[Peace-discuss] News Gazette's URL link to retaliation article.

[E. Wayne Johnson]

I have hit several dogs with my pickup truck while making veterinary 
service calls in southern Illinois.
Fortunately, each encounter resulted in the death of the offending 
canine, so there was never any
question of what to do.

When a dog or other animal is on a public roadway and struck by a 
vehicle, there is no liability to the driver or
the owner of the vehicle.   The owner of the animal is responsible for 
the care of the the animal and is responsible
for keeping it confined such that it is not a menace on the public 
roadways.  The owner of the animal may be
subject to penalties and damages resulting from the animal not being 
properly restrained/confined.

The driver of a vehicle that has struck an animal has no responsibility 
to check on the animal.

Some people do have difficulty distinguishing between animals and humans 
in their value judgments.  Animals are property.
People are not.  If you strike a human, you are responsible to remain on 
the scene.  There is no such responsibility
when striking an animal.

Just when one thinks that the level of journalistic ability at the News 
Gazette can't go any lower, one is surprised.
If only the NG had the same regard for citizens that it seems to have 
for dogs.

On 12/11/2009 3:31 PM, Melodye Rosales wrote:
> It was brought to my attention that the story made it to a URL link 
> (note: the hard copy has Giraldo's photo included---haven't checked 
> the online version):
>
> http://www.newsgazette.com/news/local/2009/12/11/rosales_accused_of_not_checking_on_dog
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Melodye Rosales* <melodye at nitrogendesign.com 
> <mailto:melodye at nitrogendesign.com>>
> Date: Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 2:26 PM
> Subject: I'd appreciate alliance and support for the first wave of 
> retaliation being directed at us...
> To: Brian Dolinar <briandolinar at gmail.com <mailto:briandolinar at gmail.com>>
> Cc: Courtwatch Discuss <discuss at communitycourtwatch.org 
> <mailto:discuss at communitycourtwatch.org>>, Peace-discuss 
> <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net 
> <mailto:peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>>
>
>
>
> Today in the NewsGazette there appeared an article that not only had 
> half truths, but was intentionally, or unintentionally, slanted to 
> appear that Giraldo Rosales was guilty of inhumane treatment and 
> cruelty to animals.
>
> Patrick Floyd (the owner of the dog who was involved in the accident) 
> left a very sincere, detailed message on Giraldo's voice mail this 
> morning.  I phoned Patrick using the work number he provided to let 
> him know Giraldo received his message and would call him after 
> work---but wanted me to call so that we could bring a human voice to 
> the table.  Mr. Floyd seemed very compassionate and well meaning. He 
> said he not only did not know who gave the News-Gazette his number, 
> but he had absolutely no intention of having this accident or his name 
> mixed into the story that was presented as an attack on Giraldo.  In 
> fact, he never knew there was going to be a news article.  His parents 
> woke him up this morning to share the article since he does not 
> subscribe to the News Gazette. He further stated that when the 
> neighbor who was driving this distorted absurdity came to his home, 
> they shared their complaints about us, Patrick said that was not 
> something he wanted to get in the middle of or wanted the dog and 
> accident to be used or made a part of.  In his mind he felt the matter 
> was an unfortunate accident and held no one to blame.
>
> Giraldo's message to Kacich and the News Gazette was:
>
> _*"Therefore, we demand the same prominent space in the News Gazette, 
> as well as word count, to respectfully  respond, and address the 
> matter in a more human interest spin then that of a tabloid teaser*_ 
> Kacich decided to run."
>
>
> What Giraldo and I would like for our email groups to do:
>
>     * make certain that the community knows this article had one
>       purpose, and one purpose only----to embarrass and create
>       hostility towards us in direct retaliation for Giraldo and my
>       outspoken criticism on the News Gazette and City Staff (which
>       includes the CPD) for their coverage and handling of the Kiwane
>       Carrington case.
>     * to let the News Gazette know we will not be bullied or allow
>       character assassinations brought to the court of public opinion
>       by using their ability to reach the masses in
>       minutes---discrediting us one-by-one
>
> An even sadder commentary is that Kacich stated the reason he ran the 
> article was because Giraldo is a public figure and what he does is 
> newsworthy -----yet he could not explain why the N-G has never given 
> so much press to issues and actions that have received wide-support 
> and acclaim for all of the public officials----
>
> Kacich's response to my criticism of the distorted, lack of fact 
> checking and not even a pretense at appearing balanced----his response 
> was:
>
>    *
>
>
>       "...As for the story being a "tabloid teaser," I think you are
>       neglecting to
>       note that the story was placed on B-3, not on A-1 or even B-1.
>       Plus it
>       included quotes and accounts from everyone involved, whose name
>       and phone
>       number I had. And you also failed to mention that I was the one
>       who gave
>       Patrick Floyd's phone number to Giraldo in case he wanted to
>       call him
>       about the dog..."
>
> And Kacich wrote this AFTER I sent an email stating:
>
>     * I was aware of the owners concerns about having him appear as if
>       he was on board with the whole version
>     * that the woman (Klose-Washburn) came to his house trying to
>       encourage the guy to press charges of which the owner refused
>
> *To teach the News Gazette that they need to make amends for their 
> reckless journalism----- the N-G needs to pay for the owner's $800's 
> worth of medical expenses to teach N-G the cost of using people as 
> fair game for their personal agendas without regard for facts or truth 
> or the consequences such actions may bring*
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>    

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