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 The Chronicle welcomes you online! Please feel free to respond to these editorials or letters to the editor by sending your letters to the editor.

We condense letters; most, as published, won't exceed 300 words. A letter must include the writer's name and city, which will be published, and an address and telephone number for verification, which will not be published. Writers may be limited to one letter every 30 days. Open letters, letters to third parties and poetry are not considered. Letters from people living outside the Chronicle's circulation area usually are not considered.

Hits forum for 'public incivility'

Web posted January 15, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

Editor, The Chronicle

There has been much written regarding Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker's recent comments. In just a few statements, Mr. Rocker was able to offend a large majority of Americans. Unfortunately, his comments, however offensive, seem in keeping with much of the negative stereotyping The Chronicle chooses to publish every day in its editorial pages.

When a newspaper chooses to normalize a rhetoric of bias, of name-calling and of intolerance, comments such as those made by Mr. Rocker cannot be particularly remarkable.

I do not question that there are individuals who think and write such divisive and ugly words. I question, rather, an editorial policy that appears to relish opportunities to publish such invective. Not only are letters published in The Chronicle that I cannot imagine appearing in any other major metropolitan paper, but the editorials themselves echo prejudices and ignorance that tear at the fabric of public civility.

I wish I could express surprise at the hate-filled column written by Phil Kent that was published, inexplicably, during our traditional season of love and goodwill, on the day after Christmas. Like the comments of John Rocker, the comments of Mr. Kent are deeply offensive, but hardly surprising. ...

William T. Browne, Evans