TO THE EDITOR:
The Daily Tar Heel’s coverage of David Simon’s speech in the 2011 Frank Porter Graham Lecture was both underwhelming and hypocritical.
Rather than focusing on the substantive critique of structural flaws in American social policy that Simon delivered, the article focused more on his “profanity-laced” language and, at least in subtext, the author’s clear discomfort with his position. Statements like “Simon said America marginalized the poor and waged a war on drugs to turn a profit” grossly oversimplify his argument and are prejudicial as a result.
In the case of that particular statement, The Daily Tar Heel failed to make note of the fact that he indicted private prison corporations, lobbyists, state legislatures and the judicial system; no where though, did Simon turn his back on the idea of “America.”
Other omissions and misrepresentations in the article abound. With the obvious paucity of text (or real substance) on the front page, one is left to question whether there is a real emphasis on substantive reporting with regard to any views on social issues left of center-left.
As dedicated to free expression as The Daily Tar Heel claimed to be in its front-page celebration of the First Amendment, it seemed unwilling and unable to engage with viewpoints that, while perhaps unpopular, are nonetheless important and valid.
Izaak Earnhardt
Sophomore
Religious Studies
