Accountability at stake

Re “Government as cyber-bully,” editorial, and “Bush’s pardons,” editorial, Dec. 3

In one editorial, The Times urges Bush to be cautious in issuing presidential pardons, especially blanket pardons for CIA agents and others who participated in Bush’s torture regime.

In another editorial, The Times urges a federal judge to overturn a woman’s conviction because “fibbing on an online form isn’t a federal crime” and cyber-bullying is not a crime either.

Lori Drew’s actions contributed to a teenage girl’s suicide. Her actions are the cyberspace equivalent of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. If her action violated no law, then the laws need updating.

If torturers should not be pardoned, then why should a woman whose cyber-bullying contributed to a death be forgiven?

Arch Miller

Arcadia

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I wholeheartedly agree with your editorial. This conviction is based on misplaced emotions.

What I don’t understand in this entire sad story is that nobody places responsibility for Megan Meier’s suicide on her parents. Their daughter was not only known to suffer from depression but was on antidepressants -- a risk factor for suicidal behavior among children and adolescents. Why did her parents allow her full access to the Internet, and why were they not closely monitoring what she was doing?

There was nothing admirable in Lori Drew’s actions. But if anybody holds responsibility for this child’s death, it is her parents.

Jeffery P. Segall

Long Beach