Wednesday, April 4, 2001

Attack letter reflects on paper

I am constantly amused at the letters to the editor about Delta pilots printed in your newspaper. As a pilot, I actually enjoy reading your editorial section.

For some people it is a very emotional subject, but for most of us it is just business. While your editorial opinions have been somewhat slanted, you do print an occasional letter giving the pilot's point of view.

But I do want to comment on the March 28 letter to the editor. The letter started off calling Delta pilots cry babies. It then went on to take up a large part of the editorial page bashing a specific pilot for everything from attending Georgia Tech to the size of an airline seat.

While the letter was filled with mostly half-truths, I still feel it is every person's right to give their opinion. That is until I got to the end of the letter and was surprised to see "name withheld by request."

So now you are printing anonymous personal attacks directed at a named individual. But you don't want to embarrass the writer so you withhold their name by request. Printing anonymous attack letters reflects poorly on the newspaper and your editorial staff.

Rick Holmes

Peachtree City

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