Tell Hetrick

My office window overlooks the convention center development site in Indianapolis. Since the RCA Dome’s demolition, my colleagues and I have enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the construction, and we’ve marveled at its complexity and efficiency. When I learned that a worker had been killed at the site, I took the news strangely personally. Looking for information, I logged on to the Channel 6 website, and then indystar.com, the Indianapolis Star’s website. What I found there disgusted and angered me. It didn’t surprise me.

Today, in addition to the who, what, when, where and why, news readers are subjected to the ignorant, insensitive comments anonymous posters leave behind under the protection of our constitution’s first amendment. I’m not buying their defense. Freedom of speech implies responsibility—that if you want the right to voice an opinion, you better own the words and the ideas that you express. Afraid or unwilling to do that, your voice should be silent. If your comment isn’t one you would share with a grieving widow face-to-face, or on a note signed by your own hand, spare an innocent family and keep your petty thoughts to yourself. Please, you anonymous little cowards, shut up.

Today, instead of reading the paper online, I’m looking out my window and thanking Stanley Roberts. May he rest in peace.