The truth

Some photos are naturals for page 1A, such as those showing the Boy Scouts on Flag Day, which were published Tuesday. The Norman Rockwell-style photographs taken by LMT Photo Chief Cuate Santos were wonderful. Publishing them on LMT's front page was an easy decision.

Then there are the times when we must make much tougher decisions, those involving photographs of tragic situations, such as fatal wrecks and the victims of violence. A photo of a grieving mother, for example, can tell an incredibly moving story but it tends to be more acceptable when it's a photo of someone who lives halfway across the country. When it's a fellow Laredoan, people become more concerned about privacy.

We consider the effect that publication of a photograph may have on an individual as well as its importance to the community at large. In general, we avoid showing the deceased in a photo but there are exceptions. Today is one of them. In Thursday's paper, you'll see a photograph of officers and soldiers investigating a truck wreck in Nuevo Laredo, taken after the truck crashed during a chase. In the background, there are two bodies on the street. You can't see their faces, and no blood is visible, but they are two of the five men who were inside the truck when it crashed.

Mexican authorities report that the truck's driver refused to stop at a checkpoint, prompting soldiers to chase the vehicle. The chase went through a neighborhood in broad daylight, with soldiers and those in the truck exchanging gunfire, according to official accounts and witnesses. The chase ended when the truck crashed into a house, injuring two people who were at home when the wreck occurred. The five armed men in the truck were killed, as was one soldier. At least four of the civilians appeared to have died of gunshot wounds.

We had a cross-section of people look at the photo, including a member of the general public. We were looking for opinions on whether the photo should be published. Nearly all -- young and old, male and female, parents and singles -- said the photo should be published. "It's reality," was a common response. "It's the truth."

Laredo Morning Times is a purveyor of the truth, in particular as it relates to the violence in Nuevo Laredo. We find that it's neither as bad as critics think nor as good as supporters would have you believe. There are many rumors and a lot of spin to wade through, nearly every day. We sift through it all, seeking to publish only accurate, verified information. Hence the decision to publish the photograph on 1A. As tough as it might be to see the reality of death in the streets of our Sister City, Laredo Morning Times is committed to reporting the unvarnished truth, in writing and in photographs.

What do you think of the photo?

"New" political cartoonist

We've received numerous positive comments on our "new" editorial cartoonist doing local cartoons, including the one last week about our photogenic Mayor Raul Salinas and his frequent media appearances, which also poked a little fun at us since we run many photos of the good mayor.

The cartoonist is Leo Garza, who's not really new to Laredo audiences. In fact, he grew up in Laredo and was a cartoonist for Laredo Morning Times in the 1980s. He drew the very popular "Needles" comic strip for LMT, which introduced Nacho Guarache. Leo's parents still live here and he comes back home regularly. Like most Laredoans, he can't help keeping in touch with what's going on in the Gateway City. There's just no place like Laredo, is there?

A side note on the cartoon about the mayor: At a recent meeting, Mayor Salinas told me - tongue firmly in cheek - that a couple of people greeted him as "Dr. Salinas" after they saw the cartoon. I must say the mayor has a great sense of humor! Not everyone has the same confidence and approachable, down-to-earth attitude. To see the cartoon for yourself, check out the Sunday, May 30, edition of LMT. It's on page 3D. If you don't already get the paper, subscribe today by calling 728-2555 or going online at www.lmtonline.com to subscribe to the eEdition.