Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 18:51:21 -0500
From: jack hirschfeld <jack@his.com>
To: fins@access.digex.net
Subject: Re: Political "Cleansing" of the Press--in Congress

Vigdor, please accept these comments regarding efforts to decertify you as
a working journalist:

1.  The willingness of a journalist to distribute his writings independent
of payment by the reader is no criterion as to the seriousness of his
labors.  I have long admired your indefatigable efforts to put your
observations before the largest possible audience, and your conscientious
response to any and all challenges regarding the factual nature of your
reportage.

2.  Efforts to discredit your professionalism tend to reinforce, rather
than undermine, the fact that you are an effective journalist.  The work of
a "hobbyist" can be ignored or dismissed, but your work - the work of a
trenchant and uncompromising journalist - cannot be dismissed; and when it
is clearly finding an audience which stands in opposition to established
forces, they feel they must resort to tactics which will squelch your
voice.  To me, this action against you DEMONSTRATES a high regard (albeit
fearful) of your professionalism.

3.  I am a regular recipient of FINS, and I look forward to your
dispatches.  Since you so willingly distribute them free, I regret that I
have not before this offered to subscribe.  I always assumed you managed
somehow, because even if paid, a subscription is so inexpensive.   Please
sign me up immediately,  When billing me, be sure to spell my name
correctly:

JACK HIRSCHFELD

proud to stand beside you in this struggle.

4. If the opinion of the Executive Committee were allowed to stand, a large
community of readers would be deprived of an important source of news and
information - often the first source, and sometimes the only source.  The
mainstream press often writes of the "people's right to know."  Few,
however, act to guarantee that right as consistently as Vigdor Schreibman.

--
Jack Hirschfeld        What'll I do when you are far away?
jack@his.com