Re: Off-Topic: Taking Issue

On Mon, 24 Apr 2006, Dave Rose wrote:

> I do take issue with Dan's snide comment about Dick Cheney. What the hell
> does Dick Cheney have to do with this natural (man made) disaster? Rather
> than direct thinly veiled insults against Republicans, wouldn't it be more
> productive to ask why this city was built below sea level in the first
> place?
>
> Dave in Wyoming

Dear Dave in Wyoming,

I admit I've been kind of busy lately and haven't given the list the
attention it deserves, but if you were appointed list censor, or giver of
permissions, arbiter of proper discourse and/or defender of Republicans
with particular attention to Dick Cheney, I missed it.

Of course you live in Wyoming, a very special state, and I gather from
internal evidence that your information is limited. So, from the kindness
of my heart I take this opportunity to share some information, which might
save you shock in the future:

Dick Cheney is possibly the most hated man in America today. He is
generally considered the deus ex machina, or source of some of America's
worst woes. More hated even than the Bush-haters hate Bush, who some folks
still regard as "a nice guy," even while deploring his effects on the
country and the world.

I may have mentioned that I'm working on a book of political T-shirts, or
maybe not -- it's a non-partisan project, showing the shirts I found
during the REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION in NYC, 2004.... The text
describes my extraordinary efforts to find and photograph Republican
shirts, of which, even during the convention very few could be found. (The
chapter is titled "Desperately Seeking Republican T-shirts.") But of the
Democratic shirts I found and photographed (on their people) I'd say
approximately 30% castigated Cheney (and that was BEFORE he shot his
buddy)... For instance, "Meet the F***ers," "Asses of Evil," and
"Bush/Cheney for 2004" showing the pair in manacles and prison garb, the
"No-CARB Diet," (that's No Cheney, No Ashcroft, No Rumsfeld, and No Bush,
with usually a PS: And ABSOLUTELY NO RICE.)

Etc. Etc. Etc. In other words, this is a common form of communication
today, both public and private, although possibly rare in cactus country.
But for your own good, you should try to take the opportunity to learn, to
broaden your perspective, and cultivate tolerance for other points of
view. (The latest polls show that Cheney has only a 28% "approval" rate,
possibly the lowest in history, except for the Boston strangler.) And,
sensitive as you are, you could suffer serious shock if you leave Wyoming.
Dan does you a favor, a familiar, respected, friendly, professional
colleague starting the desensitization process...

You of course have the right to your opinion. It is (or used to be) a
"free country." But you do not, as far as I know, have the authority to
make the list, the country, the world, or even your immediate neighbors
watch every word they say for fear of your wrath.

MOST IMPORTANT, it seems fairly obvious that YOUR out-of-proportion fury,
YOUR imperious attack on Dan, was far worse than his rather jocular
comment -- aimed at no one in particular. It seems to me that you're very
tightly wound and the least little breeze pulls the trigge -- OK, that's
a mixed metaphor but I'm late & don't think of another. Anyway, perhaps
you could get som help in anger management.

I remember your furious attack on Susan Huber for her casual aside about
"capitalism" -- not to mention your hysterical attack on me when I
reported from nearly ground zero after 9/11 that oil money ultimately
financed Al Quaida. (Of course if you've been in a burrow in Wyoming
since then, you may retain those feelings, but you're now in a minority of
possibly 2, as the realities are a matter of record.)

In other words, you might consider broadening your horizons, and learning
a bit more about the world. You could, for instance, subscribe to a more
balanced news source than you seem to be getting.... or if your anger at
contrary opinion is too precious to give up.... don't savage the list with
it.

Control begins with the self.

fondly,

Judy

PS. Sainted Husband informs me that today, this very day, he heard on the
news that President Bush announced that we have to conserve oil. What
next !!!???
Received on Tue Apr 25 18:09:09 2006