23362: Docteed: Re: 23346: (Chamberlain) Haitian politicians surrender

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Docteed@aol.com
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Call me overly sensitive, but it seems that the characterizations of
pro-Aristide Haitians and Haitians in general in the following line ...

Radio Metropole reported one civilian shot dead in a pro-Aristide
demonstration
Friday, while Justice Minister Bernard Gousse said police had killed two
gang
leaders Thursday in fighting in Cite Soleil, a seaside slum teeming with
Aristide loyalists.

...are NOT straightforward journalistic reporting. In referring to areas
as
"seaside slums teaming with Aristide loyalists,"  the metaphor is obvious,
and
is negative and derogatory. And "gang" isn't all that neutral either and
has a
certain connotation that may not be correct. How are these necessarily
gangs?
According to whose standards of a "gang"? Hmmm...question the source, I
immediately want to say. The writers may feel their colorful imagery
enhances
their writing style, but it would serve Haiti--and the reader--better to
provide more careful and accurate representations of all things Haitian.