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Press must continue as nation’s watchdog

I never miss a chance to read Jim Slusher’s column on Thursdays. He always has a pertinent viewpoint. My point on his May 23 contribution about freedom of the press is as follows:

I have lived in America for almost 60 years, being in my 70th year of life. In that time I have been part of the greening of democracy since World War II. As a teenager I vividly remember the McCarthy hearings, the communistic elephant in the room, or was it the 800-pound gorilla? I wondered why we could not read “Mein Kampf” or the material about Communism in school. I recognized the enemy during the Korean War, and I was astounded with the reality of follow-up wars after the “war to end all wars.”

As a naturalized citizen I was interested in the policies our government expounded on because we were considered the good guys. Our country has many growing pains to live through before we are at a point where we can say we have arrived.

My immigrant parents taught me one thing — ethics. Why does that subject have to be taught in universities? It emphasized respect, tolerance and honesty. If a journalist does not have this it will reverberate through the society. It is therefore paramount in those who work in government such as the military, IRS, CIA, FBI and, last but not least, the Justice Department of whom the column is speaking.

I hope the press continues to be the “watchdog” (as with Watergate) of those who feel they are above the law and who do not need to adhere to the ethical dealings. National security is no longer a good excuse as it has become a phrase crying wolf.

Iris R. Seefeldt

Arlington Heights

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