A writer to the “letter to the editor,” was offended by a story written by Susan Thacker ( Tribune Journalist). Now, from what I can tell, she was exercising American right to free speech and doing her job as a correspondent. Beautiful thing about America is the right to get some of the story wrong or get all of it wrong or get some of it right or none of it right and not be arrested.
She wrote her story and the group took offense and wrote a letter to the editor. They claimed she had no right to label a local, right-wing fringe group a “Right-wing fringe group!” Lord forbid! “Right fringe group! How dare she!” Right-wing would have been offensive enough, but the word “Fringe” got in there somehow. No one wants to be the “fringe” of anything! How offensive! They wrote to the Tribune demanding an apology!
They claim to be a loosely bound group of citizens, who believe in a core set of values and principles. They believe America is good! They work to be honest every day. They believe that families are sacred. They believe in life, liberty and happiness. They believe that no one is above the law. They believe that elected representatives should listen to their beck and call. They believe in personal responsibility, thrift, humility, hope, reverence, charity, sincerity, humility, hope, moderation, courage and gratitude and they also claim to believe in free speech! Wow! That sounds just like me… Well… Sort of… I don’t go to church all that often, but I do believe in God, if that helps!
Well, I was offended that I wasn’t included as a proud American citizen. I don’t really believe in the 9/12 group, because they claim to be the day after 9/11. That means they believe in the past. “The finished and gone.” I believe in today , because the “America” I grew up in, has always looked forward… And so, now I demand my apology!
Here’s how the situation stands; the 9/12 group demands an apology from Susan Thacker for exercising her right as a journalist and citizen of this free, strong, wonderful country. And now, I demand an apology from the 9/12 group for exercising their right to free speech by writing a Letter to the Editor, thus offending me.
I’m sure, by now, I have offended someone by my letter to the editor, and I’m sure they’ll write in demanding an apology from me and this whole thing will just go on and on as things like this have a habit of doing. It’ll be just like in church when the priest instructs everyone to say “Hi” to the person on the right (or left) I don’t want to offend anyone here. There will be this wave of “Hi’s and hugs” rippling across the sanctuary… then eventually it all dies down.
Look! Just like when good Ole Rodney King said, “Why can’t we all just get along!” Why don’t we just do what he says and get along. If it makes the 9/12 folks feel any better, they can write in a letter to the paper and call me a “Right Wing Fringe Individual” and I promise to take it like a man. Believe me (and I’m sure many a folk in this town has thought of me in worse terms) I’m glad to be included in the “Fringe of anything,” because being “the fringe” is better than being completely ignored or worse, given the “Silent treatment!”