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5.7.04 @ 12:01AM

NOT PLAYING IN PEORIA
Re: Paul M. Weyrich's Queen of Liberalism:

Mr. Weyrich's comments about Mary McGrory are interesting from the standpoint she reached a point where she could not "attack" him since there was something the two of them agreed on. One of the most disappointing things for us out here in "flyover" country is the glee with which both conservatives and liberals seem to enjoy the "game" of politics. Yes, it is fascinating, but when we see reputations impugned, maligned, destroyed for the sake of the "game," it is very hard to not develop contempt for all involved. At that point, it doesn't matter whether the individual is on the left or the right.

If the people involved in the game ever took a week to sit and analyze all the talking head shows, I think they would be surprised at how self centered and ignorant they look. The very idea that it is ok to "attack" someone because of disagreement in mainstream political philosophy is really kind of ridiculous. Disagreement sounds so much more reasonable.

Al Hunt, Robert Novak, Margaret Carlson, or Joe Scarborough, what's the difference? If you don't know what they are going to say about a particular issue, you are a very dim bulb, indeed. Sadly, these people are considered to be pundits, that is to say, some of the "thinkers" in the epicenter of American power and culture. They are among the supposed great commentators of our time that see and reflect upon the actions of our leaders. Yet, their last original thought occurred years ago when, by some disaster they were dining at McDonald's, rather than Sans Souci. Using all their brainpower, they decided to "supersize" the order for the first (and last) time. What a monument to their ability to garner up originality in thinking!

If Mary McGrory's death was hidden, how many of us in the hinterlands could write her column commentating on Washington without anyone being the wiser? Since I'm conservative, let's hold the estimate to about 10,000,000 of us.

And if you don't think that's true, you better take that week and watch the shows.
-- Norman Astwood
Peoria, Illinois

SORORITY ROWS
Re: Shawn Macomber's Mean Girls and George Neumayr's Thelma and Louise in Iraq:

Based on your last two exposes of the modern American woman, one might conclude that these days a good woman is hard to find. Take heed, gentlemen.
-- Blue Ballerina

About halfway through my undergrad days I transferred from a small private college to a large state university that had all the national fraternities on campus. Since my father was a member of a major and well known fraternity, I pledged as a legacy. I was very naive about fraternity life and, as one who had worked his way through both high school and college, I was likewise very independent. Five months after pledging, I depledged myself -- a horrible crime in university life. I was not to become one of the "elite." Oh, the shame of it all. It was such a serious act that I was called before the #3 man in the school's administration. Seems I was the first one in five years to commit such a crime. After all these years I still think that it was one of the best moves I ever made.

The inner workings of large and famous fraternity are living proof that a "Clockwork Orange" attitude abounds within the Greek society. Lying, cheating, forgery, scapegoating and deceptions were the norm. A son from a very wealthy and famous California family would hire fraternity brothers to enroll, take classes and pass tests under his name and registration number. He "earned" his college degree through proxy with the full knowledge and approval of the fraternity. While many of us struggled to make our way, his college days were a four-year vacation of parties and a life of ease. I wonder just what kind of businessman he turned out to be. Most likely a CEO who ripped off the pension funds and would leave the company bankrupt like the ones we read about today. I can't help but think that the college fraternity life fosters such attitudes and behaviors. As an aside, one brother poached a deer out of season and had it hung up to bleed in the tub in the basement of the chapter house. The tub was used as a cold water torture device for those who did not follow the rules. The poor victim was dumped in the icy water that wrapped in a sheet mummy-like which was terrifying.

The urge to become part of some special society or cult is very strong. My problem is that I simply cannot turn my life over to the control of a group of any sort. It is no wonder that the sorority sisters are acting like a mindless mob at times.
-- Al Martin
Depoe Bay, Oregon

This absurd behavior of some young women doesn't surprise me anymore. Just look at what those females did to those in Iraq. The attitude is, "It's fun, screw the consequences."
-- Melvin L. Leppla
Jacksonville, North Carolina

Thanks for the insightful column by George Neumayr. The sad fact is that this behavior could have reasonably been called "un-American" fifty years ago, but now is very much American, and the inevitable result of America's sex obsessed porno crazed society.

It is also very much the result of U.S. government policies, eliminating the differences between men and women, and encouraging feminists to live out their wildest power fantasies.

Moreover, many feminists will be delighted of the idea of women in power abusing men, but will be too clever and too dishonest to say so.

Letter to the Editor

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Trade, Business, Law, Military, Iraq, Iran