Inappropriate Language in Mayor/Citizen Argument

Published 10 February 2005 in The Argus, Fremont, CA

The February 10 Argus included a front-page article about a disagreement that a member of the public had with the police policy of not responding to burglar alarms, "City critic: Fremont, bear arms."

Dennis Wolfe is quoted as bolstering his argument by questioning Mayor Wasserman's mental health. And, Mayor Wasserman is quoted as responding that Mr. Wolfe is nuts.

As a minister who works with people with mental health problems and as a mental health consumer myself, I can testify how harmful this kind of name-calling and labeling is.

When people see that it is fair game to engage in this kind of public disparagement of people's mental health, and be fully quoted in the newspaper, it perpetuates stigma against people with mental health problems and makes it less likely that they will seek help when they need it.

Both of these men, and the Argus should know better.

Wolfe served for three years on the Alameda County Mental Health Commission and accomplished many wonderful things, including contributing to a stigma abatement effort.

Wasserman, usually the image of graciousness in public, should realize that as a civic leader he should show leadership in how he speaks when he will be publicly quoted, and use this as an opportunity to lead by example.

The Argus should realize that printing disparaging remarks that perpetuate stigma against mental illness is not OK. It wouldn't be done for any other racial, ethnic, or disabled group, and it only makes the problems of mental illness worse to carry this practice on.

I challenge all three to learn from this and do better next time.

Barbara F. Meyers
Fremont, California

Back to Top