Letter: Let’s not stifle our newspapers

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | 7:22 a.m.

The two letter writers in the Las Vegas Review-Journal who recently lambasted the idea of the Review-Journal being delivered along with the Las Vegas Sun, and in denigrating the latter, need to reflect on our democracy.

Would they rather stifle the fact that two newspapers, each with opposite views and the publication of different selection of events, keep us aware of local, state and world happenings? Perhaps they would rather live in a society in which the government controls the content of the media?

After all, this country was founded on dissent and an independent American government was formed on that fact. I congratulate our Fourth Estate, its owners, editors, reporters and other personnel who are involved in gathering and informing the public of worldwide activities.

If it weren't for our newspapers - in addition to daily news events, sports, various heroics and beneficial deeds - information about injustice and nefarious activities , including corruption, disgrace, favoritism, treachery, crime, secret deals, hidden affairs of state and many others affecting our lives , would not have been reported or exposed. Added to this are the many editorials covering myriad subjects, many exposing little-known facts.

We must not forget the political cartoons that accompany some editorials and lampoon or approve current events or activities. The news is so well reported that almost each day, after reading both papers, I have formed a letter or two in my mind concerning some published item that I oppose or approve. Most are not reduced to writing, but in several cases I have been so moved to write and submit a letter to one of the papers. Those two letter writers and I are indeed fortunate to live in a country where we can freely express our views in the media .

Of course, helping us to forget some of the bad news are the comics and the antics of our beloved characters. Keep those presses rolling!

Leopold A. Potsiadlo, Las Vegas