Readers views: Media objectivity + hiring at Ingalls

Guidance needed

The photo of the black medical students posing in front of former slave quarters very aptly depicted the transition from slavery to independence. Her parents were successful and apparently her mother was an educated woman. It is wonderful that Ms. Labat is encouraging other black women.

I want to suggest another group of young people who may need guidance. They are the students whose parents and other family members lived in a culture I call this: “After high school, get a job and start taking care of yourself.” I think those students are overlooked in the school system. Their parents don’t expect them to go to college. Many of them do not realize that the student can work at a paying job and go to a local college at the same time.

The article described how she felt after the encounter with the policeman. She felt herself to be considered as “different.” I believe that many people of any race can feel that way. Because of the culture in their family, they see doctors, businessmen, politicians and others, as being “different” and feel that somehow those people had a head start in life. They may think that they themselves are fixed in their position in life.

Here’s where we need many guidance counselors in school, starting in 8th grade. I think that many opportunities about higher education, whether it be academic or vocational, are available, but the individual student might need to learn about how it would apply to them.

Jane Danielson

Gulfport

No objectivity

The media has lost its objectivity and has moved more toward propaganda.

In 2019, Mississippi was reporting “beach closures,” yet the beaches were never closed. “Fresh water intrusion” from the Bonnet Carre opening turns out to be muddy, contaminated, river water, which led to a toxic algae bloom along our coast. Political rancor is not about “health care” but government insurance. No one is working on really reducing the cost of healthcare.

We claim to be a country of laws, but you don’t have to “break the law” to be impeached and if you enter the country illegally you are “not a law breaker.” The 1st Amendment states the government cannot abridge the freedom of religion, speech, press, or assembly. The 2nd Amendment states that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. The media is quick to rally behind gun control and infringe on gun ownership, yet defends misrepresentation of information as freedom of speech and the press.

Why is lying to Congress a crime when our representatives and senator lie all the time? Social media is protected by freedom of speech, yet the media companies suppress posts routinely. Our representatives and senators and media wonders why they are not trusted. Ted Koppel, a 40-year journalist, recently said on a PBS interview that loss of press objectivity is the threat to our democracy. You can see the interview for yourself on Youtube.

Rick Brown

Gulfport

Hiring questions

Ingalls is expanding. That’s great for Ingalls ship building, and some area businesses, but is it good for Jackson County or Mississippi as a whole? Well, let’s see.

I know of several qualified hard working young men and women (all Jackson County residents ) who have applied at Ingalls and have been turned down. Yet, at the same time, I often encounter people from out of Jackson County, and Mississippi who are working at Ingalls. They are either direct employees or working through some contract labor source.

Now if Ingalls has jobs for people from out of the area, why do they not have jobs for qualified applicants from Jackson County? Let’s face it, a lot of us get no benefit from Ingalls at all. Yet, we locals get to drive in their traffic every morning or evening, and deal with the long lines at banks and supermarkets on pay day.

We also get to subsidize Ingalls with the enormous tax breaks they get from the county and state. Maybe we Mississippians should be concerned about all this. I’m kind of old fashioned about things. I believe that, if you want your neighbors to be good neighbors, you should be a good neighbor first.

So Ingalls, when it come to hiring, please hire qualified local people first. One local qualified individual who is not hired because you choose to hire from outside your home area. is too many.

Ron Williams

Moss Point