OPINION: Feel-good articles, and tragic news, too

Oct. 7—Reader: Thanks for putting Steven Mayer on assignment for the story on Bill Ray. He did an excellent job, as usual.

With so much negative news, we appreciate feel-good articles about hometown heroes ... and on the front page, too!

— Kay Nowatzki

Peterson: Steven's people stories tend to be fan favorites. Thank you, Kay, for alerting me about the passing of Bill Ray and sharing why he would be a good person to feature in a news obituary. You were right — and Steven discovered the details that made for a beautiful story.

----Reader: Thinking about another opinion submission, yet given my last and unanswered question, I should ask if I have been blacklisted.

— Bakersfield community voices contributor

Peterson: Nobody has been banned from the Opinion section, unless, of course, you are referring to the person who nearly daily sends computer code to me with no other content or the senders of "astroturf" letters. That's where multiple people hit the send button on the same letter that purports to be by the individual listed on each copy. Except clearly not everyone has written that letter, so it's dumped. They have telltale signs, and we can usually spot them.

Otherwise, if your letter has not been published, please follow up and inquire. Perhaps it was inadvertently overlooked in the deluge of daily emails. Perhaps there was breaking news (the ouster of Bakersfield Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his role as speaker of the House) and letters about that topic took precedence. (We had a full page of reactions to the House's vote in Thursday's newspaper and at Bakersfield.com.)

I had a lovely conversation Friday with a gentleman named Mike from Woody who called to say two neighbors stopped him in the post office to say they liked his recent letter. He had missed it when he was doing his daily online reading, and was thrilled when I confirmed its publication. Mike was pleased, and said he'd write more.

----Reader: Why! I ask myself this question each time The Californian prints a letter in its letters to the editor from disgruntled writers from out of state.

The latest is from a Randal McChesney from Bellevue, Wash., one of my favorite cities I have visited in the past.

He states, more or less, that we have elected and continue to elect Kevin McCarthy, a man who is colossally ambitious, inept and not too bright.

He says that Kevin McCarthy is only in the House because he is elected by the MAGA voters, time after time. I must confess I don't know what MAGA stands for, but I must unknowingly be one of them.

Has McChesney ever met Kevin McCarthy? Has he ever talked to him? More importantly, what have been his life's successes compared to the man he is calling inept and unintelligent?

— Ronal Reynier, Bakersfield

Peterson: If out-of-town writers comment on issues and leaders here that impact them, too, I use those letters.

Kevin McCarthy isn't just a congressman from Bakersfield. He was speaker of the House, and in that role impacted the entire nation, and in some instances, the world.

While I have no idea whether McChesney has ever met McCarthy, he is entitled to have his opinion on a person from Bakersfield who has a huge influence on national politics, government, Republican fundraising and more. He was second in line to the U.S. presidency until a few days ago.

By the way, MAGA stands for Make America Great Again, which presidential candidate Donald Trump popularized during his first run and time in office — and even had trademarked through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to a 2017 Washington Post report.

Most have undoubtedly heard Trump use the slogan, and seen his red ball caps, which, by the way, may be purchased for $50 to $55 at the Trump Store online.

----Reader: Monday, Sept. 11, marked the 22nd anniversary of that tragic day known as 9/11. The aftermath spawned the now infamous phrase "Never Forget." Well, it appears The Bakersfield Californian did forget as there was not one mention of it anywhere in that Monday's e-edition.

— Kurt Larson

Peterson: Thank you, Kurt, for taking the time to write. In the days leading up to the most recent anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, I scoured local resources for local remembrances, ceremonies or events to send reporters and photographers to for coverage, our wire services and even our various sources of opinion columns. I wanted to publish stories both Sunday and Monday. When I found nothing, I even left a spot open on the Monday Opinion page until Sunday night, hoping for a nice reflective piece — from someone, local or non-local. Again, nothing.

On Sept. 11, reporter Steven Mayer and freelance photographer Rod Thornburg covered the ceremony at the Sept. 11 memorial at Fire Station 15 in southwest Bakersfield. Steven looked for a new angle, something different to say — and noted the attendance of so many children who quietly and respectfully listened to what happened even before they were born.

He crafted a poignant story, and we published that and eight of Rod's beautiful photos on the front of the Tuesday print and e-editions, and even more online. The report was posted online at Bakersfield.com the minute it was ready on Sept. 11. We also published an Associated Press story and four moving photos on the front of our Nation & World section.

I know — a day "late." It's imperfect, but not for a lack of trying. Perhaps next year we can encourage readers to at least submit reflections if there are no events happening before Sept. 11 to publish that morning. The commemoration of the 22nd anniversary was more subdued both locally and nationally than the 20th, but not forgotten.

Executive Editor Christine L. Peterson answers your questions and takes your complaints about The Californian's news coverage in this feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 661-395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Please include your name and phone number; your phone number won't be published.