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Reader Mail
Freedom Falling
POLITICAL WINNER
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.'s Saving
Liberty:
Good column. I think you're on to something when you focus on the
loss of liberty under Obama. I was watching one of the news shows
on Sunday and John Boehner mentioned the loss of freedom. Freedom
is still what America is about to most of us. Stressing its loss
resonates with people. It's a short, easy to understand, and
compelling message.
-- John Cogan
President Obama is bringing the pain. Higher taxes? Check.
Growing, cancerous, overregulation for business and individuals?
Check. Interference in the most personal and intimate choices?
Check. Pain can be a wonderful teacher, but for pain to be
purposeful, either the teacher or the pupil must have a
preexisting teleological view. Observing The One and his
policies, two conclusions are logically drawn: Obama has no idea
of the consequences of his policies or he is hell-bent on
enslaving the working class to a European socialist utopia. Our
Dear Leader has many negative attributes, but stupid does not
stick. Thomas Jefferson, no stranger to either pain or governing,
said, "The art of life is the art of avoiding pain; and he is the
best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with
which it is beset." If our Socialist-in-Chief doesn't take his
eyes off the rearview mirror, he is going to pilot the honorable
ship of America right into the rocky reef of historical
ruins.
-- I.M. Kessel
THE PRESERVATIONIST TRAP
Re: Ben Stein's
Wal-Mart in the Wilderness:
As an Orange County Supervisor and one of the five people that will have to make the decision on the Wilderness Wal-Mart, I enjoyed your excellent description of the Battle of the Wilderness. The Wilderness was a major turning point in the American journey and is a major part of Orange County history. Unfortunately, you should study both history and geography before making pronouncements about either Orange County or Wal-Mart. Had you done so you would have learned the proposed site of the Wal-Mart is not on the Battlefield. It is not adjacent to the Battlefield. It cannot be seen from the Wilderness Battlefield. Mr. Stein you have fallen victim to a bunch of "preservationists" using the issue as a fund raiser. This issue has gotten so bizarre that these preservationists have aligned themselves with a developer who has for years tried to develop 900 acres including a four lane highway through the actual Battlefield.
I will be happy to meet you or any reporter at any time to walk the site, look at the views and show you what is really going on.
Lastly, the 20 acres Wal-Mart wants to build on has been zoned
commercial for over thirty years. Commercial taxes have been paid
for those years. Now that the owner wants to benefit from his
investment, a bunch of carpetbaggers have suddenly decided that
they hold the managing interest in the property and they want me
to steal the land for themselves. For you and all who claim to
honor our ancestors who fought there, our ancestors, on both
sides, who felt they were fighting for American rights, how would
you explain to them that you are using them as an excuse for the
government to take away someone else's property?
-- Zack Burkett
Orange County District 2 Supervisor
SMARTS AND NOT SO SMART
Re: Enemy Central's Coming
and Going:
"Apparently also not in attendance at the Jackson event, besides President Obama and representatives of Enemy Central, was Mr. Tiger Woods. NFL legend Mr. Jim Brown was no doubt disappointed, having recently chastised Woods on HBO for being 'terrible, terrible' as an 'individual for social change.'"
Mr. Tiger Woods not only helps underprivileged kids learn how to play golf, his foundation helps them through a learning center, a character development program and college scholarships. Mr. Tiger Woods also supports military personnel in his charitable endeavors. All, apparently, a total waste of resources. What meaningful social change could come from golf, education, character development and military service?
Mr. Tiger Woods had the effrontery to decline a White House invitation from President William Jefferson Clinton. I'm not sure he was even asked to attend the Michael Jackson sendoff. If not, he shares my misfortune in not having his name drawn in the lottery. Who can blame him for not showing up?
Mr. Jim Brown works toward many of the same goals as Mr. Woods. He has said things that make sense, but he seems to have a chip on his shoulder. And he sometimes fails in his effort to advance the careers of troubled minority youth. Exhibit A: Mr. Maurice Clarett, the Ohio State football phenom who went from a record-setting freshmen season with the Buckeyes to a three and halfyear sentence in the Toledo Correctional Institution.
Mr. Maurice Clarett could have been spending that time in the NFL, were it not for a wise Latina woman.
Though a woman, Shira Sheindlin is neither wise nor Latina.
She is the Clinton-appointed judge who ruled in Mr.
Clarett's favor when he sued the NFL in an anti-trust
case. Mr. Clarett wanted to
enter the NFL draft early. Fortunately, the wise Latina woman on
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
over-ruled the wisdom-lacking Sheindlin. Mr. Clarett, a
minority youth, denied the opportunity to earn a living
by the white power structure running the NFL, was reduced
to a street criminal. Maybe Mr. Brown /should/ have that
chip on his shoulder. But how does Sonia
Sotomayor avoid Enemy of the Week status?
-- Dan Martin
Pittsburgh
Judy Holliday was dumb as a fox. She took the "dumb blonde" image
and rode it all the way to the bank and picked up an Oscar along
the way. We all know Sarah Palin is not dumb, however the
liberals and the media believe she is. That will be their
downfall in November, 2012.
-- Michael Skaggs
Murray, Kentucky
Comments
Leave a Comment
- The Right of Conscience in the Age of Obama
- Breaking Fast With Bill Safire
- An American Tragedy
carol hellman| 7.10.09 @ 11:39AM
Well, how clever. I wonder how many of your readers have fallen for Kessel's trick: he sometime signs "Ira Kessel" and sometimes "I.M. Kessel" hoping no one will notice.
You really do need to hire him as a columnist or limit the number of his letters. He must get published 6-8 times per week. He must not have a life...
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 1:47PM
Ms. Hellman,
Good morning.
Thank you for enjoying my writing enough to recommend my joining the TAS writing staff. I would be highly honored to join such an astute, erudite, patriotic and dynamic team of writers.
To answer your pique, if I do understand your concern, the editor(s) of the Reader Mail column printed a post that is highly similar to the one from yesterday. The duplication is a first and is easily understood: I read and edit my posts before I send them in, but I sometimes I send them in and find reason for dissatisfaction; I then send in the corrected copy marked with notation that the post is a corrected copy. Such was the case with the letter posted yesterday and today. A faux pas easily forgiven? Or is the issue a deeper one than I deduce?
Regarding the use of my signature, my writing name is IMKessel, but when I initially wrote to this fine forum, I used my full name. Recently, I decided to use my non de plume, but TAS, follows strict protocols of letters and etiquette, included the periods between my initials. Neither Spectator nor I ever deceived anyone with my postings. In no issue did I use more than one name.
I am taking time out of my life, and yes, I do have one, to point out that writing can be a hobby. Many find writing to be laborious and boring, but I find great enjoyment in words, reading, speaking, hearing and writing them. Possibly writing is not a hobby you enjoy. So be it. But as you are free (for now – with The One and a Democratic congress foisting an ever growing nanny state on us, I am highly concerned how long any of us will be truly free – ) to pursue your own free time activities. Of course, you will have a little more free time if you refrain from criticizing others for enjoying their lives.
As for the amount of posts I have printed each week, the number varies. I assure you not every post I submit is used. The ones that are posted have met the criteria and standards of the editorial staff. Some people enjoying my writings. Others do not. Personally, I greatly enjoy reading the Reader Mail. Bev Gunn, A.C. Santore, Mike Dooley and M.E. Winship are among my faves.
As long as the editors find my post acceptable for the Reader Mail, I will submit my posts. I will continue to believe that some people enjoy my posts until I have strong evidence to the contrary.
Please enjoy your day.
I.M. Kessel (Or Ira M. Kesssel or IMKessel)
P.S. As my students say, stop the hatin’.
Mimi Winship| 7.10.09 @ 5:40PM
I am delighted to be named one of I.M. Kessel's faves.
Thank you!
Mimi Winship
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 7:14PM
Ms. W,
You have a biting wit and a wonderful sense of rhyme. What's not to enjoy?
I often find myself smiling after reading your posts.
Ira
Alan Brooks| 7.10.09 @ 9:06PM
Ira's posts are sanity in an increasingly dystopian world.
but he cannot reform the school system from within, anymore than Serpico could do inside the NYPD.
Alan Brooks| 7.10.09 @ 9:10PM
not to damn Ira with faint praise, he is the Boswell of AS
however, isn't there a college he could teach at rather than the diploma-mill that is the skool sistem?
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 11:50PM
Mr. Brooks,
Alan, if I may.
I am looking into colleges, but they too often are choked with PC protocols.
If you find any comfort in this, my administration continues to look for ways to railroad me. I don't fit the mold.
And thanks for the kind words.
Ira
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 11:52PM
P.S. Boswell is more than praise enough.
Alan Brooks| 7.11.09 @ 7:28PM
then we'll dispense with the praise and move on to say I think you see that brave new world is here; it isn't 'out there' someplace. it is at home, in "schools", etc,
and it is now not later, burgeoning.
and BNW is an optimistic description of 'it', BNW the book was pleasant however empty the lives it described were. the trade off is quantity over quality, that is to say more schools that teach 'less',
or shall we say more scholastic calories but less moral fibre.
Alan Brooks| 7.11.09 @ 7:30PM
if that, even ;)
Angel| 7.12.09 @ 10:11PM
Dang, Alan--I've never read such lucidity from you! Kudos to Ira for bringing it forth.
Thank you, Mr. Kessel for your consistent excellence.
IMKessel| 7.12.09 @ 10:57PM
Angel,
Thank you for your words of support.
To paraphrase Tennessee Williams, "I have always counted on the kindness of angels."
I will sleep well knowing one has set his/her eyes on me.
With angels, I never stand on formality. Ira, please.
Angel| 7.12.09 @ 11:25PM
You sweet thing, you!
Sorry, I just couldn't resist.
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