In response to the Feb. 9 letter “Prefer to see faces of heroes”: As much as the news seems to portray the world as being in an “end of times” scenario, “bad” news is still news. The reason people like Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan or Jared Loughner get coverage is because they are part of big cases that are still open. As long as the case is open, you are going to see news reports about it along with pictures. I haven’t noticed Hasan getting any front-page coverage lately, rather more on the inside pages, which is where updates on a case are going to go.

Putting the picture of a person referenced in an article — if the newspaper has it or is allowed to publish it — is the same as on TV when they show clips that may be related to the story. It’s just a way to break up the story — or print in the case of newspapers.

For those who are falsely arrested or get exonerated, I’m sure it is hard for them to “start over” after they are cleared of the crime but, again, news is news. I would love to read more inspiring stories in the newspaper, especially when deployed, but the simple fact is that not all news is “good” news. The Hasans and Loughners of the world are going to get coverage.

If you don’t like something that is in the newspaper — any newspaper — don’t read it. It’s very simple. You just flip to the next page or you put the paper down or close the browser. The simplest way to get rid of something that offends you is to not read, buy, use or look at it. Problem solved.

Staff Sgt. Kelly Calder

Fort Meade, Md.

No tolerance for petty charges

Regarding the Feb. 6 column “It’s a crime how ‘zero tolerance’ is used”: The cases discussed are completely outrageous. It sounds like the local district attorneys are pretty desperate for cases.

I’m scared to think about what my children will have to deal with by the time they get to high school. Getting prosecuted for holding scissors the wrong way? Seriously, what is wrong with our legal system?

Staff Sgt. J.D. Mineer

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Pacific change fails to deliver

I wholeheartedly agree with the author of the Feb. 7 letter “Change upsetting to routine.” I’m not sure why the change of delivery for Stars and Stripes’ Pacific editions has occurred. I know I’ve never lived anywhere that I received the newspaper at the end of the day. It makes no sense to get “old” news, “old” horoscopes and such — it’s not just about the limited TV programming!

I may not open the Sunday paper as soon as I get up on Sunday — or any other day, for that matter. But I definitely like to read my paper by lunchtime — and reading a day-old newspaper doesn’t feel right and shouldn’t be acceptable. I loved the slogan “get tomorrow’s news today.” Now it’s pretty much “get yesterday’s news tomorrow.” Why would I continue my subscription for day-old news?

I hope Stars and Stripes reconsiders this change, since this is one of the things that can actually make you feel “at home.”

Marla Ferguson

Osan Air Base, South Korea

Migrated