I n p u t   F r o m   O u r   R e a d e r s
LETTERS
FIFTH INSTALLMENT
(Published January 2005)

Dropping The 'Uncle Tom' Bomb

Re: "When Will They Learn". Mr. Griffin, I do not like the use of the term UNCLE TOM (hereinafter UT) although I understand your intention in using it. I too am African American (although I prefer the term Black because the moment you hyphenate the American designation, I fear you are making concessions on your American status).

I believe that UT is an insult geared toward intimidating people of color from having, or sharing, different opinions on issues concerning people of color (As a youth, I was called a UT many times although I never supported Conservative or Republican causes. In my case, speaking proper English and getting good grades was sufficient cause to justify calling me a race traitor). In principle, it should be okay for people of color reach whatever conclusions each of them reaches on a particular issue. In practice, it is disheartening to see that people of color that support conservative and/or Republican causes/candidates get the lion's share of attention from the Mainstream Media.

Having said all of that, can it really be said that Watkins is at the top of the list when Kenneth Blackwell, Armstrong Williams, Ward Connerly, and Clarence Thomas are engaged in their various machinations?

David Rice
Los Angeles, California

You Mean She Isn't?

Re: "Ann Coulter is a Silly, Stupid Tramp...& Other Observations" by D.A. Blyler. When starting out to trash someone and begin with 'silly stupid tramp' I must assume at one time or another you dated her. Such callous, low, and inappropriate vehemence just screams out your obvious jealousy and disgust with your own self. No facts but attacks on the person. I am sure her recent best selling books have probably incited you even more. Please make an effort to use what intelligence you have to make your point.

Phil Leiff
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

All Signs Point To An Incorrect Prediction

Re: "All Signs Point To John Kerry, President" by Robert Furs. Good Article....sorry you were so wrong about everything. Looks like you and Madam Cleo have the same prediction abilities. We're hiring Janitors if you would like to stay off of unemployment.

Ken Lego
Jupiter, Florida

Just wondering where Mr. Furs' article was following an election in which his prediction was so WRONG? It would be nice, once in a while, to hear someone in the "media elite" eat crow!

And, by the way, why in the world do you have a "Canadian student" as one of your columnists? Americans really don't care what Canadians think of us. Nor do we think they have any right commenting on our countries' policies, considering their country is so screwed up. They need to stop whining about the US and worry about their own problems (of which there are many!).

Riley Greider
Rochester, New York

Editor's Note: I don't know if you care what I have to say (since I'm Canadian), but hey, didn't you just comment on my country? What gives you the right, silly Yankee?

Polar Viewpoints

Re: "Seeds of the American Taliban" by W. David Jenkins III. This is probably the most relevant and intelligent article I've read in the past month! I have forwarded it to every thinking person I know because unless we begin to be proactive concerning true morals, values and separation of church and state, I shudder to think what's going to happen to us. As it is, it may be too late. Thank you so much!

Joan Kelly
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Re: "Seeds of the American Taliban" by W. David Jenkins III. Although I agree with the sentiment expressed in your article, I was repulsed at its presentation. You stated that Eric Rudolph was in fact "the abortion clinic bomber" and this remains to be seen. There is the possibility that he may not have done this, and yet you, along with the rest of the media, seem to be seeking an early conviction that pre-empts the legal system in this country. This type of presumptive rush to judgment is just as bad as what one will find among the Taliban and is a scourge to the value of freedom that we, as Americans, have previously claimed to champion.

This is not good editorial work or news reporting, it is pure propaganda and puts you on a par with the Taliban, Saddam and all of the rest of the tyrants that spit in the eye of freedom. Have a great day.

Bobby Shiflett
Birmingham, Alabama

Moore Still Inspiring Discussion

Re: "The Smearing of Michael Moore" by Robert Furs. I have watched "Fahrenheit 9/11", and I watched it again and again. I and many other Europeans can not understand that among 200 million people, Bush is what you have come up with. His actions in Iraq scare us; we used to be America's allies. We used to think that after Reagan there could not be a worse president, but we where wrong. This guy is the most powerful in the world; if he doesn't like a regime, he invades the country! "Liberates it". Germany liberated Norway in 1940 - it has happened before. Now, it would be too easy to say that Bush is stupid. (But look at his eyes - there is nobody home.) How could 200 million people elect and re-elect this guy ? As far as I could tell, Michael Moore is a patriot, willing to be unpopular or worse. If his critics can come up with another answer, fine - this is a valuable discussion. And that is what a democracy is about. You need Moore and you should take him seriously. He has some valuable points.

Ellen Faerden
Oslo, Norway

Re: "The Smearing of Michael Moore". You may find it interesting that Thomas Jefferson never said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." There is no letter or other writing by Jefferson, or anybody else for that matter, with that sentence. You can verify that with the University of Virginia library or any history professor at any college in America.
Just ask for the paper, letter, etc. where Jefferson wrote it. It doesn't exist.

What does exist is this quote from Karl Marx: "Imperialism is the highest form of Capitalism." And now we know the rest of the story.

John Bradberry
Charlottesville, Virginia

Re: "Michael Moore Versus Authority" by Robert Furs. Near the top of the list of returns from a Google search on "Michael Moore", a list capped with a reference to the official Moore web site and thereafter populated mostly with a legion of variations on "why I hate Michael Moore", I happened into my first encounter with Counterbias.com. I reply with thanks to Robert Furs for bringing to my attention quoted editorial fragments form the "New York Post" of July 2004; fragments from editorials I would never have read. I stopped reading the "Post" long before it became inhabited by the minions of Murdoch.

I was taken with one editorial reference to Leni Riefenstahl. She was in fact both a propagandist and a genius. Moore is in fact a propagandist and is a genius. There was droll irony in that comparison of cinematographic propaganda for fascism to cinematographic propaganda against fascism. There is even greater irony in images conjured up by the same comparison of ecstatic German maidens, aroused by his staccato demagoguery, who cry in adulation, eyes full of tears and love, for their leader (Augen voll Tränen und Liebe für ihren Führer) to the aroused and ecstatic Midwestern matrons who weep effusively as the slurred and ridiculous words of the bumbling buffoon wash over them.

Rich Smith
Summit, New Jersey

Liberal Bigots Will Be Smacked Down

Re: "People Are Stupid, Especially Here In Jesusland" by Doug Griffin. I do so hope you anti-Christian liberal bigots continue to spit your vomit at your fellow countrymen. We will enjoy smacking down the rest of you in '04.

Judy Kirsch
Inverness, Florida

Afraid of Freedom, Steve?

Re: "CBS News on the Drugstore War" by Steve Horowitz. I find it hard to believe that "Lloyd, a devout Catholic" would have the sentiments of "You'd rather have a healthy physical relationship with your husband than risk death from pregnancy? Fuck you, my values are better." Your comments are little strong for something so trivial. We all have trouble in our life and we adapt our lives to fit. If that is the biggest trouble in this woman’s life then I know a lot of people who would be in line to trade places with her. It sounds to me that CBS just did the scouting work for Walgreen’s Drug as to where to open a new store. Old Lloyd is entitled to the same freedoms as anyone else in this country even if he is alone in his opinion. He is not breaking any laws. Are you afraid of freedom, or are you afraid of anyone having different beliefs then your own. Where is your tolerance man? You sound like you are wound a little too tight.

Gary Baas
Toledo, Ohio
 

Richest of the Rich

Re: "Progressive Voice - An American Manifesto" by David Dvorkin. You remind of speakers in Bughouse Square on the Near North Side of Chicago when I was much younger.

Your treatise is full of contradictions. I'll only mention one.

You accuse the right (Republicans included) of being part of the rich elite class. Yet the richest of the rich come from the left. FDR, John Kerry, Jon Corzine, Richard Rubin, Barbra Streisand - need I go on. The communist countries reserved wealth for the ruling class, everyone else can live in poverty. This is the greatest hypocrisy of the left.

Jim Gibbons
Sun City West, Arizona

Editor's Note: Your evidence is astounding. Corzine, Kerry and Streisand: the Axis of the Leftist Ruling Elite.