Letter of the day: Thanks for the explanation on chilling photo of accused teen

I appreciate Star Tribune Editor Nancy Barnes' transparency and candor in relating the extensive, ongoing revisions that are made to the paper in the course of any given day, and in particular the decision to publish a front-page photo of a laughing Michael Richard Swanson, a 17-year-old alleged gunman ("Photo of accused teen wasn't chosen lightly," Nov. 21). The photo perfectly captured his apparent lack of remorse -- the chasm of discontinuity between his demeanor and the horrific nature of his alleged acts. The majority of photos of alleged criminals are small, unremarkable mug shots relegated to the paper's inner pages. They garner little attention, and life goes neatly on. This photo was different: It got under people's skin and perhaps challenged some stereotypical beliefs and assumptions about criminals. I appreciate the sampling of community concerns over the juxtaposition of this photo with others on the front page and appreciate knowing how challenging it can be for an editorial staff to weigh a multitude of concerns and make final judgments. In so many ways, life is more complicated than it seems. LESLIE BLESSING, GOLDEN VALLEY