I've got a couple of comments I'll be submitting for the editor--
First, I didn't like that he associated the Free Speech board with VORT by saying it was started by "an organization". Since he obviously is showing this board as a reason to paint Rockaway Township in a negative light, I don't feel it's fair to imply that VORT started the board.
It was started by my husband because he got sick of the censorship on nj.com (or more like, sick of hearing me complain about it!)
At the Rockaway forum on NJ.com, it appeared that the site was somehow comandeered by someone from the church. It was obvious that only one side was being permitted to speak.
And they spoke, a lot! They accused Voices of Rockaway Township of having a "hidden agenda" (which could be WHAT?), of being dishonest, fraudulent, even of tax evasion.
Then, they wondered aloud on the board, "Why is V.O.R.T. silent? They have no response?"
...when in fact people had been responding, and their rebuttals deleted moments after posting!
I object to the statement that the church-opposing messages that were deleted were deemed offensive.
NJ.com was deleting not only messages that opposed the church (however diplomatically stated) but even simple planning board meeting reminders!!!
Whoever was doing the censorship DID, however, choose to leave certain posts on the board--posts that cast RT in a negative light, such as a couple of racist posts. However, every argument that was presented civilly and logically was deleted.
Management was notified at NJ.com and now the posts are not being deleted. Instead there is now a flame campaign against VORT--"VORT is a group of weird people. Why are they so strange? Why are they against a school?" Of course, these posts must be rebutted--and that, folks, is about all you'll now find on the NJ.com Rockaway forum.
This experience (the Christ Church application) has many of us up in arms for many reasons. It's been presented to us with no growth projections whatsoever, and we're not thrilled that we found out about it only after the deal was under contract.
Thank God for VORT; if not for these two families and all their hard work, we would all be unaware of the magnitude of this project.
Many of us are frustrated and apprehensive about this project; and the manipulation by both nj.com and the press (see today's article in the Daily Record) make it that much more frustrating for us.
Religion is a subjective issue, and brings out passionate opinions. This is why many people have a policy: They won't discuss religion or politics.
So it's only natural that people have passionate, highly opinionated discussions about religion. It's the nature of the topic.
To make that the topic of an entire newspaper article seems a little dramatic to me. When people discuss religion at a cafe or in line at the supermarket, it doesn't make the paper.
There are many things Craig says that I don't agree with (and many that I do agree with), and I suppose many others feel the same way, but he has the God-given right to say them, as does Matthew and everyone else.
The Free Speech board is just that. Anyone discusses anything (of course we're hoping to keep it related to the Christ Church project, but that's not mandatory).
This board was created to allow us to discuss fully a project that affects our community. We wanted to present a balanced perspective so that people could educate themselves about the project and make their own decisions.
It was added as a link on Voices of Rockaway Township's website for the sole purpose of allowing TRULY FREE discussion about the project, without censorship. (Although one post was deleted because it included slander and we haven't got the time to go to court).
Certainly VORT cannot be held responsible for what people say here--with free speech, you take (what you might consider) the "bad" with the "good".
I've only scanned the article at red lights on my way to work. I'm sure I'll have more to bitch about when I read it fully.
