READERS often ask: “Why doesn’t the Chronicle ever print any good news?” I can certainly point out “good news” stories that we’ve published, but for space sake I’m going to claim columnist prerogative and point to Mohammed Fahim Ishaq.
The inspiring story about Fahim, a 6-year-old Afghani boy, whose face was severely burned when a bomb exploded and set fire to his family’s home in Afghanistan, touched hearts. He also lost his left hand.
Fahim is now living with a Katy family while he is treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston. Chronicle correspondent Helen Eriksen captured the indomitable spirit of this little boy in a STAR section cover story last Sunday that easily could have been on Page One. The following e-mail captured the sentiment of most readers about the touching portrait of Fahim:
“I am writing to congratulate the Houston Chronicle and journalist Helen Eriksen for the publication of such a wonderful and emotional story,” the reader wrote. “The unselfish acts of love and caring, help and hope that this Katy couple and many, many others have given to this precious, little innocent boy and his family should be an inspiration to us all to strive to be just a little kinder, a little more patient and a little more compassionate about the effects war can bring to many nations, states and communities. Cultural and religious differences aside, the simple acts of love, acceptance and a smile can go a long way toward understanding and healing. Thank you all for bringing such a warm and heartfelt story to your terrific paper. I would love to see Ms. Eriksen continue to write about this and keep us updated on Fahim’s progress throughout his healing odyssey.”
Fahim’s story gave readers a welcomed pause from the “bad news” we publish daily in the Chronicle. Readers love stories about hope. Fahim’s story also was about being given a chance at normalcy. It begged to be told. It is one that touched the hearts of our readers. We will continue to follow it.
Thanks for the praise. And now back to the regularly scheduled criticism.
Why not just Christian?
Some readers were bent Thursday by wording they believed to be unnecessarily pejorative in a story about Republican Sen. Dan Patrick boycotting the first prayer delivered in the Texas Senate by a Muslim cleric.
Clay Robison, the Chronicle’s Austin bureau chief, wrote the story. The sentence that raised readers’ ire read, in part: … Patrick, a conservative radio talk show host from Houston and self-professed Christian …
“You arrogant, judgmental fools,” a reader wrote. “So, if Dan Patrick stands up for something he believes in and you don’t agree, he is a ‘self-professed Christian’? Well what about the Muslim? Are you aware of some DNA evidence that determines our faith? Why do the writers on your staff hate Christians? What gall to call yourselves journalists when all you do is inflict your personal, narrow-minded opinions. Just what are you afraid of that someone might just stand up for principles?”
No, we don’t hate Christians. Many Chronicle staffers are Christians, some Muslims, some Jews. We know that Sen. Patrick is a conservative. We also know he makes no secret about his faith. I believe writing Christian would have been accurate enough. But I’ll let Clay explain why he wrote the term.
“The term wasn’t intended to be negative. As a youth growing up in Texas some years ago, I knew a number of people who used the term ‘Christian’ to refer to their own particular religious denomination. They were sure theirs was the ‘true’ Christianity and questioned other denominations. That memory prompted me to refer to Sen. Patrick as a ‘self-professed’ Christian. I didn’t want anyone from a Christian denomination different from Patrick’s challenging my characterization.”
Happy Easter.
