Topic: Accuracy in Media
A Dec. 22 Accuracy in Media column by Larry Grathwohl is described in an editor's note as "written in response to Charles Lane’s December 11, 2008, Washington Post column, 'The Unreal Bill Ayers: Three Decades After the Weather Underground’s End, He’s Still Justifying Its Means.'" The note adds: "This Grathwohl column was rejected for publication by the Washington Post." The column is headlined, "Washington Post Censors Truth About Bill Ayers."
But a publication declining to publish someone's letter is not the same thing as "censorship" -- otherwise, we could accuse AIM of censorship for not allowing readers to comment on Grathwohl's column, as it does for most AIM columnists including Cliff Kincaid, who desperately needs to be countered with the truth. It appears that AIM now has turned off comments even on its blogs.
Further, Grathwohl does not accuse the Post of "censoring" the "truth"; indeeed, he writes, "There isn’t much for me to disagree with in the article." He does not complain about the Post but, rather, offers further criticism of Ayers.
And the Post article itself is critical of Ayers, accusing him of engaging in a "selective version" of history, concluding:
Hardly the worst crimes of that turbulent era, the Weather Underground's deeds were nevertheless immoral. They put innocents at risk and sowed fear. Ultimately, they achieved nothing except to undermine the peaceful antiwar movement. Bill Ayers should cut the sophistry and admit it.
It's dishonest for AIM to claim that the Post "censored" Grathwohl by not publishing his letter when AIM refuses to permit its readers to respond to Grathwohl -- or Kincaid, or any other AIM writer.
