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David Waas, whose letter appeared Aug. 14, has been selected as the Golden Pen Award winner. In the judgment of the editors, he had the most effective letter to the editor during August.
Waas, 83, is a retired history professor from Manchester College.
This is the second time he has won the Golden Pen.
He and his wife, Becky, enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and keeping up with news events. He leads a group of older adults in North Manchester who gather once a week to discuss politics and news.
He wrote his letter to the editor because he thinks “disinformation is a particular problem in our society” and “an informed public is what protects democracy.”
He received a gold-plated inscribed pen for his efforts. The Golden Pen Award was established to express our appreciation for the contribution our letter writers make to the editorial page.
Here is his letter:
Webster’s dictionary describes “disinformation” as “false information deliberately ... as in planting of rumors, in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth.” As noted in Sylvia Smith’s story, “Souder: Bill urges suicide,” and the editorial, “Furthermore ... Myth spreading that health plan is requiring senior suicide,” both on July 31, Rep. Mark Souder and Rep. John Boehner of Ohio are guilty of spreading disinformation with regard to a health insurance bill.
Souder said “the bill ... provide(s) through taxpayer dollars for a consultation that will probably steer people to use public funds to kill themselves,” while Boehner said that the law “may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia.” Both are incorrect. Such disinformation has been repeated on Fox News talk shows. Actually, the legislation proposes to cover “advance care planning consultation,” which would involve an explanation of end-of-life services such as hospice care.
We would be better served by these congressmen if they would discuss the actual issues in our health care crisis instead of using deception to frighten and mislead voters.
