The following is a satire of eight-year-old Virginia’s O’Hanlon’s letter to the editor of New York's Sun asking if Santa Clause was real. The unsigned editorial response, dated Sept. 21, 1897 was the work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church. The editorial was widely reprinted and later became the basis of the movie - Miracle on 34th Street.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say the Press is Biased.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is the Press Biased?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are correct. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Man should not rely on the Press alone for knowledge, as the Press is biased.

Yes, VIRGINIA, the Press is biased. Why just last week one democrat senator sent a letter to the Governor asking him to repeal the Immigration Law.  A day later, another democrat senator pledged that he had all the other democrats in the senate on board to repeal the law…and the press printed article after article, falling all about themselves to inform the masses of this great news.  But wait, when twelve republican senators SIGNED a letter to the Governor, pledging unwavering support for the spirit and intent of the law – the press clearly showed its bias as nary a word was printed (with exception to one paper, The Gadsden Times!) Where oh where are the many other papers in our great state?  Montgomery Advertiser, Huntsville Times, Birmingham News, Decatur Daily – why are they silent on this great news? 

Yes, VIRGINIA, I’m saddened to inform you that the Press is biased.  You see, they are the news and they get to choose what is news.
 
 
This post is a follow-up to my previous blog entry - Good Old Common Sense (posted below). The Alabama Ethics Commission has released their Advisory Opinion, requested by the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB).  A copy of that opinion, Advisory Opinion 2011-12, is linked here. Note, the AASB asked a virtual laundry list of questions spanning board activities and other areas.  While I encourage readers to review the entire opinion, the portion regarding gifts to teachers starts on page 14. Note, the document is numbered in the top, left corner of each page.