Op-ed: Globe stayed at the dance too long (by Peter Children)

John Skipper’s Monday Column –

John wrote today of the problem of having heroes….and of course he’s 100% correct. Bob Woodward has lost his edge, that comes from being lauded too many times and believing everything that was said. There is another term often used; “he stayed at the dance too long.” No one should blame Woodward for writing books, but any and all verbiage should be circumspect as to the one guiding principle called “the truth.”

It has long been proven that pound for pound and page for page, more lies are printed on newsprint than any other form of writing material; it is what it is. The “Fourth Estate” as the journalism industry is known, includes print, radio and television…has enjoyed many liberties through centuries by the courts in this country. But there can be serious consequences in the same court when you bend that truth. Let me state here and now;” the truth is not what you may want it to be, it is what it is.”

Woodward wanted what he thought to be that truth, and in his refusal to accept that chances were good that he might be wrong, he threw caution aside….and with it his long standing credibility has suffered greatly.

An over abundance of “zeal” is often the culprit in these instances; like refusing to believe that Bookmeyer is inept at his job….based solely upon his performance to date, which by any standard is dismal. The same goes for the entire city council. They were eager to go along with an unproven business concept that has failed miserably at NIACC; they approved a 70K move at city hall to facilitate Eric in his need to “move his desk” and at the same time cut the HR department funding and tried to sell that to the public that it was necessary. Was it necessary to move the desk? Could they not have slowed their process to fund the failed business debacle? It was Weaver, Nelson and Marsters who said no….or did you all forget? Never once was there a “word of caution” coming from the editorial board at 300 North Washington Avenue. The Globe Gazette has backed the Bookmeyer doctrine and in doing so has mirrored Bob Woodward in refusing to accept “the truth as it is.”

Peter Children