Let's focus on a call to action, not gossip

I am very disturbed by the Bee’s choice of content when reporting a recent arrest. I feel the writer went out of their way to malign the person involved, providing every sorted tidbit about the circumstance. I’m even more disturbed to learn that a public servant would provide this level of detail about an arrest when the results were not yet known and important facts, like it being an unmarked car, among others, were omitted from the article. This type of sensationalism is degrading to everyone involved, including your readers, is unprofessional and was handled unethically.

The substance of the article — drinking while under the influence and arrest are news, but the rest was not. It would be difficult not to interpret the article as malicious in its intent. Your readers are not the jury, there is no reason to make judgment about someone’s condition with one side of the story, so why invite such a negative level of engagement? When did it become OK to publicly strip someone of their dignity and hold them out for public ridicule without due process … or even with?

The article would have served our community by offering basic facts and providing an admonition for personal responsibility, and to care for others, by not letting anyone (stranger or friend) drive under the influence. We all need someone to come along side us. I’m sure the driver was not alone while at the Festival and when leaving. Where were the friends, board members and concerned citizens then? We are fortunate that a tragedy of life or limb did not occur. It would have been horrible to live with knowing the added pain and suffering could have been avoided with a caring offer to drive someone home.

Summer’s not over, school-centered socializing begins anew, the holidays are coming and endless celebrations and circumstances in between that might find any one of us over the limit and placing someone in harm’s way. Let’s come alongside them, no matter how awkward the conversation, and commit to saving lives in both the literal and broad sense. Let’s focus on a call to action instead of gossiping.

ANGELA COCHRAN

Sandpoint