COVERAGE DESENSITIZES

Shannon Moneo's article and picture that appeared in the last issue (Sooke
News Mirror, June 9), was so very insensitive towards all the families and
friends of the deceased. Must she quote everything so blatantly?

If Mr. Morgan was such a "known drug dealer," why wasn't anything done
about it by the RCMP, instead of waiting for the obvious to come. A picture
of the site where Mr. Purdy lost his life, would have brought home, that
yes drinking and driving kills and showing the flowers and road side
memorial, would illustrate the repercussions of this community tragedy.

And, as for our Angel (you at least spared her name) that she took her own
life would have sufficed. The fact that she knew both parties is a given
since in Sooke we all know each other, if not as friends, by name or face.
Your kind of blunt journalism belongs in the USA. If your thoughts were
with the intentions of knocking some sense into our youth you may have done
the opposite. The "youths" all want attention and obviously so do you. Have
you ever heard of the word "desensitize?"

Where's your kindness towards your fellow man? Numbers for grief
counselling and drug and alcohol counselling would have been appropriate.
They are ways to bring the news; what you write is crap and believe me I
have some choice words for it, but unlike your sorry article I doubt they
would print it.

Claire Shaih, Sooke

(Editor's note: Shaih is involved with the Sooke Crisis and Referral Centre.)