The American Spectator

FOR STARTERS
I just wanted to tell you guys that I freaking LOVE to read your articles, you guys are so awesome!!!!
— Stephen Wiggins

SILENT TERROR
Re: George Neumayr’s Smealing Hughes

Didn’t Mr. Neumayr just simply expose the plain depraved truth about pro-abortionists and their effect on society?

And Mzzzzz. Eleanor Smeal croaking that Karen Hughes’s remarks were “cynical, ugly, and mean-spirited?” Now, would that be a self-description of hellacious hag Eleanor’s basic personality traits, or what?

And, Mzzzzz. Patricia Ireland on her fellow pervos’ death wish for the man who is protecting their wicked lives: “There is a deep anger.” How about “A Deep Hatred”? … for self, and for humanity, fanned by the gaseous bluster of illiberal feminism.

The fact is, pro-abortionists are of a type with any other terrorists by their attitudes and executions. And terrorists are of a type with all other despots who have rained with blood and horror throughout history.
— Carl Gordon Pyper
Monett, Missouri

I worked for many years in a NICU and have stories that show how the knowledge you are carrying a child who is deformed, who may have a heart defect that cuts the babies life short, or other anomalies that can stun a parents who are learning of the fact their baby is not normal.

I have seen many, many parents who, even with the knowledge their baby is not normal, may not live or have a defect that will be hard to live with go on to have their baby.

When one is being born we know will not live, the parents are given all the support we can give them. When the baby comes, the parents are given a room so they may spend time with the child until it dies. They hold the baby and let it know it is loved, and was wanted. We have special name cards, beautiful gowns and blankets for the baby, beautiful boxes to keep the tiny piece of hair, the cards and any other keepsake for the parents to have. We have cameras ready and pictures are taken and given to the parents. Sometimes, grandparents are there to support and say good-bye, the siblings, if old enough can see the baby and say good-bye as well. The parents leave the hospital, grieving, but knowing they gave the baby their love in this difficult way. This is courage, love and real parenthood.

I have seen babies with anomalies that were very disfiguring, but had parents who held them, as long as they could, crying for their child and themselves. It is not easy, this way of showing love, but the parents are always glad they chose to be there for the baby.

So, it is a matter of choice, the parent must make the choice, but they need to know they have the option of delivering the baby and being with it until the baby dies. I think it is important for them to know how parents who have done this feel. Many have said, they know they gave their child all they could and it was important to say good-bye.

Always a heartbreaking decision, but the choice always lies in the parents’ hands. It is a tough one.

Very tough.
— Carole Graham

Regarding George Neumayr’s article “Smealing Hughes,” those who oppose legalized abortion must begin to use language as precise and graphic as warranted by the horrors of abortion. One of the biggest mistakes we make is to permit abortionists to use polite parlor language to mask their heinous activities. So, in my opinion, if Karen Hughes didn’t say what the abortionists claim she did, she should have.…
— A. A. Reynolds

My fiancé sent me the 4/29/04 article about abortion advocates wanting an apology for comments not even made to them. After finishing the article I was sick to my stomach. My fiancé and I had an ectopic pregnancy 2 years ago in August and I didn’t have a choice in that. I had miscarried most of the baby at only 2 months. I had to take chemotherapy shots to make sure that any remaining pregnancy tissue was out so I would not get an infection — they also do this for abortions. Having been through that and not having the choice on aborting what was left of my baby I have incredibly strong feelings on the topic. Even though there was nothing I could do to save my baby, knowing that they gave me shots like they do for abortions has done a number on my emotions. I still struggle knowing this. To hear women promoting such a thing is beyond me.

I was raised to be a “feminist” and went to one of the most “feminist” high schools. For a long time I thought women should have the choice to abort — it’s their bodies. I have since then come to God and realized how wrong and stupid I was. Women have a choice — they made their choice when they laid on their backs! If you cannot handle the possible consequences that come with having sex you shouldn’t be doing it!

The feminists want equal treatment and to be able to do whatever they want, but with that comes responsibility yet they refuse to be responsible for themselves and their actions.…

Aborting your baby because it’s not convenient for you is NOT okay. For women to be out there marching around saying that Barbara should have aborted George is ludicrous. What if their moms thought they were an inconvenience and aborted them — they wouldn’t be here to march! They should feel BLESSED to live in a country that even allows them to act out! If George wasn’t here to protect their “rights” to march and demonstrate where would they be? They’d be locked up in a prison somewhere and they wouldn’t be yelling then would they? It’s women like them that make me ashamed to be a woman. My roommate was at the march in DC and I can’t even look at her now. I’m so disgusted at all of them. They want to rip on Bush about the war and all the innocent lives being lost, yet they will NEVER look at themselves and all the innocent lives they are PURPOSELY MURDERING! My fiancé said it best; it’s not pro-choice, it’s PRO-MURDER!

Sorry for such a long rant, but it just amazes me at how stupid such educated people can be. Thanks for writing such great articles.
— Stephanie Bogan
Los Angeles, California

PANDER-FREE ZONE
Re: The Washington Prowler’s Guess Who Didn’t Come to Breakfast:

In reference to The Prowler’s comment on White House efforts, “That’s not the way many Catholics see it. Instead, there continue to be rumblings that the White House and its Catholic surrogates fail to reach out in even small ways to Roman Catholic groups,” am I the only one that is sick and tired of self-described groups whining about not being catered to?

Aren’t we all Americans that are supposed to listen to a candidate’s position and views and vote accordingly? And don’t these same groups, once “reached”, usually complain about the politician pandering to them?

This kind of group think is what forces our politicians to waste time putting on silly clothes, following customs, and showing up at useless events just to say, “hey, look at me! I’m now one of you for an hour!” How phony is that?

I’m a 45 year old, upper middle class white male with no religious affiliation (not an atheist, but I don’t care for organized religion and it’s basically none of anyone’s business), married with no children, and strict Constitutionalist. Where’s my pander?
— Greg Barnard
Franklin, Tennessee

ET TU, ARTRU?
Re: Phillipe Artru’s letter (under “Eternal France”) in Reader Mail’s Coming Attractions:

That was an amusing letter by Phillipe Artru, who seems to be an amusing little man. The Soviets retreated all the way to Stalingrad and Leningrad. I wonder if he has ever heard of them. Not that I have a warm spot in my heart for Stalin or communism, but I think those two places alone constituted more resistance than le Grande Armee ever put up. Of course there were those French who retreated to England, thereby beginning a whole new generation of snotty waiters. Churchill’s only reason for supporting de Gaulle as leader of the Free French was to make sure he would leave England when the time came. As for America not helping out France during the Napoleonic Wars; let’s see: Oh yeah! That’s when France invaded everybody in Europe and the Middle East (just like Hitler). Why would we have helped you do that, Phillipe?
— Chris Buckley

In response to the letter from Mr. Artru. You have made some good observations sir, but your French got in the way again. Being a native of Vermont, whose ancestor served with Samuel De Champlain when we settled this fine area, and of course of French descent, I do take a little umbrage at a couple of your remarks. You lost your country in 1940 when your defeatist leadership (caused by many years of laxity) could not wage a proper defense (nor offense) against a well-trained, led , and determined enemy. Yes, you lost 100,000 to their 30,000, but you lost. You also lost 50,000 in Indochina, but left half the country intact (as you say), which caused us to come in to try to save that half, after you screwed things up for us there. You are right, we did not take your side in the Napoleonic Wars because you were in the wrong there. You engaged in terror tactics against your own people in your revolution (Reign of Terror) and went to war against other nations for the purpose of conquest.
— Pete Chagnon

PARTING THOUGHTS
Re: George Neumayr’s Among the Pagan Ladies:

If ever a “Demonstration” actually demonstrated, this one certainly did. Isn’t it ironic that the first two syllables of the word spell out demon? While not a religious proselytizer, I find myself thinking of God and the afterlife after seeing the video of the harridans who perpetrated this perverse and perfidious display on the rest of us.
— Joseph Baum
Newton Falls, Ohio

Having read the stories about the recent march on Washington to support “choice,” one is struck by the irony of it all. As one who has lived through the modern development of the “Women’s Movement” I can only express sadness for what started out as a worthy movement. I can remember those first cries of protest demanding “equal pay for equal work” and the same opportunity for advancement as men. These ideas were supported by a large number of Americans, male and female. Unfortunately, the movement was quickly captured by a small group of women with other agendas. Today’s leadership of the Women’s Movement and those politicians who support them appear to only give lip service to those goals. Apparently, from the statements of some of the leadership in the past few years, even sexual harassment can be mitigated by the appearance of otherwise “supportive” behavior by the perpetrator. Instead, the victims are attacked and denigrated by leaders of the movement for what is clearly political reasons. In today’s leadership, if you observe the things that provoke their “passion” and their outrage, the sad conclusion is they believe there are only two issues that define women’s equality with men; the right to marry a woman and the right to kill their unborn child. This is a tragic devolution of the meaning of equality as well as the significance and value of women in general.
— D. Hendrickson
Dallas, Texas

CROWN HEIGHTS
Re: Marina Malenic’s Driving Off Into the Sunset:

Thanks for the bit of nostalgia. We were a Pontiac family for many years. I have one quibble — the “Crown Vic” is a Ford, not a Chevy.
— P.A. Melita
Charlottesville, Virginia

Marina’s Dad is probably disappointed that she misidentified a Crown Victoria as a GM product (Chevrolet). Everyone knows a Crown-Vic is a Ford product. Maybe it was a Caprice?
— unsigned

I enjoyed reading this piece.

I thought about the past when it was common for families to have generational loyalty to automobile brands. My family owned Fords. My grandfather’s investments that were not in Chevron common stock were in Ford Motor Co. stock. This tradition started to end in the late '70s when Detroit made some truly terrible automobiles trying to meet the market demand for more fuel efficient products. In doing so they abused their loyal customers.
— Steve Cushman

P.S. The “Crown Victoria” is a “Blue Oval” (Ford) product.

SPECTERITIS
Re: Shawn Macomber’s Six More Years and “The Agony of Defeat” letters in Reader Mail’s Chris Matthews Beaned:

The best chance for defeating Senator Specter will be in November. Conservatives in Pennsylvania should vote for Bush and abandon Specter. This is a unique opportunity. Very few conservative voters can begin the process of sanitizing the Judiciary Committee and can also put other RINOS on notice. This can all be done with little or no risk. The senate majority will most likely not be lost., and if it is, a senate majority that includes Specter, and other RINOs has little value. Specter is not worth the prospect of one more Supreme Court Justice like Souter.
— Charles Tucker

WORLD WEARY
Re: Jed Babbin’s Once More Into the Screech and “French and Indian Wars” letters in Reader Mail’s Chris Matthews Beaned:

Babbin is saying what most Americans think these days. The endless anti-Americanism worldwide only makes Americans weary of the world that we continue to hold on our Atlas shoulders. One day we hated Americans will shrug, build a huge fence around our shores, set up our “Star Wars” missiles and leave the world to go to its eventual hell. As the old saying goes, “freedom isn’t free.” We Americans continue to pay while the rest of the world berates, belittles and then yells at us when we get tired of the abuse. Hang in there, Mr. Babbin.
— Deborah Durkee
Tampa, Florida

I have to comment on the letter by Gaurav Goyal about Jed Babbin. The UN is the Parliament for the world’s democracy!!?? The UN is run by petty little dictators and socialists who have no regard for democracy in any sense. The UN should be disregarded as it is irrelevant as an institution, and has been for some time now. As for enslaving countries, I would only hope and pray that we could enslave as many as possible with the horror of democracy and capitalism. Oh the terror of a higher standard of living, the danger of freedom of speech, the decadence of living where and when you want!! What will the people do when THEY decide how their lives are lived, instead of your precious “institutions.”
— Greg Goff
Casper, Wyoming

Dear Mr. Babbin: Being a college professor in the midst of final exam week, I didn’t have the time to read “Once More Into the Screech” when it was published on Tuesday, April 27. However, the two reader responses published as part of reader mail on Thursday, April 29, prompted me to go back and read your article. You provided an accurate summary of objective reality, much as Karen Hughes did in a related context, and you received a similar “how dare you state the truth” response, a response that only validates your original remarks. Our nation’s revolution was based on one set of beliefs and values; the French revolution was based on a significantly different set of beliefs and values. Given these different worldview foundations, the current differences between the American and French perspectives are almost inevitable. In the spirit of Edmund Burke, keep up the good work!
— Brad Lemler
Warsaw, Indiana

MORAL EQUIVALENCE
Re: Brandon Crocker’s The Party Without a Soul:

In my lifetime I fully expect to see the Democratic Party disappear. But I have to tell you Mr. Crocker, the Republicans are not doing much better. Their core belief in a smaller government has not been fulfilled. Fact is neither party since FDR has seen fit to reduce the size or funding of government. So it’s pretty much pox on both sides of the aisle.
— John McGinnis
Arlington, Texas