This one reminds ash of the “liberal whiners” label which, as she observed, was selective at best. It’s been noted that conservatives tend to play victim as a tactic and so it is with this fellow, who somehow manages to wrap it in a supercilious tone. By the way, ash’s friend, whose politics are so congruent with ash’s that detractors often referred to them both (which is why ash eventually introduced herself), also replied, patiently explaining that various terms he used interchangeably are not, in fact, synonymous.
• Can just anybody write a column in the newspaper?
After repeatedly reading opinions from the same frustrated liberals, I feel like I have to respond. But first I wonder what the newspaper's policy is in allowing someone to write an article.
I would assume that someone like ash has a doctorate or is a published author or a military expert or someone who possesses advanced degrees. Who else could blast just about everyone? I guess God is alive and well in Springfield.
With [ash’s friend] we can understand that she is a Democrat with a liberal agenda. [ash’s friend], your assumed knowledge and understanding of the military are a little off base. I applaud Jean Schmidt for standing up in Congress, and your apparent blindness toward John Kerry and his military record really needs to be re-thought. It's easy to embellish a military career, as the Joe Wilkins' incident comes to mind. I bet you have never talked to someone who served in Vietnam or talked to the soldiers who served in Iraq. If you believe everything the media writes I really feel sorry for you.
And while I am asking questions, I always get a chuckle from some of the editor's opinions. I would assume most newspaper people have their degree in journalism. I never realized that when I was in college (yes, I did get my degree) that by majoring in journalism you became an expert in finance, political science, military affairs and just about everything else. I know I would never want to get in a battle with you because I am also pretty sure that your journalism degree also allows you to purchase your ink by the barrels and print anything you want.
Good thing ash doesn’t subscribe to the “too easy to bother responding” philosophy:
On Wednesday, December 21, Mr. [name withheld] asks the rhetorical question, "Can just anybody write a column in the newspaper?" which, if expanded to include letters, the State Journal-Register promptly answered - by publishing his comments.
"Frustrated liberals"? How about frustrated conservatives, frustrated libertarians, frustrated authoritarians (if that's not an oxymoron), frustrated aristrocrats, frustrated Democrats, frustrated Republicans, frustrated Greens,or anyone frustrated by NOT writing a letter, article, essay, column, or opinion to our paper or elsewhere, exercising his or her freedom of speech in the proper forum: the editorial pages of a publication? It could be argued - in fact, I'm making the argument - that refraining from joining the noisy chorus of opinions, not contributing to it, is what provokes frustration.
As a frequent writer to and reader of these pages, I have observed with admiration many times over the editorial page editor's yeoman effort to reflect a sampling of every conceivable take on numerous issues in addition to the consensus of editors in the "Our Opinion" column. Likewise, anyone who can string together 750 reasonably coherent, reasonably articulate words, give or take, on any topic of general concern is eligible to be featured in the space reserved on Saturday for "My Opinion."
In closing, permit me to disavow Mr. [name withheld] and others of one notion. I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be, an expert on the military, which is why I have never written about the military. As for the "published author" and "doctorate" musings, I'll let him continue to speculate. And, lest I forget, thank you, Mr. [name withheld], for including me among the illustrous company of the equally prolific [ash’s friend]. Intended or not, that's high praise.