The Editor, Sir:

In the Gleaner's Outlook magazine for January 23, there's an article recounting the experience of a holocaust survivor. I refused to read the details because I've always contended that the sufferings of other nations were given more prominence than those of our very own race.

Lo and behold, on reading The Gleaner the following day, (I believe it was Martin Luther King's day) in the cartoon section (The Far Side) there was what at best could be called a 'sick joke' depicting slaves on a ship with a spare slave attached (oar and all). A few days later, The Star published a 'code of ethics' detailing all the things it would not do and all the sensitivity which it will attach to certain matters.

Sense of purpose

I could not believe that this was my newspaper I was reading. The Gleaner, which I purchase every day and also encourage my kids to read has gone mad. Could it be that they have lost all sense of purpose and no longer care for the material that they print? Did this cartoon go through an editor? Were we living in another society where media are held to a higher standard, would The Gleaner have allowed this cartoon to get into print?

I am, etc.,

RICHARD A. TUCKER

128 Meade Drive

Portmore