I sincerely and deeply apologize for the insensitive headline I wrote for a guest editorial in our May 26 issue. I finished editing that page and it was laid out a few days before the horrific crimes in Uvalde, Texas.
I had to then turn my focus to the other 31 pages in that issue. That’s no excuse, though.
I have thought about little else for days, and all I can think is that, as a journalist, I have to compartmentalize my feelings. For three days, I had to concentrate on doing the best job I could to send Manitou Springs High School graduates off into the world.
The first time I had to compartmentalize, I was in the local daily’s newsroom on Sept. 11, 2001.
Along with the colleagues scheduled to work that day and the ones who came in on their day off and cut short their vacations, I had to focus on the work at hand. We put our emotions aside; we were journalists first and feeling, caring, grieving people second.
I didn’t cry until Sept. 14. Now, I’m allowing myself to cry about the beautiful little ones, and their teachers, who died on May 24.
I’m hurting for the people who loved them. I’m hurting for this country.
They’re just the latest in a horribly long list and that makes me angry.
If you want to give me feedback in a civil way about that headline (which was changed for our online edition) or any other topics, please contact me at 719-685-9668 or editor@pikespeakbulletin.org.
If you can’t be civil, please take some deep breaths or a long walk and then contact me so we can discuss your concerns.
Please note: I will be out of the office starting Thursday, June 2, and returning Thursday, June 9. Emails to me will be forwarded to the colleague filling in for me.