SAVE E-lert: Washington Post Falls for Abuse Myths

Last May, the Washington Post (WaPo) ran an editorial in support of the Battered Mothers Custody Conference (BMCC). You'd think they would have done a little research on the group before publishing that one-sided, gender-biased piece.

The 2005 Public Broadcasting System (PBS) documentary, "Breaking the Silence" was based on claims made at a BMCC. Thousands of viewers complained, and an investigation was done. PBS Ombudsman Ken Bode then stated, "I found the program to be so totally unbalanced as to fall outside the boundaries of PBS editorial standards on fairness and balance."

The May column claims that victimized mothers, "are bankrupted and punished for fighting for their children." But there was no mention of victimized fathers. While the WaPo editorial was being written, Vladek Filler was trying to protect himself and his children from his abusive wife: "All I wanted to do was to save my children and move them to a healthy environment. Instead, I found myself fighting the entire legal system for my life and for my children's lives."

The Washington Post owes it to its readers, and to society as a whole to tell the truth, the entire truth. Please contact WaPo's Reader Representative Doug Feaver and insist that the Washington Post write a new editorial on the subject, one that is balanced, fair, and accurate.

Contact: Doug Feaver - readers-at-washpost.com

Thank you, on behalf of every child at risk,

Teri Stoddard, Program Director
Stop Abusive and Violent Environments
www.saveservices.org