From You
May 19, 2004
Letters
RACIST BIGOTRY
The recent article in this magazine under the title "Politics & Poetry" was, as many in our community have noted, absolutely disgusting. Robert Finch has always been a solid and loyal Democrat as a member of the Clarke County Democratic Committee and as a two-time Democratic candidate. To wallow in the mud of racist politics simply because a candidate has not qualified within Mr. McCommons' timeline or associated himself with an adequate number of big-money types is absolutely shameful. Personally, I wouldn't put it past Pete though. The Flagpole has generally been far from progressive when it comes to the politics of true racial equality. Sigh. I guess I just have to force myself to believe that Mr. McCommons is just vocally bemoaning his irrelevance and distance from reality rather than celebrating his own bigotry.
Brian Murray
Athens
GO FOR BROKE
Lou de Wissey's letter to you [April 28] delivered a backhanded slap at Ralph Nader ("some of my best friends," etc.). While I subscribe to the goal of de Wissey's apparent endgame, I'm here to stand up for Ralph's means to that end.
I am sick and tired of all the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth over Nader's decision to enter the presidential race. "No, Ralph, no!" many voices plead. "How can he be so stupid, foolish, egotistical, senile, etc., etc.?" the talk show bloviators ask.
Now, Nader may be many things, but any review of his long record of accomplishments shows that he is neither stupid nor foolish, nor does he let his ego get in the way of his goals. And I don't detect in him the least vestige of senility or any hint of "Oldslammer's" (as my aged mother-in-law's nurse used to say on Bobbin Mill Road).
What else might be behind Nader's strategic decision? Although he must deny it, I think that he knows very well that his Green candidacy may aid Dubya's re-election. And I think that Nader realizes, as de Wissey says, that every day that George W. Bush is in office and his handlers are in power brings us one day closer to the sort of economic, social and geopolitical crisis which is the only practical catalyst for producing the fundamental change necessary to make this great country again what it has been in the past and what it can yet be in the future.
In short, I believe that Nader realizes that you have to break eggs to make an omelet. He sees that the Administration's dazzling skill at breaking economic, social and geopolitical eggs in the last three years insures that another Bush term will inevitably create the conditions requiring our body politic to make the desperately needed basic changes to transform our nation into an embodiment of our best values.
This year, Nader is no longer simply decrying the depressing choice between Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber as he did in 2000. He is doing his best to keep Tweedledumbest in the White House and give us a shot at economic crisis, social upheaval and geopolitical collapse.
Lou de Wissey can vote for Bush if he wants to. It's a free country, as they used to say before Ashcroft took over. But I wouldn't have the stain of a Bush vote on my conscience. No, sir. I'm voting for Ralph Nader.
Hy Wassey
Email
WHAT WE NEED
It is an outrage that you deigned to print in Flagpole [April 28] the idiot ravings of Lou de Wissey, who clearly has a fragile grip on reality and knows less about politics than your average hog knows about mathematics, as someone once said of Walt Whitman's knowledge of poetry. Hell, this moron de Wissey doesn't even know how to spell his own name. He's probably a pseudonymous compatriot of that other cutesy middle-schooler, Heywood Jablome. Juvenile radicalism like that reflected in de Wissey's letter is the last thing we need in 2004.
What we really need now are mature, thoughtful Americans who will stand up for a few common sense goals for our country. I'll give you my seven favorites.
We need an economic system where a year's diligent work by an entry-level employee is more highly valued than a CEO's vanity umbrella stand.
We need a progressive tax system which calls for everyone to pay his fair share of the costs of government.
We need a health-care industry directed at providing health care, not piles of paperwork.
We need people who will value the health of our planet ahead of their need to be accompanied by three tons of steel and plastic on their way to the mall.
We need people who will put the Bill of Rights ahead of the ukases of the anti-terrorism industry.
We need religious people who walk the walk rather than just talking the talk.
We need people who will take risks in pursuit of peace.
Vi Daleya
Email
THE REAL SHAME
President Bush got one thing right during his comments to the public regarding Iraqi prisoner abuse.
He said the pictures released do not reflect the character of the thousands of American servicemen and women. He is correct in that regard.
What he failed to point out, however, is that the pictures do truly characterize the leadership of this country. Further, the pictures point out the overall brutality of the entire Iraq war effort.
What could be more un-American than a "pre-emptive" war by choice, a war of discretion, whereby ordinary Americans are put in harm's way to further the political agenda of whoever happens to be in office at the time?
This is the real shame, the greater embarrassment, and the legacy to history of this administration's band of miscreants run amok.
Jim Baird
Comer
FIRE RUMSFELD
In light of the reports of torture of Iraqi prisoners, as well as mishandling of the war with Iraq and deception of the American people, I urge your readers to write their Senators, Representatives, and President Bush calling for the immediate firing or resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He is an embarrassment to this nation, and should not be allowed to continue running the largest military force in the world. Even if he was unaware of the torture of prisoners or was himself deceived about the non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Rumsfeld should be held accountable. What good is a Secretary of Defense if they have no idea what's going on? We might as well save ourselves some money and fire him if he's that clueless. Allowing this man to remain in a position where he can make such gross mistakes or willfully deceive us only fuels the anger and resentment other nations feel toward us and increases the probability that we will be attacked by terrorists again. It's time for Donald Rumsfeld to go.
Vanessa A. Koelling
Athens
The recent article in this magazine under the title "Politics & Poetry" was, as many in our community have noted, absolutely disgusting. Robert Finch has always been a solid and loyal Democrat as a member of the Clarke County Democratic Committee and as a two-time Democratic candidate. To wallow in the mud of racist politics simply because a candidate has not qualified within Mr. McCommons' timeline or associated himself with an adequate number of big-money types is absolutely shameful. Personally, I wouldn't put it past Pete though. The Flagpole has generally been far from progressive when it comes to the politics of true racial equality. Sigh. I guess I just have to force myself to believe that Mr. McCommons is just vocally bemoaning his irrelevance and distance from reality rather than celebrating his own bigotry.
Brian Murray
Athens
GO FOR BROKE
Lou de Wissey's letter to you [April 28] delivered a backhanded slap at Ralph Nader ("some of my best friends," etc.). While I subscribe to the goal of de Wissey's apparent endgame, I'm here to stand up for Ralph's means to that end.
I am sick and tired of all the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth over Nader's decision to enter the presidential race. "No, Ralph, no!" many voices plead. "How can he be so stupid, foolish, egotistical, senile, etc., etc.?" the talk show bloviators ask.
Now, Nader may be many things, but any review of his long record of accomplishments shows that he is neither stupid nor foolish, nor does he let his ego get in the way of his goals. And I don't detect in him the least vestige of senility or any hint of "Oldslammer's" (as my aged mother-in-law's nurse used to say on Bobbin Mill Road).
What else might be behind Nader's strategic decision? Although he must deny it, I think that he knows very well that his Green candidacy may aid Dubya's re-election. And I think that Nader realizes, as de Wissey says, that every day that George W. Bush is in office and his handlers are in power brings us one day closer to the sort of economic, social and geopolitical crisis which is the only practical catalyst for producing the fundamental change necessary to make this great country again what it has been in the past and what it can yet be in the future.
In short, I believe that Nader realizes that you have to break eggs to make an omelet. He sees that the Administration's dazzling skill at breaking economic, social and geopolitical eggs in the last three years insures that another Bush term will inevitably create the conditions requiring our body politic to make the desperately needed basic changes to transform our nation into an embodiment of our best values.
This year, Nader is no longer simply decrying the depressing choice between Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber as he did in 2000. He is doing his best to keep Tweedledumbest in the White House and give us a shot at economic crisis, social upheaval and geopolitical collapse.
Lou de Wissey can vote for Bush if he wants to. It's a free country, as they used to say before Ashcroft took over. But I wouldn't have the stain of a Bush vote on my conscience. No, sir. I'm voting for Ralph Nader.
Hy Wassey
WHAT WE NEED
It is an outrage that you deigned to print in Flagpole [April 28] the idiot ravings of Lou de Wissey, who clearly has a fragile grip on reality and knows less about politics than your average hog knows about mathematics, as someone once said of Walt Whitman's knowledge of poetry. Hell, this moron de Wissey doesn't even know how to spell his own name. He's probably a pseudonymous compatriot of that other cutesy middle-schooler, Heywood Jablome. Juvenile radicalism like that reflected in de Wissey's letter is the last thing we need in 2004.
What we really need now are mature, thoughtful Americans who will stand up for a few common sense goals for our country. I'll give you my seven favorites.
We need an economic system where a year's diligent work by an entry-level employee is more highly valued than a CEO's vanity umbrella stand.
We need a progressive tax system which calls for everyone to pay his fair share of the costs of government.
We need a health-care industry directed at providing health care, not piles of paperwork.
We need people who will value the health of our planet ahead of their need to be accompanied by three tons of steel and plastic on their way to the mall.
We need people who will put the Bill of Rights ahead of the ukases of the anti-terrorism industry.
We need religious people who walk the walk rather than just talking the talk.
We need people who will take risks in pursuit of peace.
Vi Daleya
THE REAL SHAME
President Bush got one thing right during his comments to the public regarding Iraqi prisoner abuse.
He said the pictures released do not reflect the character of the thousands of American servicemen and women. He is correct in that regard.
What he failed to point out, however, is that the pictures do truly characterize the leadership of this country. Further, the pictures point out the overall brutality of the entire Iraq war effort.
What could be more un-American than a "pre-emptive" war by choice, a war of discretion, whereby ordinary Americans are put in harm's way to further the political agenda of whoever happens to be in office at the time?
This is the real shame, the greater embarrassment, and the legacy to history of this administration's band of miscreants run amok.
Jim Baird
Comer
FIRE RUMSFELD
In light of the reports of torture of Iraqi prisoners, as well as mishandling of the war with Iraq and deception of the American people, I urge your readers to write their Senators, Representatives, and President Bush calling for the immediate firing or resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He is an embarrassment to this nation, and should not be allowed to continue running the largest military force in the world. Even if he was unaware of the torture of prisoners or was himself deceived about the non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Rumsfeld should be held accountable. What good is a Secretary of Defense if they have no idea what's going on? We might as well save ourselves some money and fire him if he's that clueless. Allowing this man to remain in a position where he can make such gross mistakes or willfully deceive us only fuels the anger and resentment other nations feel toward us and increases the probability that we will be attacked by terrorists again. It's time for Donald Rumsfeld to go.
Vanessa A. Koelling
Athens
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