Good news on war does get reported

The "biased liberal media" take a lot of flack for supposedly reporting only the horrors of the Iraq war. I often wonder what the critics are watching and reading.

On Monday, April 5, the NBC evening news presented the story of an Iraqi interpreter whose family was in danger because he was branded a "traitor." To defeat the red tape that prevented him from bringing his family to the U.S., one of the GIs with whom he worked waged a campaign all the way to a congressional hearing. The man now has a civilian interpreter job here. The final scene of the piece showed the soldier welcoming the man and his family at their new home in America.

That same evening, ABC told of another interpreter who had become a friend to the small group of Marines with whom he worked. When the Marines learned that his young son had a heart defect that would probably be fatal, they raised $75,000 and, with the help of friends at home, sent the boy to a children's hospital in the U.S., where his heart was successfully repaired. The story ended with the youngster, back home, being picked up, hugged and kissed by one of the Marines as his father stood beaming.

Such reports often include a note that there are many similar stories that go unreported for lack of time or space.

Yes, some media people do slant the news, although the liberal media has no monopoly on that fault. But if much of the news seems horrid and depressing, nothing is gained by saying, "Tsk, tsk!" and pointing fingers at those who report it. Instead, readers and viewers who really care should ask themselves what they can do to bring about change, however small, that will result in more "good news" stories.

Dan McGuire

Bensenville