New York: A newspaper with such authority chooses to publish a party-political essay to further inflame the violence wrecking cities across America, the act is questionable.
Tom Cotton “Send in the Troops”
On June 3, The New York Times published a section of an essay by a Republican senator from Arkansas, Tom Cotton, headlined “send in the troops”. It is likely said that a handful of them are in support of President Donald Trump’s threat to mobilize US military on the streets to contain the protest if need be; the protest triggered by the police manhandling George Floyd, which eventually led to his death.
The newspaper’s decision on publishing that essay had provoked the Netizens, including several journalists. Some simply stated that they disagree with Cotton, but others objections ran far deeper due to political pressure.
They also expressed concern over endangering your own staff’s lives, especially those who are black. In a situation where the police are already turning to violence to shut down journalists covering the protests, this a well-rooted objection.
Tom Cotton targeted rioters and “nihilist criminals” out for the thrill of the loot and destruction, adding they had nothing to do with Floyd’s death or a majority who seek to protest peacefully.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, who won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary last month, tweeted
“I’ll probably get in trouble for this, but to not say something would be immoral. As a black woman, as a journalist, as an American, I am deeply ashamed that we ran this.”
In the three and a half tumultuous years of the Trump presidency, America’s serious national newspapers the Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times have been a remarkable barricade in defense of American democracy.
The NewsGuild of New York, the union that represents many Times journalists, said in a statement,
“This is a particularly vulnerable moment in American history. Cotton’s Op-Ed pours gasoline on the fire. Media organizations have a responsibility to hold power to account, not amplify voices of power without context and caution.”
“Times Opinion owes it to our readers to show them counter-arguments, particularly those made by people in a position to set policy. We understand that many readers find Senator Cotton’s argument painful, even dangerous. We believe that is one reason it requires public scrutiny and debate.”
Said James Bennet in terms of criticism well reasoning.
The Washington Post reported earlier this week, the police attacks on the media covering the riots that, “The norms have broken down”.
In these situations, the decision by the Times to publish the Cotton essay is worse than just a bad editorial call. At a critical juncture in this crisis, it suggests a failure of nerve.
