Paul parody hit sour note

In Tuesday’s Spokesman Review, Doug Clark regaled his readers with a parody song that dealt with the recent escape of Phillip Paul. While I agree that the authorities at Eastern State Hospital ought to thoroughly examine their policies and perhaps the performance of a few of their staff – it is incredible to me that this columnist has devoted his entire Sunday to the ridicule of a mentally ill human being.

Not only did Mr. Clark waste his own time, he then inflicted unfunny and unfeeling lyrics on the rest of the community, using words like “nuthouse.”

Ironically, with the Review and other journalism institutions making tough downsizing decisions, Mr. Clark offers, “I know. I have the best job in the world.” He mentions this before then belittling a person who needs and requires our collective compassion.

Instead, with over one-eighth of page A6 and one-fourth of page A7, we do not laugh at the supposedly savvy politicians or the overpaid corporate bureaucrats. We do not make light of the self-important CEO. We make fun of an easy target, or at the very least, we make use of an easy target in the pursuit of shaming the state hospital.

Scott Kinder-Pyle

Pastor, Latah Valley Presbyterian Church

Spokane