Eligible to vote
While watching the violent and destructive rampage of the irresponsible, uninformed and immature Penn State students who rioted after Joe Paterno was fired ("Paterno is fired," Nov. 10), a troubling and chilling thought came to my mind: These individuals are eligible to vote. They are a part of the uninformed mass that elects the inept few. Not yet mature enough to think for themselves, they simply follow along with whatever wind may be blowing at that time.
These are the type who helped elect Barack Obama, and after three years, they still haven't figured it out.
May the Lord save America from the influence of such.
HOWELL D. JACKSON
Walkertown
Laughable claims
Michael Gerson in his column "Occupy protesters discrediting radicalism" (Nov. 9) says it is laughable to compare the tea party movement to the Occupy movement. Yes, it is, but it is more laughable for him to say that the tea party "venerates American political institutions" and its "goal is democratic influence."
And he implies that the Occupy movement is anti-American. The one-time tea-party favorite presidential hopeful, Gov. Rick Perry, vilified Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. If he gets to Washington, he wants to make the federal government inconsequential.
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would virtually abolish Medicare. The top priorities of the tea-party-elected radical governors of Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida were to strip government employees' collective-bargaining rights, cut public-education spending, restrict citizens' voting rights and intrude upon women's rights relating to abortion. This amounts to "veneration of American institutions"?
The Occupiers are not out there to destroy Wall Street but to ask for fairness and to reclaim the American dream that is engulfed by the greed of Wall Street. Does this amount to not venerating American political institutions?
BOON T. LEE
Winston-Salem
Progressive value
The writer of the letter "Checklist" (Nov. 22) is entitled to her opinion regarding what it means to be progressive, just not her own facts. The list presented is clearly based on supposition, not reality. A similar list could be drawn about what it means to be conservative, and with equal value, which is none.
The reality is that most Americans, whether they call themselves conservative or progressive, are much closer to the middle than to the extreme fringes of political thought, which seem to get most of the media attention.
Another reality is that without progressives the writer, as a woman, would still be considered the property of her husband or, if unmarried, subject to her father's rule. She would be unable to own property, to vote or hold public office. And she would not be allowed to hold most of the professional positions now served so well by women. Without progressives, the writer's letter might have been consigned to the trash rather than printed in The Reader's Forum.
As for the separation of church and state to which the writer referred, one has only to read of the Puritans' migration to this country to escape the state-sponsored "Christian" religious persecution in Europe. One can also look at the suppression of women in contemporary Saudi Arabia, with its government religious police.
It is nice to think that a "Christian" nation would truly follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (who was the ultimate progressive), but historical facts show otherwise.
DAVID M. McMAHON
King
In its context
I appreciate your printing the Peter Funt column "Soft and lazy describe our current petty politics" (Nov. 25). He points out that Gov. Rick Perry took some of President Obama's words out of context and tried to make it sound as if the president was saying that American workers are soft and lazy, when in its context it's obvious that he wasn't saying that at all. This "quote-mining" is a typical ploy on the radical right.
What's funny, though, is that last year Republican legislators were claiming that unemployed Americans who couldn't find jobs were soft and lazy. Where was Perry then? Where was the outrage from the right as conservative legislators insulted American workers?
It seems obvious to me that as far as radical conservatives are concerned, anything the left does is wrong and anything the right does is correct — even if it's the same thing. Go figure.
RICKY S. PHILLIPS
Winston-Salem
While watching the violent and destructive rampage of the irresponsible, uninformed and immature Penn State students who rioted after Joe Paterno was fired ("Paterno is fired," Nov. 10), a troubling and chilling thought came to my mind: These individuals are eligible to vote. They are a part of the uninformed mass that elects the inept few. Not yet mature enough to think for themselves, they simply follow along with whatever wind may be blowing at that time.
These are the type who helped elect Barack Obama, and after three years, they still haven't figured it out.
May the Lord save America from the influence of such.
HOWELL D. JACKSON
Walkertown
Laughable claims
Michael Gerson in his column "Occupy protesters discrediting radicalism" (Nov. 9) says it is laughable to compare the tea party movement to the Occupy movement. Yes, it is, but it is more laughable for him to say that the tea party "venerates American political institutions" and its "goal is democratic influence."
And he implies that the Occupy movement is anti-American. The one-time tea-party favorite presidential hopeful, Gov. Rick Perry, vilified Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. If he gets to Washington, he wants to make the federal government inconsequential.
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would virtually abolish Medicare. The top priorities of the tea-party-elected radical governors of Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida were to strip government employees' collective-bargaining rights, cut public-education spending, restrict citizens' voting rights and intrude upon women's rights relating to abortion. This amounts to "veneration of American institutions"?
The Occupiers are not out there to destroy Wall Street but to ask for fairness and to reclaim the American dream that is engulfed by the greed of Wall Street. Does this amount to not venerating American political institutions?
BOON T. LEE
Winston-Salem
Progressive value
The writer of the letter "Checklist" (Nov. 22) is entitled to her opinion regarding what it means to be progressive, just not her own facts. The list presented is clearly based on supposition, not reality. A similar list could be drawn about what it means to be conservative, and with equal value, which is none.
The reality is that most Americans, whether they call themselves conservative or progressive, are much closer to the middle than to the extreme fringes of political thought, which seem to get most of the media attention.
Another reality is that without progressives the writer, as a woman, would still be considered the property of her husband or, if unmarried, subject to her father's rule. She would be unable to own property, to vote or hold public office. And she would not be allowed to hold most of the professional positions now served so well by women. Without progressives, the writer's letter might have been consigned to the trash rather than printed in The Reader's Forum.
As for the separation of church and state to which the writer referred, one has only to read of the Puritans' migration to this country to escape the state-sponsored "Christian" religious persecution in Europe. One can also look at the suppression of women in contemporary Saudi Arabia, with its government religious police.
It is nice to think that a "Christian" nation would truly follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (who was the ultimate progressive), but historical facts show otherwise.
DAVID M. McMAHON
King
In its context
I appreciate your printing the Peter Funt column "Soft and lazy describe our current petty politics" (Nov. 25). He points out that Gov. Rick Perry took some of President Obama's words out of context and tried to make it sound as if the president was saying that American workers are soft and lazy, when in its context it's obvious that he wasn't saying that at all. This "quote-mining" is a typical ploy on the radical right.
What's funny, though, is that last year Republican legislators were claiming that unemployed Americans who couldn't find jobs were soft and lazy. Where was Perry then? Where was the outrage from the right as conservative legislators insulted American workers?
It seems obvious to me that as far as radical conservatives are concerned, anything the left does is wrong and anything the right does is correct — even if it's the same thing. Go figure.
RICKY S. PHILLIPS
Winston-Salem
LTE #1... What's truly "troubling and chilling" are the states that have made Student ID's ineligible as voter ID while allowing gun permits as permissible. hmm, Wonder where that idea came from?
ReplyDelete"They are a part of the uninformed mass that elects the inept few." This coming from a man who invokes the supernatural. The riot was ugly and the next night there was a candlelight vigil or did you miss that. Just remember next time you want to disparage students, these are the kids that were 8,9, and 10 when their world was shattered 9/11 and 10 years later this is the world the "adults" (who can no longer be trusted in positions of power, politically, fiscally, athleticly) hand them. May your diety bless and keep you, Howell, in Walkertown, far away from us.
These are the same "uninformed masses" 18-24 we hand guns to and send off to war to protect us. It's ok to give guns to "uninformed masses" but not the vote?
ReplyDeleteLte1....well, representative democracy can be a curious thing. Explains how there can actually be a Senator Al Franken. Egypt is trying their hand at it too. Don't be surprised by a strong showing by the Muslim Brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteLte2....compare the TEA Party movement to the Occupy movement? No you can't really. One is raw democracy in action and the other is a representative republic in action. One was seen immediately and blessed by the mainstream media and their President. The other ignored, cursed and slandered by the same.
ReplyDeleteLte3...Deb should know that a list like she wrote only invites a counter list. Kind of like dressing and undressing with the lights on and the curtains open.
ReplyDeleteLte4....quote mining in a political season? I'm SHOCKED. Shocked I say. If you are going to call foul, keep a yellow flag in your left and right hand.
ReplyDeleteI saw a study some time ago that said the average American's attention span was about six minutes and memory about twelve, so I guess that Mr. Howell is an average American.
ReplyDeleteIf he wants to see out of control hysteria, all he need do is attend a Duke-Carolina basketball game. Wait until a whistle blows and look at the fans whose team has just been whistled for a foul. He will hear aspersions on the referee's maternity, assorted foul language and will observe the foam flecked lips of a mob of fanatics. Ages? Say babes in arms up to mid-90s.
Wonder if any of them helped elect the Cheny/Bush team which brought us perpetual peace and prosperity.
And most of the foul language comes from Duke fans and students. So much for being 'educated'.
ReplyDeleteGood 'ole Boon T. Lee.....another liberal idiot. I'll bet he has his computer programmed to tell him when it's time to write another letter to the editor.
ReplyDeleteGarbage in...garbage out.
"Mr. Frank is incapable of feeling shame, regret or a sense of personal responsibility. These are emotions for lesser beings. He’s leaving because of redistricting or to avoid having to raise money or facing those nasty little voters every two years. The House will be a better place for his departure."
ReplyDeleteKarl Rove
I'll bet Frank and Weiner get together. They're both always looking for buns.
As I said, just look in that old outhouse hole and there you will find Buckknot swimming in his favorite pool. What a disgusting creature.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: They are also the type who have been sent to war to die for this country which is why the voting age was lowered to 18. Mr. Jackson must have remarkable acumen to discern the political leanings of people merely from seeing fleeting images.
LTE 2: The genesis of the Tea Party was a CNBC reporter saying he and the CBOT traders did not want to pay for the mortgages of people who couldn't afford them. The Occupiers would just like to be in a position to qualify for a mortgage. The Occupiers don't have any money, hence they really don't have any political clout. I fail to understand the fear and backlash being displayed against them.
LTE 3: Deb's LTE served no purpose, and she seems to be a nicer lady than her Coulteresque comments would indicate. The airwaves today are filled with propaganda so it's little wonder that so many cannot tell the difference between fact and opinion.
LTE 4: The silly season has started, so there's going to be plenty of "quote-mining" from both sides for the next year. Both sides are also guilty of deeming their positions as infallible.
"Those who are going to be over 21 on November 12th, I ask for your support," Perry said, eliciting a few chuckles from the crowd. "Those who won’t be, just work hard. Because you’re... counting on us."
ReplyDeleteDarn right, except the voting age is 18 and the general election date is Tuesday, November 6th
OOPS.
Perry is going nowhere, except back to Texas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dolt.
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency........... Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."
ReplyDeleteunknown writer