Parsons’ Columns Are Fair, Foolish

Once again Dana Parsons has written a balanced, thoughtful analysis of a sensitive, very difficult issue, President Clinton’s alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky (Jan. 23).

If it were not for journalists like Parsons, I would question the legitimacy of a free press when the press engages in a feeding frenzy about highly speculative and sensational, unsubstantiated charges against public officials.

Too often, the press becomes part of the problem and is the story, rather than objectively reporting the story. Reporters like Parsons help us keep the faith in the freedom of the press.

RICHARD KREILE

Santa Ana

* Knowing that it’s probably been said before, Dana Parsons’ position in his Jan. 7 column is foolish.

Siding with the Randalls in the Boy Scout case is to assert that private organizations should be governed periodically by the discontented and excluded citizens. This philosophy would make organizations, and perhaps corporations, ungovernable.

I hope that Parsons would agree that a columnist who couldn’t spell or meet a deadline should not be able to demand and win the right to the same pay and privileges as a columnist who can meet the paper’s standards.

And I hope that Parsons would agree that a person that believes the Holocaust didn’t occur should not be able to demand and win the right to be a member of the Anti-Defamation League. Yet Parsons’ position on the Randalls is contrary to the logic of these examples. The Randalls have chosen to be agnostic or atheist. They, not the Boy Scouts, must live with their decision.

GREG GREEN

Lake Forest

* Dana Parsons’ Jan. 11 column highlights the need for anger control classes for parents or individuals who consider spanking an acceptable form of discipline for a child.

If a person thinks it’s OK to spank a child of any age, then a slap in the face seems trivial. This false reasoning begets further inappropriate punishments that apologies cannot absolve.

Mohammad Bakhtiari’s father or mother probably spanked him. His son could also grow up to consider physical violence against a child acceptable punishment. This vicious circle is no different than the dilemma the family of an alcoholic or spouse abuser faces.

Bakhtiari is not the victim. We should be thankful that Social Services investigators and the brave preschool teacher care enough about this child to try to get his father some parenting help.

LINDA NORCROSS

Dana Point