Censorship at the San Antonio Express-News

"If you keep this up," said Lynell Burkett, Editorial Page Editor, (mas o menos, because I didn't take notes). Soft and sweet, because she's a nice lady who either doesn't care or doesn't have a clue. "If you keep this up," threatening me suavecito for criticizing the refried columns in the Opinion Pages. Before and after 9/11.

"You won't be published."

And she said this with a smile.

So began the magical odyssey of the San Antonio Express-News as columnist after columnist echoed, shadowed, boot-licked, the White House chinga-chinga policy after the Twin Tower attacks and it only got worse when President Bush and his compadres decided to invade Iraq.

I want you to know that I was censured at the very moment we were supposedly fighting for democracy.

I want you to know that the full-time columnists there were blinded by their individual and collective prejudice - and fear.

Since 9/11, some of the best journalists have left the SA-EN, fired or quit, because they want to write stories that a corporate media doesn't want you to know:

Dick J. Reavis
Macarena Hernandez
Julio Noboa (like me, a free-lance columnist)
and there are more

In this space, I will not be afraid to tell the stories of San Antonio.

Dale Shine!

Comments

Verdi said…

Kick ass! I'm so glad you've got a blog. Now I can't wait for the video.

6:22 PM

Norma said…

barbara....so glad to read/hear your voice in print again! no se cuando tendré tiempo, pero pienso visitarte con frecuencia....hang in there! n

1:18 AM

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Today is Tuesday, May 3rd, and so much has happened. A brain tumor. More yoga and walking. A little less combat. Weight dropping. Spirit rising. Back in the city, where I belong. Looking for good photos to give you, organizing my crazy files. And a new President! So much to say, more than beating up on him -- that will only take us so far. Time to hit the streets, challenge the fears that he represents. Don't be afraid, no tengan miedo. If I survived a massive brain tumor -- big as a grapefruit -- we can survive and transcend this. More tomorrow. One day a week from now on.

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