I was reading the front page article in the June 30 paper about the admirals leading the Fourth of July parade and I found it interesting until I came to a quote from Admiral Christiansen. Suddenly a word I NEVER would speak entered my line of vision and lodged itself in my brain. I am certain you know what word I mean.

I stewed about it for a few moments–the fact that, though I choose not to use profanity, here I was dwelling on this word, unable to tear it from my mind. I got irritated.

It’s bad enough that this language invades our homes and minds through movies and even prime time TV. It isn’t enough that as a customer service worker, I get bashed all over the place every day by disgruntled customers who don’t like store policies (that I don’t make) and the first and often the last thing from their mouths is something I won’t dignify with quotes.

No. That’s not enough profanity in my life. Now, I can look forward to seeing it in print on the front page of the newspaper, too.

I want to declare that I am offended and put off by this quote. Please, editor, you as a writing professional should understand that certain words can be omitted from a direct quote without compromising the meaning and the spirit of the quote. That’s what journalism and editing are all about.

Your quote showed a lack of propriety, a lack of professionalism, a lack of judgment and a gross lack of regard for your readers — who believe it or not, may not want that word clanging around in their heads.

I hope you will show more discretion in the future — this world is getting more crude by the day. Don’t let our own newspaper help with the social decay.

Dondi MacNair

Oak Harbor