Comments on: City Pages, I wasn’t ready to be heartbroken

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:46:44 +0000

As a veteran of being laid off, I completely understand the almost irresistble urge to leave with a grand gesture that makes a big statement. Oh boy, do I.

Looking at that post and link makes me thank my lucky stars I never followed thru on any of those impluses. Decision-making skills are not at 100% when you’ve just been fired, they aren’t even at 50%. It’s a real shock to the system and one of the most stressful experiences you can have.

So I understand the rationale behind what he did and I understand that it was posted during a stressful time. That said, that post showed a severe lapse in judgement. “American Idol” is hugely popular with kids and it’s an absolute certainty that kids are going to come across that link and click on it. I hate when anti-abortion activists expose children to pictures of mutilated fetuses, in the name of their “righteous” cause. I don’t hate this any less.

By: betsy

betsy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:45:37 +0000

probably so, I just wish I hadn’t looked, it was terrible, and you probably shouldn’t look. Some of us are really sensitive and when the news is bad and things happen, we get even more depressed. We have to learn to not take on the burdens of compassion if it means it will drive us crazy or to suicide. Yesterday was one of those days, not just from the column, but from personal travails and the piling up of a number of things. If he wanted to be effective, he was, but I really feel betrayed and depressed. But I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said no one can make you feel bad unless you let them, so I guess I’ve got to figure that things will change and if not, we all die, just some not so graphically.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:38:13 +0000

Betsy, I didn’t follow the link. I moused over it and saw it was something like Iraqi warpics and I knew I wouldn’t want to see that.

So I don’t know how grusome the pictures are.

However, I think (and this all just guessing) that Walsh was making a bold statement on the direction that City Pages is going and what is really hiding behind the fluff.

I think you’d have to be following the whole City Pages saga to get it.

By: betsy

betsy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:30:38 +0000

Afterthought: the Dalai Lama says “do no harm”, even if you can’t be around someone because they irritate you, and you can’t stand them, do no harm.

I know that people opposed to abortion are reacting to what is in their minds as babies being killed, but when they go and bomb planned parenthood clinics, they are doing exactly what they are objecting to.

I think Jim Walsh’s final statement is similar. I wish him well in the future, because I think he has a good heart and good intentions. We all learn from mistakes, they’re the best teachers, so I really hope he continues to learn and grow.

By: betsy

betsy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:17:22 +0000

I liked his writing too, but yesterday when I followed the link on his column and saw the most gruesome photos I have ever seen, I became physically sick.

I think I understand his point. But with so much negativity in the world do we need more?

My life is nothing as hard as that of those who live in Iraq, I am horrified by what has happened to them. But we all have our problems and none of us is getting off easy in the world, I’m just thinking why he had to do that to people who agreed with him, who were in his ballpark, who appreciated what he had to say.

I don’t know if you saw those photos, but they are still disturbing. What do you think? I know you are ferverently in favor of freedom of the press, but even I think he probably stepped over the line.