Editors Address David Brooks' Son's IDF Service.

While many readers pushed back in the comments with a big fat MYOB ("mind your own business!"), others saw a breach of journalistic ethics.

Here's one comment, and my response below, responding to editor Andrew Rosenthal's take, and recent coverage by the playing-catch-up public editor Margaret Sullivan:

Karen McKim in Wisconsin wrote:
Does anyone imagine for a second that if his son was on active duty with the US military that he would have failed to mention it? The fact that he did not indicates to me that he knew it was a conflict of interest that would legitimately affect our perception of his credibility. Not acceptable.

More likely, but no less disturbing:
Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. Brooks and Ms. Sullivan "held off" on reporting this fact in the New York Times because if known, the son could be in greater danger as a "lone soldier" relative of a well known American pundit.

"Risk factors" came into play in this journalistic ethics decision, I'd bet...

(I say "no less disturbing" because so many simple facts are going unreported nowadays out of concern for "safety" and "risk management". Who is to evaluate what gets kept secret, and what is the public's business to know? That's what is scary to me.)
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ADDED:  The controversy revolves around a statement Brooks made, in Hebrew, to Haaretz magazine regarding his son's service:

Mr. Brooks described the situation as “worrying.”

He added: “But every Israeli parent understands this is what the circumstances require. Beyond that, I think children need to take risks after they leave university, and that they need to do something difficult that involves going beyond their personal limits. Serving in the I.D.F. embodies all of these elements. I couldn’t advise others to do it without acknowledging it’s true for my own family.’”

I don't know how you split the baby regarding dual citizenship (which first-generation Irish-Americans may also apply for in Ireland), but readers questioned if Brooks identifies as an "Israeli parent".  Maybe only half?

(Other readers applied Brooks' logic, and questioned whether the young man could not find the risks he desired, and the difficult challenges pushing him beyond personal limits, in a branch of the United States armed services.  Also, does Brooks advise others to "do it", meaning encourage their children to take risks by enlisting in the IDF?  Maybe something was lost in translation... ?)