In the Sept. 30 edition of the News-Times, page A2, was clearly an editorial oversight. The headline read, “Woman ends hunger strike.” What a joke! The more accurate way to describe this article would have been: “Woman succumbs to hunger pain.”

I’ve followed this story since Patricia Brooks began her journey for fame. She stated in the beginning that this was never about her. I disagree. This has clearly been all about her! She has been a standard topic in the paper on every edition since this pseudo-strike started. Yes, it was a pseudo-strike indeed. Vitamins, water, supplements? That’s not a real hunger strike. Try having nothing for 21 days!

The very first line of the article read, “Imagine not eating for 21 days. That’s what Patricia Brooks has done, but tomorrow it ends.” Come on, Jim, you reported earlier that she was eating vitamins. Quite frankly, I’m disappointed in Patricia. I was hoping that she would follow through with her word and go for the big result. I envisioned her truly jeopardizing her health to the point where she would be a catalyst to end the war. What happened to her resolve? I fully expected to read about her every week until I saw her thin face listed in the obituaries.

What went wrong? I’ve been watching the president speak and have seen no change in his resolve to continue the offensive in Iraq. What did she accomplish and more importantly, why did she quit? Was she overcome by McDonald’s commercials? What about her Sept. 23 “Soundoff” column when she asks the question, “What will you do?” The title for that one should have read, “Pack your bags everyone, you’re going on a guilt trip.”

In my opinion, this woman has done nothing to improve the situation for our brave patriots in uniform. I appreciate the letter by Nasus Terhune Nunn who responded appropriately to her question. I will always support those brave men and women who follow orders and do not have the luxury to ask why. Oh, and Jim, please do a follow-up article to let us know how quickly she gains that 20 pounds back. The troops are dying to hear.

Dee Smith

Oak Harbor