Believe it or not, one of America’s best news columnists writes for the conservative San Diego Union Tribune (a Copley Newspaper edition). James O. Goldsborough has a column on Mondays and Thursdays. He frequently writes opinion pieces about the Middle East and foreign affairs. For example, he has had several erudite and very well written statements on why the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq. He has been one of the very few “corporate” news people who has consistently spoken out against the invasion in Iraq. I do not understand why more independent media websites have not recognized his brilliant and bold contributions to this almost non-existent debate by Corporate Media?

James Goldsborough has been, in my personal opinion, a beacon of light against a tumultuous onslaught of corporate propaganda. Granted many in southern California are not thrilled with the San Diego Union Tribune. Some of the other columnists printed in the the SDUT (as well as some of their own editors) tend to be ranting right wing propagandists. Even the hoity toity, and too often sanctimonious, New York Times and Washington Post “celebrity” hot shots (from Mt. Sinai or Elitist Snobdom) don’t equal Goldsborough’s acumen or courage. This is one reason why it is amazing that Goldsborough is even allowed to be printed in San Diego’s rag. But in fact is that he is highly respected as a writer, and as an individual who is not afraid to dissent. He has a broad historical background to ballast his authority where most other angels fear to tread.

In light of the fact that it seems pretty much “all” members of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, as well by far “all” major media pundits and editorial boards, have acted as if they have been innocently “naïve” about the torture that had been taking place in the Iraqi prisons over the last year, as well as other prisons in Afghanistan and Cuba? How ironic that all these people now declare themselves so shocked and distressed! Talk about a cover-up. If they truly did not know—what the hell are they paid for? Sure shucks it is surprising that this latent transmogrification transpired from this very war in which supposed “corporate” journalist organizations prostrated themselves to have allowed themselves to officially go “to bed” with the military—more sex scandals in the Middle East. But what were these corporate journalists doing in Iraq all these months—hiding in U.S. bases? Eventually even they had to acknowledge this calamity of systematic torture in Hussein’s den of iniquity. Yet how could big buck media and our corrupt and stupid Congress people been blind to this stuff--so as to first act like they just became aware via the New Yorker Magazine and CBS 60 minutes? Do not they know their responsibilities? Any person who cruises the Internet could have known about such allegations via Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, or a variety of websites, etc. Then to have morons like Representative Duncan complain that there has been too much unbalance on the torture? Funny thing “he” should whine—where is his court martial? Now main stream media people seem to think they are it is being courageous because they have pulled the tail from behind their legs enough to print pictures of “clean” coffins in clean environments! Impressive?



This is the backdrop that those who work the main stream media reside. Those that dare speak out are few in number. Perhaps Mr. James O. Goldsborough did not gain a Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to our society but he should have. Now it is time for “The People” of the alternative media to come up with their own prizes and recognition awards. I for one vote for this man who has given hope that people can still speak out in ways that matter. His recent opinion dated May 17th was no less inspiring than his usually voice of sanity and courage. Thank you Mr. Goldsborough for being strong when so many have been weak like chicken hawk droppings. Amen.

The best one is probably to get your story in Project Censored's annual book of the most underreported stories of the year.

Aside from that, there are a lot of smaller awards.

As a writer for the Union Trib, the guy you're talking about is not part of the "alternative", by some nebulous standard.