I am writing in response to your article in the Feb. 23, edition of the Whidbey News-Times, about the death of Robert Walters. I think that getting the word out about the effects of drinking and driving can help others understand the reality that comes with making a bad choice. Your article succeeded in promoting awareness of what is a serious problem here at Whidbey, as well as the entire country.

Having known Rob as a friend and co-worker since 2001, I can attest to the fact that he was a great man and losing him is a “needless tragedy.” What I don’t understand is one of the last comments you included in your article concerning Rob’s friends and the “terrible stone” they will have to carry around for allowing him to drink and drive. The use of media to promote awareness is a good thing, but what did you expect to achieve by including these comments?

Most of Rob’s close friends were his age and younger and have just had the misfortune of experiencing the death of a loved one for the first time. Thanks to you, they now have the misfortune of experiencing foundationless guilt and regret over a situation that they probably had no control over. Next time you set out to exploit a tragic accident for the purpose of promoting awareness to the public, maybe you could take into consideration those who knew and loved the victim. You have now turned a “needless tragedy” into needless guilt for his close friends. And you have lost at least one reader of your newspaper.

ATC(AW) James Y. Morgan

Oak Harbor