Rethinking the Facts

Knowing that most Americans are firm believers in the First Amendment guarantee of free speech, believe that news reporters report the news while editorialists express opinions, I always believe 100% of the facts presented in news articles.

Therefore, after reading the news article (“The Great Communicator,” Nov. 28) on the radio talk show interview between KSDO host Michael Reagan and his father, former President Ronald Reagan, I will make the following changes in my thinking and writing:

If writing an article which necessitates the mention of Mikhail Gorbachev, I will be certain to change the spelling to the Americanized “Michael,” which the L.A. Times used.

When deciding to shop, I will make an effort to figure out whether I will go to Sears or Montgomery Ward. The L.A. Times doesn’t seem to know the difference.

When I receive my Sunday New York Times, I will remind myself that, although I’ve always believed their best seller list is the authority on book sales, the Los Angeles Times must know something I don’t. The New York Times list placed former President Reagan’s book, “An American Life,” in eighth place on the nonfiction list as of Nov. 25. But the Los Angeles Times’ story states that the book is selling dismally.

Oh well, I’ve been wrong a couple of times before.

VICKI PORTER ADAMS, San Diego