According to the bastion of journalistic ethics Miami Herald's Executive Editor Tom Fieldler, that's what those of you who found fault with their treatement of the Marti Moonlighters are. Little chihuahuas "nipping at his heels."
Not only is this statement from the editor of a major mainstream publication an egregious slander of members of the very same community that publication serves, but it is a clear of indication of that editor's bias and bigotry. Regardless of a later "apology" for his choice of words, this arrogant behavior and this condescension speaks volumes as to the character of the man that oversees what is printed in a city where the majority of the population is made up of immigrants and other "minorities."
I am sure that had Mr. Fiedler been speaking in reference to the African-American community and chosen to make a statement equating same to some kind of animal, all hell would break loose.
That said, I am making it the goal of this blog to see to it that Mr.Tom Fiedler resigns or is fired from his position at the Miami Herald. I urge each and every single one of you to contact McClatchy Newspaper and let them know that you are not chihuahuas nipping at anyone's heels, but rather Americans voicing their opinions as is the Constitutional right of each and every American, regardless of place of birth.
You can contact Mr. P Tira of McClatchy Media at:
Peter Tira
ptira@mcclatchy.com
Communications Director
The McClatchy Company
(916) 321-1941
And, if you wish, you can let Mr. Fiedler know that we "chihuahuas" dont just nip, we bite:
Tom Fiedler
Executive Editor
305-376-3477
tfiedler@miamiherald.com
I will have more on this soon.
Update: My letter to Peter Tira of McClatchy can be found below the fold. If you have contacted McClatchy or the Herald, please email me.
Mr. Tira,
My opinions on the treatment of several Miami Herald employees vis-a-vis their work with Radio Marti notwithstanding, as I write this note I am in complete disugust and somewhat aghast. While McClatchy media has gone above and beyond and reinstated the aforementioned reporters and called for the dismissal of Jesus Diaz Jr over same, and while I am appreicative of that gesture, I cannot help but be quite angered and more than disgusted by recent comments made over this issue by the Herald Executive Editor Tom Fielder.
In this story published by the Miami herald:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/15672617.htm
We learn that Mr. Fielder refered to those in his community who voiced their opinion on the matter above as "chihuahuas nipping at his heels." I cannot impress upon you just what an incredibly slanderous denigration that is to anyone who is of a Hispanic or Latino background. Mr. Fiedler's condescension and outright bigotry - for you can only be a bigot when calling a Hispanic a chihuahua - are an egregious affront to the majority of the community served by the Miami Herald.
I call upon you, sir, to remove this racist from your employ immediately and ensure a sincere and humble apology be given by your establishment to the Cuban-American and Hispanic community in South Florida for having been slandered in such a flagrant manner.
I am the editor of the weblog Babalu Blog (www.babalublog.com) that focuses primarily on Cuban and Cuban-American issues. I have a daily and loyal readership of 2500 and I am now making it a goal of my website to ensure the resignation or dismissal of Mr. Fiedler as I will not except, in any way shape form or manner, the racist chihuahua label placed upon me by Mr. Fiedler. I would also like to inform you that I have contributed to other large scale media internet portals in the past, incluing Real Clear Politics, TownHall, Redstate, Pajamas Media, Michelle Malkin and others and I will use every avenue available to me to publicize Mr. Fielder's derrogatory, racist comments in order to achieve his dismissal.
I will also take it upon myself and my readers to systematically contact each and every single Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald advertiser and make it a point to inform same that while Mr. Fiedler remains in the employ of the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald and/or McClathcy Media and while they continue advertising in same that none of their goods and services will be purchased or consumed.
I urge you to do the right thing, Mr.Tira. A media conglomerate such as McClatchy cannot, should not and must not have the executive editor of one of its major publications making bigoted and racist remarks. Allowing same reflects upon the beliefs and ethics of his employer.
Thank you,
Valentin J. Prieto
Editor
www.babalublog.com