Friday, Jun. 05, 2009

Our View: Mayor owed an apology

That Eugene Forte, the publisher of a local newspaper, should stand at a televised public meeting and call the mayor of Los Baņos the "N" word is abominable.

The word is beyond disparaging, beyond reprehensible. It is the ugliest, most hurtful word in the English language and holds the full measure of the hatred and bigotry of which this country has been trying to rid itself for generations.

What is even more disturbing than Forte shouting the word in public is that not a soul attending Wednesday's meeting, including the other members of the City Council, stood at the podium and specifically condemned it. Does that mean everyone agreed with Forte's remark? Were they intimidated by Forte's demeanor? What reason could they have for not publicly objecting?

It doesn't matter what one may think of mayor Jones' politics or of him as a person. No one deserves to be called such a name -- no one.

Sure, Forte has the right to use such a word but he should be ashamed of himself for doing so. No matter what he thinks of Tommy Jones or the status of his lawsuit against him, he owes the mayor a public apology. So do the rest of us who said nothing to condemn the outburst.

Mr. Mayor, please accept our apology.

Gene Lieb is publisher of the Los Baņos Enterprise. He can be reached by phone at (209) 826-3831 or by e-mail at publisher@losbanosenterprise.com