The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 18, May 6, 2007, Article 21

E-SYLUM HEADLINES QUESTIONED BY READERS

Regarding the headline of last week's item on the usefulness of the
British penny coin, Ted Buttrey writes: "'Pence' is plural: one penny,
two pence.Some Brits make this mistake too, and I have to chivvy them
about it."

 ARTICLE: ROYAL MINT'S ONE PENCE PIECE OBSOLETE?
 esylum_v10n17a24.html

[Got me.  I know better, but somehow that slipped through.  I try to
write the headlines as I put each item in the draft for the week's
issue, and I typed too quickly on that one. -Editor]

Regarding the headline of last week's item about a soldier's Purple
Heart medal, William P. Houston of Frankfurt am Main writes: "I'm sorry
but I really must protest, both for factual errors and for the appearance
of editorializing.

"I have always understood a rebuff as a sharp refusal or rebuke. A headline
such as above immediately calls to mind a member of the military berating
the President for political or philosophical reasons, probably regarding
ongoing overseas military actions.   This picture is far from the facts
related in the story.

"It seems to me that an objective and impartial reporter should strive
for an impartial headline.  Perhaps something along the line of: Soldier
wants medal from Commander - Not from President."

 SOLDIER REBUFFS PRESIDENT BUSH'S PRESENTATION OF PURPLE HEART
 esylum_v10n17a16.html

[Turning down the President's visit, regardless of the reason or manner,
is certainly a rebuff in my mind, but I think of a 'rebuff' as something
less harsh than a 'rebuke', which I see as more active and lecturing;
that wasn't the case here at all.  I apologize if readers took this more
harshly than intended.

It's hard to imagine any citizen of the country turning down an invitation
from the President and Commander in Chief regardless of their political
views.  When has that ever happened?  That's what made the event newsworthy.
My headline was meant to draw attention to the "Man Bites Dog" nature of the
uncommon event, not as a political statement; the excerpts I chose from the
article made the situation clear - it was not buried in the linked article.
-Editor]

Houston adds: "My major concern with the piece was the article's use of
the term "Medal of Honor."  I see no reason to use this term and felt it
was perhaps a misunderstanding.  The (Congressional) Medal of Honor is a
single, specific decoration / medal  --  the highest military award of
the USA.  The Purple Heart and all other decorations / medals are entirely
something different, awarded for various reasons.  Probably all these
decorations are awarded to recognize or honor an individual but to use
the term 'Medal of Honor' for the whole group only leads to confusion,
I believe."

[In my haste to edit the piece (which I discovered only late Sunday while
finalizing The E-Sylum), I failed to notice the inconsistent descriptions.
Sorry!  But I'm very glad I was able to include the piece and my question
about the 'coin" the President gave the soldier.   See Jim Downey's
response in the following item, and be sure to check out the pictures.
-Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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