See you later bud.

Rutland Herald (VT)

Rutland Herald (VT) November 10, 2007 Real story about friend now gone I lost my friend of many years last week, and instead of printing the factual circumstances of his murder, what the Herald released was not only offensive, but was primarily propaganda. The front page of our newspaper on Nov. 2 read, "Bloody day in Vermont." There are windy days, rainy days, or even tragic days, but not "bloody" days here in Vermont. I opened the paper that morning and instead of finding news, I found a tasteless photograph of my friend. It hurt me. I didn't want to see that. This is not a television show, nor the city streets where, however despicable, such graphic displays have become commonplace. This is our home, and we are all appalled at you. Instead of providing an article that reports the facts of a crime, you have chosen to dehumanize the sanctity of life entirely. The story was also reported in a way that implicated a drug-related fight. It was not. This is a far different story of a man who had a giant heart. I wish I could tell you exactly what he was about, but I doubt you would understand. All you seem to be concerned about is putting tasteless photographs and brutal one liners on the front pages to support the classless act you call a newspaper. If that's what you're worried about, please take note that most of your customers can read. A newspaper is not a comic strip or TV show, and it is hardly necessary to print a photograph of that nature in an effort to sell papers. At the very least, I beg you to print the facts and not embellish the truth in hopes of greater sales. Do not lie about something of which you know so very little about. For anyone who does care and is interested in truth, here are the facts about my friend, John Baptie, and his death. The argument was not about drugs. A man had his life stolen from him at the hand of a coward, for the claim of $40. Do you know what that money was for? A baseball card. I saw it myself. The argument that cost John his life was over a Carl Yastrzemski baseball card that he had already bought. The price was set at $20. The exchange was made. Then the seller's decision changed. He wanted $60 for the card. So now my friend "owed" him $40 more. When he argued against paying it and turned to walk away is when he lost his life. There was no pipe. There were no other men. What I want to know is who gave him the right? This story is about a man who overcame the impossible, found his way and changed his life. He was a man who had always taken pride in his friends and family and was willing to stand up to protect each and every one of us. At the young age of 24, John was just beginning his new life with his fiancée. Last week, he was robbed of that life, and those of us who loved him lost our dear friend. I do not now, nor may I ever, understand why this happened. But what is most important is to remember John for the man he was, not how the editors of the Rutland Herald so tastelessly depicted him to be. I love you John, and I will see you again one day. MATTHEW O. STEINKE South Burlington Copyright, 2007, Rutland Herald Record Number: 711100305