: > 73 or 74 square inches instead of 76 and the entire article could have
: > been preserved. There was another smaller photo as well. Making each
of
: > them imperceptibly smaller would leave enough space for the whole
article.
: > I remain convinced that whoever edited that article was biased in
favor of
: > the military. Is it hard to accept that the NG might be biased in
favor of
: > the military? Would you find it hard to believe that there have been
other
: > instances of bias in favor of the military in the NG? Or that
publisher
: > and editors might be biased in favor of the military?
: >
: > I challenge you to do the actual comparison and come away from that
with
: > your opinion unchanged.
: >
: > R
: >
: > ----- Original Message -----
: > From: "Marti Wilkinson" <martiwilki at gmail.com>
: > To: "Randall Cotton" <recotton at earthlink.net>
: > Cc: <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
: > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 10:18 PM
: > Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] A curious omission by the News-Gazette
: >
: >
: > : In Journalism reporters are trained to start off a story with the
: > : information that is considered to be the most newsworthy. As an
article
: > : progresses the information becomes less of a priority. So in the
event
: > that
: > : a copy editor cut's off a paragraph or two from the bottom the
people
: > who
: > : read the article will still get the bulk of the story.  While the
N-G
: > may
: > : have had room to 'fit' in the missing paragraphs it may well be an
: > editorial
: > : standard to use large photos in order to get a visual appeal to
readers.
: >  The
: > : further away an article is from the front page the less likely it
will
: > be
: > : read and this is something that publishers take into consideration.
: > :
: > : In this instance, I see this as being part of a fairly common and
: > mundane
: > : editorial practice....and the News-Gazette is not unique in that
: > respect.
: > :
: > : Marti
: > :
: > : On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 9:30 PM, Randall Cotton
: > <recotton at earthlink.net>wrote:
: > :
: > : > Mention was made at last Sunday's AWARE meeting about the quite
: > prominent
: > : > story on the front page of the Commentary section of the Sunday
: > : > News-Gazette.
: > : >
: > : > It was a McClatchy Newspapers article about the rising suicide
rates
: > in
: > : > the military. The article was somewhat unexpected in my opinion
and
: > : > laudable on the surface. It featured the story of Sgt. Joshua
Barber's
: > : > suicide as related largely by his wife Kelly (who is featured in
large
: > : > compelling photos). However, it turns out the article as printed
was
: > an
: > : > edited version of what was originally a somewhat larger article.
In
: > : > particular, a very significant part of the story was omitted in
the
: > : > snipped News-Gazette version. The following is the end of the full
: > : > article, describing the end of Sgt. Barber's life, when he arrived
at
: > : > Madigan Army Medical Center (referred to as "Madigan" below). All
of
: > this
: > : > was completely lopped off in the News Gazette version:
: > : >
: > : > *****************************
: > : > Surveillance video shows that Barber arrived at Madigan about 7
a.m.
: > the
: > : > next day and didn't get out of the pickup, according to the police
: > report.
: > : > A Madigan employee found his body two days later and called 9-1-1.
: > Kelly
: > : > Barber, who was working at the time of the discovery, was notified
: > later
: > : > that morning.
: > : >
: > : > According to the medical examiner's report, Barber had put a
revolver
: > : > loaded with hollow-point rounds to the right side of his head and
: > pulled
: > : > the trigger.
: > : >
: > : > He was dressed in his old combat uniform.
: > : >
: > : > "He was making a statement to the military," Kelly Barber said.
: > : > *****************************
: > : >
: > : > It's not like the NG didn't have room to fit this in. The front
page
: > photo
: > : > was exceptionally large (over 70 square inches). Did the
News-Gazette
: > omit
: > : > Sgt. Barber's last desperate statement under the rug because it
: > reflects
: > : > poorly on the military? So it would appear. A google search turned
up
: > the
: > : > article in 8 different places. None was missing the above excerpt.
: > Sgt.
: > : > Barber's statement is arguably the most compelling part of the
story,
: > but
: > : > apparently it was left out deliberately by the News-Gazette for no
: > other
: > : > discernible reason.
: > : >
: > : > Following is the full article, taken from:
: > : >
: > : > http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=92728145
: > : >
: > : > Please read it. It's not long.
: > : >
: > : > **********
: > : >
: > : > "Do you think that God's going to send me to hell for killing
innocent
: > : > people?" former Sgt. Joshua Barber asked his wife one day last
summer.
: > : >
: > : > Kelly Barber tried to reassure her distraught husband. Nearly
three
: > years
: > : > after a combat tour in Iraq, he was a shell of the loving and
: > fun-loving
: > : > man she'd married nine years earlier.
: > : >
: > : > Joshua Barber was quiet, withdrawn, constantly fighting demons he
: > couldn't
: > : > exorcise. His question reinforced her fear that he was sliding
further
: > : > into a well of guilt and despair as she tried desperately to hold
on.
: > : >
: > : > The couple had sought help from the Army and U.S. Department of
: > Veterans
: > : > Affairs, but Kelly Barber said they got caught up in red tape.
: > : >
: > : > "He just had to fight so many battles, and no one would help him,"
she
: > : > said.
: > : >
: > : > The 31-year-old soldier killed himself three weeks after asking
that
: > : > terrible question.
: > : >
: > : > On Aug. 25, a day after his wife reported him missing from their
home
: > in
: > : > Lacey, Joshua Barber drove onto Fort Lewis in his silver 2005 Ford
: > F150
: > : > pickup, a gift from his wife when he returned from Iraq.
: > : >
: > : > He parked in the lot at Madigan Army Medical Center and shot
himself
: > in
: > : > the head with a revolver, one of several guns he'd taken from
home.
: > : >
: > : > Barber's death is hardly an isolated case. In a nearly three-year
: > period,
: > : > more than half of the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
who
: > : > committed suicide did so at least a year after their deployments
: > ended,
: > : > Army data show. A large number of soldiers who hadn't deployed
also
: > took
: > : > their own lives. The number of suicides involving veterans ages 18
to
: > 29
: > : > receiving care from the VA nearly doubled from 36 in 2005 to 68 in
: > 2006,
: > : > the most recent figures available, according to the VA.
: > : >
: > : > The Army and the VA have redoubled their efforts to prevent
suicides.
: > Both
: > : > have expanded services and launched initiatives aimed at suicide
: > : > prevention.
: > : >
: > : > The Army is hiring dozens of counselors and has developed an
: > interactive
: > : > video so soldiers can identify warning signs and help a distraught
: > : > colleague through various scenarios. The Army and the National
: > Institute
: > : > of Mental Health recently announced a five-year, $50 million
research
: > : > program into the factors behind soldier suicides.
: > : >
: > : > The VA, meanwhile, is taking steps to improve its screening among
: > veterans
: > : > diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and
: > increase
: > : > training so chaplains can look for warning signs. In July 2007, it
: > : > launched a national suicide hot line, which receives thousands of
: > calls
: > : > each month, said Fred Blow, director of the VA's Serious Mental
: > Illness
: > : > Treatment Research and Evaluation Center.
: > : >
: > : > "The Army is doing everything possible, but you still have those
who
: > : > choose to take their own lives," said Maj. Nathan Banks, an Army
: > : > spokesman.
: > : >
: > : > A cook -- and a gunner
: > : >
: > : > For Joshua Barber, the serious problems began a year after his
return
: > from
: > : > Iraq.
: > : >
: > : > He had deployed with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
: > Division
: > : > from September 2004 to October 2005. The Stryker brigade has since
: > : > transferred to Germany.
: > : >
: > : > Barber was a cook but found himself a gunner on missions in Iraq.
: > : >
: > : > His VA physician wrote in an assessment after his death that "it
is
: > : > reasonable and valid to attribute his suicide to post-traumatic
stress
: > : > disorder, particularly in light of the fact that he joined during
: > peace
: > : > time, not knowing he would be called on to serve in war. ...
: > : >
: > : > "At the point of enlistment, he probably never suspected that he
would
: > be
: > : > called on to serve in a combat role," she wrote in the assessment,
a
: > copy
: > : > of which was provided to The Olympian by Kelly Barber.
: > : >
: > : > Barber joined the service before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
: > : >
: > : > On Dec. 21, 2004, a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a
mess
: > tent
: > : > near the Mosul airport, killing 22 people. Among the dead were 14
U.S.
: > : > service members, including six Fort Lewis soldiers.
: > : >
: > : > For days, Barber and other soldiers had to keep the area secure
and
: > escort
: > : > federal agents around the crime scene. After his return home, he
had
: > : > nightmares about the mutilated bodies lying everywhere, his wife
said.
: > : >
: > : > "He would say that all he could remember was the smell of death,"
she
: > : > said. "That bothered him quite a bit."
: > : >
: > : > When a sniper's bullet killed his first sergeant, Barber blamed
: > himself.
: > : > He was convinced the noncommissioned officer would still be alive
if
: > : > Barber had gone on that mission, his wife wrote in materials
submitted
: > to
: > : > the government.
: > : >
: > : > Barber noted in his post-deployment health screening that he felt
at
: > least
: > : > one time during his deployment that he was in "great danger" of
being
: > : > killed. He also acknowledged that he had an experience so
frightening
: > and
: > : > upsetting near the end of his tour that he felt numb or detached.
: > : >
: > : > However, the screening official concluded that Barber had "no
medical
: > : > issues" and didn't refer him for treatment, including for combat
and
: > : > operational stress, according to the screening, a copy of which
was
: > : > provided by Kelly Barber.
: > : >
: > : > Her husband eventually sought private care.
: > : >
: > : > During his leave, the couple attended a concert by Weezer, an
: > alternative
: > : > rock band. Barber, who his wife said was usually "the first one in
the
: > : > mosh pit," couldn't handle having so many people around him.
: > : >
: > : > She later recalled a camping trip where she remarked about the
beauty
: > of
: > : > the surrounding mountains. Her husband said he liked the scenery,
: > too --
: > : > because there would be "good hiding places so no one would get
me,"
: > she
: > : > remembers him saying.
: > : >
: > : > Medically unfit
: > : >
: > : > Barber's status with the military added to his stress. He
transferred
: > to
: > : > an Army Reserve unit based in Tacoma to serve out his military
: > contract.
: > : >
: > : > He was required to undergo a retention physical. It wasn't until
: > August
: > : > 2007, nearly a year after he underwent the physical, that he was
found
: > : > medically unfit to continue serving. The military deemed the
reasons
: > to be
: > : > nonduty-related.
: > : >
: > : > He was given an honorable discharge in January. He was hired as a
cook
: > at
: > : > Madigan, where his wife also worked. (Kelly Barber no longer works
: > there.
: > : > The 40-year-old just moved to Florida, where her family lives.)
: > : >
: > : > By spring, and after some initial delays, Joshua Barber had
received a
: > : > disability claim from the VA for post-traumatic stress disorder
and
: > had
: > : > begun receiving treatment at one of its hospitals.
: > : >
: > : > He had requested a transfer back to the active-duty ranks so he
could
: > join
: > : > a Warrior Transition unit, where injured soldiers are assigned
until
: > they
: > : > either can return to their regular unit or are medically retired.
: > : >
: > : > He thought receiving counseling in an environment where other
soldiers
: > : > shared his experience with combat would aid in his treatment, his
wife
: > : > said.
: > : >
: > : > Kelly Barber said the couple worked with Madigan officials to help
: > approve
: > : > his transfer, but there were numerous delays and no decision had
been
: > made
: > : > at the time of his suicide.
: > : >
: > : > Sharon Ayala, spokeswoman for Madigan, declined to comment because
an
: > : > investigation is pending.
: > : >
: > : > Drinking and an apology
: > : >
: > : > Early in the morning of Aug. 24, Kelly Barber awoke to find her
: > husband
: > : > watching television in the living room, drunk. His drinking had
become
: > a
: > : > problem.
: > : >
: > : > She became angry and stormed back to the bedroom. Later in the
day, he
: > : > called her at work to apologize. In one of their last
conversations,
: > he
: > : > "said he loved me and he was sorry," she recalled, breaking down
: > during an
: > : > interview.
: > : >
: > : > "Sometimes I think it's my fault," she said a little while later.
: > : >
: > : > He wasn't home when she returned from work. She later discovered
that
: > he'd
: > : > taken all the guns and ammunition from the home.
: > : >
: > : > On the kitchen counter, she found his cell phone and a green
Post-It
: > note.
: > : >
: > : > "I love you. Please do not blaim (sic) yourself. Sorry," it read.
: > : >
: > : > She called police.
: > : >
: > : > Surveillance video shows that Barber arrived at Madigan about 7
a.m.
: > the
: > : > next day and didn't get out of the pickup, according to the police
: > report.
: > : > A Madigan employee found his body two days later and called 9-1-1.
: > Kelly
: > : > Barber, who was working at the time of the discovery, was notified
: > later
: > : > that morning.
: > : >
: > : > According to the medical examiner's report, Barber had put a
revolver
: > : > loaded with hollow-point rounds to the right side of his head and
: > pulled
: > : > the trigger.
: > : >
: > : > He was dressed in his old combat uniform.
: > : >
: > : > "He was making a statement to the military," Kelly Barber said.
: > : >
: > : > **********
: > : >
: > : >
: > : > _______________________________________________
: > : > Peace-discuss mailing list
: > : > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
: > : > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
: > : >
: > :
: >
: > _______________________________________________
: > Peace-discuss mailing list
: > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
: > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
: >
:


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