The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Awful Truths

1.31.06 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 6)

DECEPTIVE ROOTS
Re: Paul Beston's A Million Little Truths:

"...both men seem to share a conviction that the individual makes his own morality, and is the ultimate judge of right and wrong."

It would be good if TAS would look into the sources of this ethical philosophy, since for all practical purposes this view represents "state religion" as taught in nearly every elementary school in America for the last several decades.

While I suppose it all started with John Dewey, the current text with which most teachers college students are instructed is Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics and/or its many clones. Essentially the philosophy boils down to "all ideas are equal" (except of course the one which says they are not), that all morality is personal, and therefore no one is permitted to be "judgmental."

Until this perverse ethical indoctrination is pulled root and branch from school textbooks and teacher college curricula, we're in for more and more Steins and Freys.
-- Jameson Campaigne
Ottawa, Illinois

Can someone explain why the Los Angeles Times book review section still lists James Frey's made-up memoir in the nonfiction section of best-selling books?
-- Caroline Miranda
North Hollywood, California

I think it gives Frey far too much credit to hold "radical individualism" responsible for his "million little lies" -- as if Frey were expounding a philosophical position gleaned from Emerson and Thoreau. In truth, Frey is just another in a long line of all-American hucksters and con-men. No need to give him any more credit than that.
-- Gene Schmidt
Brooklyn, New York

There was a not-so-good old boy named Michael Bakunin, a Russian exile living in France in 1848, who said (among many other things), "Whoever lays his hand on me to govern me is a usurper and a tyrant; I declare him to be my enemy... Government of man by man is slavery" and its laws "are cobwebs for the rich and chains of steel for the poor."

That was basically the anarchist credo of that day and age.

Mr. Frey, as described in Mr. Beston's column, seems little more than your run-of-the-mill, dishonest opportunist.

Joel Stein, however, may fancy himself a kindred soul-mate of Bakunin. That's a bit more serious.
-- Joseph W. Holmes
Cedar Park, Texas

TENNESSEE EARNING FRAUD
Re: Jay D. Homnick's Commission Off a Crime:

I always like your little "teachings" on Jewish tradition sometimes included with your teachings on morality and politics. The best Jewish jokes, I discovered years ago, are told by Jews. Along the lines of cultural "stereotypes," I concluded (again years ago) that "If you can't get along with an Italian, you can't get along with anybody." Subsequently, after finding out more about the culture of my ancestry (and "inherited" behavior), I concluded, "If you can't get along with a Scotsman, don't worry, no one else can either."

Otherwise, I'm ashamed of Tennessee. From my experience it is a state filled with some of the most amenable and reasonable people in the Country.

Thank you for your gifted insights and humor.
-- Carl Gordon Pyper (Clan Murray)

Letter to the Editor

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