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Thank you for your kind (and unkind) letters. Mark reads all the letters, but especially
enjoys the vicious ones. Drop a line to Mark's Mailbox and if you're chosen to be the
one and only Letter of the Week you'll join our roll of winners from four Continents and
receive a copy of Mark Steyn From Head To Toe. It would help if you could indicate
your city or town, or, at least, your state, province or country. Failing that, your continent
or hemisphere would do. .
Letter of the Week
SAVE THE NATION, BUY A FORD
I have to say: I do remember a little bit about the Chrysler 1979 bailout & the
aftermath, even though I was only about 12 yrs old or so at the time. After
Chrysler got Fed. help, Lee Iaccoca was out pitching how it was patriotic to buy
Chrysler vehicles. My parents, big fans of America & American jobs, even bought one
of Chrysler's "K-cars", mostly (I am convinced) out of patriotic duty. I have not
heard - even once - any appeal to patriotism or to help save American jobs by buying a
GM, Chrysler or Ford vehicle now. Frankly, I find that incredible. Here everyone
is, out waiting for the gov't to do something, or vociferously opposing gov't
action, but NOBODY is saying "let's go buy a Ford & help save American jobs &
American industry." N-O-B-O-D-Y!
I am thinking about getting a new vehicle soon, but odds are against that happening
the next 12 months (for many reasons). The Ford vehicle I drive now has over
120,000 miles on it and has had few problems. It's starting to show its wear (my
heater went out last week), but it's still very reliable & I think I could drive it
5 more years w/out ridiculous expenses in repairs. When my wife & I bought it, we
were definitely concerned about American jobs & the American economy, which was
actually one of the factors in buying our Ford. We bought our Ford Windstar on the
afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001.
George Sabatino
Austin, Texas
Re: The day after tomorrow
CHILL OUT, IT’S AN ICE STORM
I'm from Oklahoma, and I've lived through two ice storms where power was
out for several days (the first one for two weeks, the second for five
days) and a blizzard with no power for about 3 days. (Strangely, during
my years of living in Montana, I didn't have a single day without
electricity because of weather. Go figure.) Anyway, my advice is wear
layers, break out the board games and all those books you've never had
time to read, and get to bed early. It's surprisingly relaxing! I've
been halfway praying for another bout of ice and snow this season for
the enforced tranquility.
I'll be praying for you and the whole Northeast to stay safe and find a
way to stay warm and happily fed, because frostbite and death kills the
mood. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your snow days.
Merry Christmas!
Ella Lackey
THREE CHEERS FOR THE LINEMEN
It was only one short year ago that our families suffered through one of
the worst ice storms to hit Oklahoma. We were without power here for
over a week. And only through the help of electric cooperatives and
their blessed employees across the country did we get power restored so
quickly. I personally witnessed generous acts of gratitude like
restaurants feeding the workers for free, and letting the workers to the
head of the line. People cheered the electric lineman like football
stars. The gratitude was sincere. And it made them feel proud about
the work they did.
It is odd what one finds of great value during times of massive
communications failure and hardship. For me it was a simple, small LED
flashlight that I could fit into my pocket and my beloved $15 Sony
AM/FM/Wx radio that ran forever on two C batteries. It provided a
window to the outside world so we could hear updates of the progress
being made to restore the information overload I'd so been accustomed to.
But it's odd that if asked, those were the two things I valued most. My
42 inch DLP tv? Nah, looters help yourself. But don't even think about
that flashlight.
Take care, stay warm, and I hope I can listen to you on some ice-covered
AM station soon.
Eric Tauriainen
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
BUY A HANDBOOK
You may want to check out "When All Hell Breaks Loose - Stuff You Need To
Survive When Disaster Strikes" by Cody Lundin (www.alssadventures.com )
I've gone through two 8 day each power outages (one in rural mountainous Georgia in
1993 due to a massive snow storm and one here in urban Tulsa just last year when
600,000 Oklahomans lost power due to an ice storm). I heard Cody on Coast-To-Coast
AM radio show and went to his web-site to get his book. I also arranged for a local
radio show host to get him on as a guest and the audience reaction was phenomenal.
We here are expecting another ice storm either Monday or Tuesday. Today I have to
pick up a couple of things (milk, bread, etc.), but otherwise, my prior experience
and what I learned and applied from the book gives me a lot of confidence.
Dan Ward
Tulsa, Oklahoma
GO TO A SWINGER PARTY
Ummmm, you might be missing something if you think you have to go south
for swinger parties. I learned recently, much to my horror, that when
I was but a small child in 1970s NH, many of my pre-school friends'
parents were involved with swingers' parties. And this was Hancock,
NH, which, being in the southwest corner of the state, is on the cusp
of obscurity, as I like to say. Don't you live in a more urban area
along I 93? Surely, if they were swinging in Hancock circa 1975, they
must be swinging in Derry or Nashua or wherever you are. Sadly, most
of those swinger parents are now divorced. My parents, who claim they
did not partake, are still married and, as you might imagine, loyal NR
readers too.
So, power back yet? My parents don't expect to get electric back until
sometime late in the week or even early next. When you live on a
sparsely-populated, dead-end road on the cusp of obscurity, you're not
first on the "Restore Electric" list. However, from the stories I've
been told, I'd guess the townsfolk know how to keep themselves occupied
and warm. So, just thought you ought to know, if you want to make your
own electricity, Go West my friend, go West. Western NH, that is.
Victoria Gulla
NY, NY
EAT DRIED FOOD
Hey I just bought 2 months supply of Mountain House freeze dried food.
And I live in NYC. Perhaps I may seem paranoid to most but considering
Winter hasn't officially begin, the sun spots are dormant, and upper
Northeast area is already in a deep freeze experiencing heavy duty power
outages while knowing The O wants to bankrupt the entire Energy industry..
by every means necessary to me I am not leaving myself in the hands of
either The O or Nanny Bloomberg's care when life gets really challenging. I
also purchased a supply of really neat lanterns which do not require
batteries or electricity-one Coleman flashlight even has a charger for cell
phones ( I am going to test to see if it charges my ipod to potentially have
music/movies to enjoy during long, dark evenings) Don't forget camper stove
which uses long burning candles. Plus water and water filtration system.
Initially in preparation for potential Islamist attack, just after Nov 4th
I decided to adopt the Mormon guide to survival and began about a month ago
to squirrel away as many acorns as I can so I have supplies built-up however
the recent freeze you are experiencing has also reminded to be prepared for
that too I am stocking up on the canned foods plus the rice and beans,
flour, sugar, seasonings and powered milk. (Mountain House sells
freeze-dried eggs pricey but worth it!) Plus, investing in the market these
days is so bad I have decided to invest in my food supply (one reason why I
adopted the Mormon way is that I think they're typically prosperous due to
the fact they must have a years supply of food stored which in turn is a
great way to hedge against inflation!)
In addition to going directly through Mountain House, I found Nitro-Pak to
be a great source for survival supplies including Mountain House products
and Amazon for the Coleman lanterns (not so great on food stuff though).
Cabelas also sell Mountain House. (Praise God how I love America-the land
where I am able to find ways to get out from under government misery with
just a couple of clicks from my home computer).
Considering your lifestyle in rugged rural areas you probably already have
most of the stuff mentioned, but us city dwellers often take for granted our
very easy access to things(sometimes city dwellers are so far removed Nature
they think Nature only exists at the Natural Museum of History of West 82nd
street) With this in mind, I am supplied for two months not two weeks and
will continue squirreling away my acorns for as long as possible.there is no
way in hell I am ever going to trap myself in any government center plus
there are several million people in the Big Apple, I don't want to have to
complete with any of them for food!
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a warm New Year!
Susan
NICE ACCENTS
My kids hate it when you are on the radio because I turn you up, tune
them out and start talking back to the radio.
Your post on the Corner about “The Day After Tomorrow” made me laugh
out loud - not the first time upon reading one of your posts.
The odd compliment comes from your accent. I have been reading the
Screwtape Letters of late and about thirty pages in I realized that in
my head Uncle Screwtape sounded a lot like Mark Steyn. Subsequently,
any C.S. Lewis I read has the same voice. In my mind you are now his
official voice.
You are both great men whose writing I enjoy very much.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Robert Dolan
KILLER HAIL FROM CHENEY
Dear Leader,
I missed you during your NH freeze out. Your Corner post is hilarious today.
We also saw The Day After Tomorrow and thought it one of the funniest films we'd
seen in awhile - parts of the film caused loud, howling laughter - even though the
film was meant to reinforce global warming fears (I think) or climate change
concern (or something that was Bush's fault).
The only items for trade, here in Florida, are coconuts. Perhaps they can be used in
a special type bazooka to fire over the walls of our huts during the impending
global weather crisis. Sadly, the only pelts we could gather for trading are that of
small squirrels, or hairy male tourists on the beaches.
Lin
EITHER YOU OR AL GORE ARE LYING
I cannot believe your report on this ice storm, or the local or
national news reports of this event. Surely, global warming would prevent
such a catastrophe from happening. I bet this is just like that supposed
moon landing a few years back. Filmed in a remote studio, just to make us
believe it happened. No sir, I shan't be taken in by your obviously
erroneous report! Still warm here in Texas. I mean Al Gore, Nobel prize
winner, Divinity School dropout just cannot be wrong. Yes - you unbelievers
must have a better approach to attack global warming than to make up some
hypothetical ice storm in the middle of winter. The steps you unbelievers
take is amazing.
George Hawks
Southlake, Texas
GREEN DOOM
Ecopalypse
Don’t know if it is proper Greek or not, but I like it.
John Schuh
DOUBLE WHAMMY
"...Still, if it's a choice between total societal collapse and Planet
Bailout, I'll take the former."
With enough HopeAndChange you may just get both.
Mackf
MOOCHERS
I am suffering through a bit of "climate change" myself. During which I couldn't
help but come to the conclusion that Planet Bailout leads directly to complete
societal collapse anyway. So I figure we should just skip the intermediate step
of 8 years of media asshats covering for Obama and go straight to the environmental
conditions that kills off losers like Ayers and Dick Mell and Quarters Boyle. No
government to mooch off of means certain death for them.
Seasons Greetings!
Matt Fleming
THE COOLER IN CHIEF
Barack the Spreader sure works fast! Turned down the thermostat
before even taking office. I guess the oceans have already stopped
rising and we can look forward to those emaciated glaciers in the
Canadian Rockies starting to bulk up any day now.
Robert Craigen
Winnipeg, Manitoba
LIVE, FREEZE OR DIE
Sounds like a great place to live, ice storms and all.
Mike Gallagher
Cape Coral, Florida
No ice here.
A BAD WORKMAN
We all know (from Al Gore) that all weather changes are attributable to
human behavior. What you seem to be doing is blaming your failure to work,
and submit your column, on “climate change.” This is a cheap stunt, and I
won’t stand for it. Better yet, I will try it on my boss.
Greg
Re: “F” troop
and O Call, O Call Emmanuel
COLORFUL LANGUAGE
Actually, you are a bit of a connoisseur of profanity. Your final word
to the Journalism Doctor last week was so darn good I read it again and
again. The swearing bits were the best part.
Matt Stichnoth
New York, N.Y
HEADED FOR THE SLAMMER
Gov. Blagojevich just hired Ed Genson as his attorney.
Based on Lord Black's experience, what date do you want in the Blagojevich
Conviction Pool?
DH
Evanston
HEY, WHY NOT KEEP THE DAY JOB?
President and Senator. Isn't that the kind of post partisan change we
can believe in?
Robert E. Alderson, Jr.
New York, New York
ONE GOVERNOR, ONE VOTE
As I recall, a few weeks ago Mr Reid was contemplating not seating Ted
Stevens, had he been re-elected. In the case of the open Senate seat
in Illinois, why has he not - preferably with Mitch McConnell at his
side - announced, preemptively, that the Senate will not seat anyone -
no matter how qualified - if that person was named by Blago? In this
way, the man representing the other Cook County (albeit called Clark
County, in Nevada) could raise the pressure on the governor to step
aside.
The whole episode makes one question whether the principle of "one
person, one vote" has gone too far when that one person is a governor
and that one vote is dispositive in determining the identity of a
United States Senator. Without implying any wrongdoing on the parts
of the governors of New York and Delaware, one also wonders whether
they alone should have such a power (or would want such a power, given
the revelations of how a person could abuse it and the inevitable
questions that will raise about their appointments in the minds of the
citizens). Presumably, robust journalism should help prevent any seat
sales from occurring in those cases.
Brad
Re: A Marshmallow World
PARTS OF IT WERE EXCELLENT
As someone who reads every word of your writings, and those of the
publications for which you write, I recall reading in a Jay Nordlinger
"Impromptus" piece some years ago about how well you sang and danced on
a National Review cruise. Never having heard you sing, I eagerly snapped
up "It's a Marshmallow World." The orchestration is catchy, and Jessica
Martin's singing is engaging and bright, but your performance...I can
only think the burdens of the Vancouver trial were still playing on your
vocal cords when you went into the studio. The enthusiasm is there, but
the key proves elusive. My four-year-old is enchanted, and warbles the
song as he roams through the house. I've gotten over the disappointment
and embraced the song, and remain confident that your next singing
effort will be as tuneful as it is warm. The world remains your
snowball.
Chaz Repak
Somerville, New Jersey
POSSIBLE B-SIDE
I note that your Christmas single has only one song. You need a flip
side, and I humbly nominate my Christmas song, "A Carol For Children."
(You were nice enough to post a link to it last Christmas. It's Ogden
Nash's poem of the same name, set to music, and I have permission from
Little, Brown to use Nash's words.)
Here's a link to the mp3 of it. The voice on my mp3 is a little syrupy; and maybe
the orchestration is a little too elaborate. But it might fit you very well.
Larry Eubank
JOLLY HOLLY FOLLY
Fwiw, I'm with you on Holly Jolly Christmas.
Robert Scillitoe
Re: Planet Bailout
DEMS DON’T DRIVE CHEVYS
You write: "If you like driving Chevys (as I do), you should be in
favor of bankruptcy sooner rather than later. If you don't like
driving Chevys, government protection will take care of the
problem." You miss the real irony here: that the bailout fans are
all in Blue states where they don't drive Chevies. Down here in the
Metro NYC area we have achieved saturation with BMW, Mercedes and
Toyotas. I've no doubt that out on the left coast the situation is
much the same. America's Chevy buyers are out in Texas, Wyoming and
Nebraska. Vote Red, and hate bailouts there.
Jack Hawkins
AMERICA'S BRITISH LEYLAND
Seeing as some sort of government aid to the auto companies is a sign of
compassionate conservatism, perhaps we can get a combined Chrysler/GM renamed
American Leyland Motors. A decade of government oversight should guarantee the
American auto industry the same success as the British auto industry realized. And
for those who don't make the connection to the name, we can say it is in honor of
the Detroit Tigers' manager, Jim Leyland.
Then again, maybe Congress should just cut to the chase and broker the sale of the
US auto firms to their eventual owner, Tata Motors.
DH
EvanstonRETIREE BAILOUT
Hey Mr. Demography Bore, I think you've dropped the ball. Why haven't I seen you
comment on the age aspect of the big three meltdown. According to Maclean's, the
automakers support 775,000 retirees but GM only has 160,000 worker in Canada and the
US. (You might want to fact-check those numbers.)
Is that an early vindication for you thesis or what?
Peter Enns
EVEN MORE UNPOPULAR
If public sympathy is your guide, the bank bailout is far more
unpopular. In fact the lack of sympathy to the Little 3 is due to
fallout from the bank bailout. The little 3 can't get credit, the banks
with tons of fresh capital won't lend it to them, but WILL pay off any
credit default swap policies held against the little 3. I forgot where
you stood on the bailout, but it seems Lowry, Ludlow, and Manzi were
bawling like welfare queens to bail these banks out. The application of
classical economics in NRO seems to be rather arbitrary at this point.
Pls no publishing of name
PAYING DOUBLE
I will not buy a car from any car company that is saved by a bailout.
I already paid for that car by paying taxes.
I will not suffer the insult of having to pay for a Chevy twice.
Dexter Van Zile
DOOMED BY THE UAW
Your prescription is correct, but your diagnosis is a bit off.
Detroit did this to itself. As has been remarked upon elsewhere, a great
industrial powerhouse reduced itself to a basket-case wasteland within a
generation due to a parochial stupidity that deemed what was happening in
the rest of the world to be of no relevance.
A failure of the legal system in the 30s, combined with antiquated labor
laws in effect to this day, did this. Much can be criticized about how the
big 3 have handled their businesses, but much of what they are criticized
for is simply ridiculous. They emphasized SUVs and light trucks? My
goodness, what do you all think have been paying the bills for the last two
decades, have been keeping those dead men walking? That wasn't a mistake;
that was brilliant. They found a niche they could dominate that was so
profitable that even their higher labor and legacy costs could be covered
and still leave a profit. That simply could not have been done with Camry
competitors.
No, what killed the big 3 was when American courts refused to enforce the
law and allowed striking workers to physically steal the factories owned by
the auto makers. Later laws required the big 3 to bargain with the UAW, and
only the UAW. The automakers outsourced what they could, but the UAW isn't
stupid and was pretty effective in preventing it. The rest is simply normal
stuff: bad decisions, good decisions and a long struggle against inevitable
destruction.
Rob Fink
Re: Taking the pulse
IMMIGRANTS IN SENSITIVE POSITIONS
It is very likely that you are right; that our authorities keep hiring
immigrants/illegals in sensitive positions "because the choose to", it is not
accidental.
I fly out of Logan airport in Boston on business. Not long ago, while waiting for
my luggage to make it to the carousel, I could not help but notice two airport
employees behind me chatting with each other--in Arabic. They were both festooned
with various "security" badges giving them access to any part of the airport.
Also very noticeable around the airport are female employees wearing Islamic
headscarves. They also have badges to get anywhere in the airport.
This does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
I do not believe all Arabs are terrorists, but I am not sure I want native Arabic
speakers working behind the scenes in my airport. Especially when they outwardly
declare, by their dress, that they are pious Muslims, when Islam calls for my
destruction. How do I know how religious they are? Or how far and how seriously
they may take the command to "slay the infidels"?
If they are working somewhere behind the scenes, it would be nice if they were
perhaps translating the latest threats to my country, in Arabic, for the
authorities. Of course the same problem exists; how do we ascertain their
loyalty, or that they will not aid and abet a co-religionist who IS a terrorist,
or that they never be be radicalized, or become a threat?
Massachusetts being as politically correct as it is, it is likely that after 9/11,
MassPort wanted to prove how non-Islamophobic they were, and did so by "outreach",
hiring Muslims for work in the airport, including work in the "secure" areas. How
sad. And foolish. And dangerous. And scary.
Love your commentary, please keep up the good work!
JA
Boston
Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran … but only in retaliation
SORRY, TOO LATE
In the event Iran mounts a nuclear attack on Israel, try to imagine the conversation
between Pres. Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.
HRC: Iran has attacked Israel with nuclear weapons!
BHO: Oh...uh...uh...well we must denounce it!
HRC: But you promised to protect Israel with a nuclear umbrella.
BHO: Uh...have the bombs landed?
HRC: Yes! Yes they have! So, will you defend Israel????
BHO: Uh...What Israel?
What a useless policy this would be!!!
R.J. Blaise MacLean
HEY, JUST TRUST ME!
People of Israel, I just want you to know that if Iran annihilates you with
nuclear weapons you can rest assured that Iran too will be so annihilated. I
understand the people of Israel will no longer be around to witness our
subsequent annihilation of Iran, but trust me friends - it'll be a doozy! -
President Elect Obama
John Willard
TOLERATING A NUCLEAR IRAN
This also reveals the extent of Obama¹s pre-9/11 mentality. We¹ve been
fighting a war against non-state actors (Al-qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas) who are
funded and armed by state actors (Taliban, Saddam, and Iran). Does he
really believe Iran will use a nuclear weapon any differently? What will
happen if the nuke has Hezbollah fingerprints on it? Will Obama really hold
Iran responsible? To the point of nuking them for it? The mullahs must be
getting a good laugh out of this. More directly, it has implicitly signaled
that Obama WILL tolerate a nuclear Iran. I thought we had just one
President at a time.
Andy Adams
IT’S TO DETER ISRAEL
I saw your comments in The Corner on this story. I have yet to see a
commentary on this subject address what could be Obama's *real*
motivation here.
Obama's proposed extension isn't to deter Iran-- Israel already has nuclear
weapons to deter Iran.
My bet is that it's to deter Israel.
By offering the umbrella, guess what Obama gets to argue? The U.S. gets to
pressure Israel to eliminate its nuclear weapons. I can easily see some
Kissinger-lite in the Obama Administration thinking that this offers a
strong negotiating position with a "reasonable" Iran-- they can say to
them, "Hey, we'll get Israel to eliminate its nuclear weapons if in return
you stop your program, and everybody will then live happily ever after once
all those root causes are gone!"
Of course, Israel would never go for it, for their own good reasons (nuclear
weapons are its final deterrent against an overwhelming conventional war--
their calculus determined they needed them long before Iran even thought of
getting the Bomb). Also, why would Iran go for it? Even if they were never
to use nuclear weapons, by simply having them, Tehran would get to deter
us from doing anything against them or their proxies. There's a reason
why Russia, China and North Korea get away with everything, after all.
Bottom line, I could see how such a negotiating strategy would be consistent
with Obama's passion for non-proliferation initiatives, and likewise popular
with the "Blame that nuclear power Israel, they're just asking for trouble"
crowd (like, say, likely U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice?).
Dave Kozik
TWO UMBRELLAS… OH SO USEFUL
The Obama proposal to provide Israel with a nuclear umbrella is fatuous.
First of all, Israel has a nuclear umbrella: it needs a second the way a
man might need...well, two umbrellas at one time. Secondly, it's an
example of doing what Israel has not requested that the US do in lieu of
doing things the US ought to be doing. It's a diplomatic bait-and-switch
that fairly bellows a lack of seriousness to Israel's enemies.
Is Obama suggesting that if the nuke is launched from Lebanon or Gaza
that the US will nuke Iran? No, I didn't think so either. Israel's
problems are entirely assymetrical, and pretending that Israel is France
or Denmark isn't very helpful. To address this assymetry requires action
today, not in five years' time. Now that I think about it, Europe's
problems are also growing more assymetrical by the minute. To slightly
recast Lloyd Bridges' remarks in Airplane, this was a heck of a time for
America to start sniffing glue.
Ezra Marsh
Baltimore
Re: Disease agents
BLAME THE BRITS
I worked in East Africa for awhile. Never forget that the ruling thugs
offer statements meant for local consumption. Mr. Mugabe truly doesn't care
what the rest of the world thinks, or knows, for that matter. If you travel
around Africa a bit, you will be amazed that diseases don't take a heavier
toll. When I was in Mombassa, cholera was rampant. I didn't eat the
oysters.
I had occasion, in Kisumu, Kenya, to enjoy the company of two Brits - one
was a judge, and the other a scientist. We met for lunch one day at the
Hotel Victoria. The scientist unveiled his new toy in a suitcase - a water
analyzer which detected bacterial contamination. We decided to give it a
go right there on the spot in a glass of water at our table. You guessed
it. We went directly to the water treatment plant on Lake Victoria and
discovered they'd run out of chlorine a month earlier.
Mr. Mugabe can say the British invented and spread cholera because very
few there know anything different. For those educated enough to know the
cause of cholera, well, they're smart enough to keep their mouths shut. It
kind of reminds me of the UAW - an organization Mr. Mugabe would feel at
home running.
Those nasty British really screwed up with the cholera. They didn't get
Robert Mugabe. As Mr. Mugabe knows, no one else matters.
R. Winstanley
Boones Mill, Virginia
IDIOTS
Liberals and Mugabe, what’s the difference?
They both take idiotic stances to demonize the very people that have the
last thing to do with their calamity.
Britt D Edwards
Re: Who’s vulnerable?
I HAD TO CATCH MY BREATH
You really caught my attention with the following quote in your column
that appeared today on NRO:
"Dennis Prager got to the absurdity of it when he invited his readers
to imagine Basque separatists attacking Madrid: “Would the terrorists
take time out to murder all those in the Madrid Chabad House? The idea
is ludicrous.”
Why did it so get my attention? Chabad of Madrid, similar to Mumbai,
services a relatively small community and a wide variety of
travelers. I know this because my brother- and sister-in-law are
Chabad of Madrid. They have been the Chabad shluchim (emissaries) in
Madrid for about thirty years, and are the parents of fourteen (!)
children.
Had to catch my breath.
Once again an insightful and unafraid column. May you continue for
many years undeterred!
Rebbetzin Devorah Goldstein
Monsey, New York
NOTHING INDISCRIMINATE ABOUT IT
Let me begin by saying that I am a regular reader of your column at
National Review, check out your website periodically and have made “America
Alone” required reading for all my children who are over 16 years of age.
Ah, yes and I have also used a column or two of yours in the AP English
class I teach. But, while I always appreciate your political and cultural
perspective, I am writing now purely out of gratitude for the last column on
the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
During the crisis, there probably wasn’t a moment out of 24 hours in
these days when one of the many computers in the house wasn¹t focused on
events in India- for very personal reasons. Our daughter and her husband,
who together operate a Chabad House in southeastern Russia near Chechnya,
happened to be home for a visit. While not friends of theirs, Gabby and
Rivka Holtzberg were friends of friends. My husband teaches at one of the
main rabbinical institutions that graduates the Chabad rabbis who year after
year go off to man these community havens. Up and down the streets of our
community are middle-aged parents with kids like the Holtzbergs, kids of
whom we¹re immensely proud, kids we worry about now constantly. This attack
felt like an attack on us. The details of their lives are completely
familiar to us- we all know how this young couple spent their days, with
what prayers they put their son to sleep, what they asked their parents to
send to them in the next box from home.
But now that we’ve put our daughter and son-in-law and their two babies
on the plane back to Russia, now that the tears are beginning to dry and the
shock to wear off, the outrage is beginning to set in. We are reading the
post-mortems in the press with disbelief. Teenage gunmen! Militants! Even-
or perhaps especially- at our own community memorial service here in
“MetroWest New Jersey” we got to hear one invited political leader after the
other speak of the tragedy of the indiscriminate killings in India, that
took the lives of the Holtzbergs along with many others. (The exception was
Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, who was unequivocal in pointing out that the
Holtzbergs and their Chabad House were searched and singled out because of
who they were- Jews.) Indiscriminate! Of all the obscene things to say about
a woman who was tortured before death, about a husband who had to watch it,
about a baby who witnessed G-d knows what.
But of course you know all this - that’s the point of this letter, to let
you know that your attempt to set the record straight is noticed and
appreciated. I’m taking your article to school tomorrow and sharing it with
my students.
May G-d strengthen your voice.
Chana Greenberg
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
A small correction.
Mark's use of "Silence=Acceptance" in his otherwise fine piece "Jews get
killed but Muslims feel vulnerable" is incorrect.
I was an AIDS activist in the 80's and 90's and the phrase on all the buttons
and sticker was "Silence=Death".
It would even have made his very good point even better.
Stephen Manning
ADVANCE EXCOMMUNICATION
My wife emailed your article “Silence=Acquiescence” to a Jewish friend and
co-worker who in turn forwarded it to her extended family. One of her
daughters is a production manager for CNN in NY, but even apart from that I
thought you’d appreciate the extended circulation. What could be more
objectively descriptive and precisely accurate than referring to the
perpetrators of the Bombay massacre as “Muslim terrorists.” The Muslim
community in Bombay rejected the proposal that their remains be buried in a
Muslim cemetery because they were not authentic Muslims, which amounts to
posthumous excommunication. What is called for, however, as your article
argues persuasively, is some sort of excommunication in advance of their
murderous acts.
On another matter, I made a modest contribution to NRO in response to your
appeal in the fund drive. I had wanted to show support for you in your free
speech struggle by subscribing to McLean's, but could never get over the zip
code hurdle to do it online. Just want you to know I’m with you in your
stands for freedom.
David
Re: Song of the Week
SNOW SURFING
Spot on on the Ronettes version. Tremendous but flawed. Carpenters
quite good.
I don't have to tell you the mark of a great song is the number of great versions.
But the mark of Sleigh Ride is one superb version, instrumental, as good as any.
You know you have a great Christmas Carol when it sounds bitchin' on
surf guitar. Name another Christmas Carol that can say that.
Check out the Ventures version.
Cory Franklin
Re: Licensed typist
WRITERS AREN'T THE BEST WRITERS
Timothy Egan's arrogant response to the news that Joe the Plumber inked a
book deal is typical of his ilk. The Internet has made it possible for
anyone to write their opinion, post it to a blog, and hang it out there for
the world to see. Some of it is awful, but quite a lot of it is better than
what I can get in a "major newspaper" and often by people who have other
careers, but can also write well. "Professional Writers" hate that, because
it's hard to admit that there are a lot of people who can write as well, and
often better, than "Professional Writers" can. The best writers SELL their
writing to newspapers, who BUY it because it SELLS newspapers. I've never
heard of Mr. Egan, which doesn't mean he isn't famous, just that I wouldn't
buy a paper to read him.
Lastly, Mr. Egan recommends that Joe the Plumber read a variety of his
favorite authors. How does Mr. Egan know that JTP hasn't read any of those
books, columns or speeches? Hmmmm? Oh, that's right, he works for the NYT,
no need to call and verify.
A degree in Education doesn't make you a teacher.
A degree in Journalism doesn't make you a reporter.
A degree in English doesn't make you a writer.
Mark, you're my favorite! Keep up the good work...
Jeff Alewyn
Huntington Beach, California
DON’T GO TO JOURNO SCHOOL
My one and only college course in journalism was taught by a crusty, chain smoking
20 year veteran from the Detroit News who angrily insisted that writing was a craft
best learned on the job, and the only professionals were doctors or lawyers. Tina
Rosenberg, (my high school chum who won the Pulitzer in 1996) seemed to agree on
that point many years later while talking to my daughter who was interested in a
writing career. She advised my child to avoid "Journalism School" at all costs, and
to simply start writing. Tina is the bravest person I know, as well as
unpretentious, brilliant, generous and kind. Yes, she works for the NYT, but unlike
Mr. Egan, she sticks to non-fiction. Maybe that's the difference.
Melissa Dawdy
USA
PROFESSIONALS AT WORK
In the "Federal Typists" of December 8, Mark Pinsky is quoted as:
"Like Detroit's troubled Big Three automakers, federal intervention to
save the newspaper and magazine industries are highly problematic, at
best."
"Intervention...are highly problematic?"
Like why be that?
DS
STUPID WRITERS ARE LESS DANGEROUS
Elitists love to look down their noses at blue collar workers but seriously,
is there really any room for stupid tradesmen in the world?
One might perhaps safely file stupid people away at desks to arm them with
word processors and do little harm to the world, but I want my plumbing, my
auto work, and especially my electrical work done by smart people. And it is
not unlikely that those smart people could have smart things to say on
non-professional issues too.
Perhaps the sneering is largely done by people who recently found out what
skilled tradesmen make? $25/hr could well be a pay cut. Looking into options
as our teens choose careers has been very enlightening.
Mary Beth Voelker
BLOG SNOBS
Only The New Republic could look at the explosion of blogging over the
last decade, and conclude that what we need is a federal program to
encourage people to write about everyday stuff.
Mike Gebert
GO JOE
I hope Joe the Plumber's book is a NY Times best-seller just to piss Egan
off. In fact, I'll make sure I buy a copy just to do my part. Who made Egan
the arbiter of the First Amendment?
John Sulima
Westerly, Rhode Island
KNOW NOTHINGS
Something else that should make Mr. Egan think the world is really
unfair is people like him who get paid to publish their personal
opinions about things they know nothing. Apparently, being paid to
write about someone (or something) he knows nothing about is okay for
Mr. Egan, but not for Joe the Plumber. Mr. Egan is one more example of
a "tolerant" liberal who doesn't live up to the name.
Marianne Gaio
PAID PUNDITS
Loved the point of that note.
In other news, unlicensed blogging is on its way up and the MSM's is on
its way down. When Tanta has better and wittier insights than your
average paid pundit, the paid pundit ought to think twice.
Sterling Augustine
SECOND GRADE STUFF
Perhaps Egan should be reminded of what former Indiana & Texas Tech
basketball coach Bob Knight once said about journalists:
"All of us learn to write by the second grade, then most of us go on to
other things. "
This of course is not directed at those who write for NR/NRO.
Corey D. Hall
Picatinny, New Jersey
Re: Twelve days of Holidays
THEY FOLDED LIKE AN OLD CHRISTMAS CARD
Thanks, Mark. I'm a bit surprised that Amazon folded so easily, even given the
twisted semantic logic of counting down to a generalized
holiday-we-dare-not-mention. Now, can you use your considerable leverage to school
them in the fact that the "Twelve Days" fall between Christmas and the Feast of the
Epiphany, and do not anticipate the Feast of Christmas. That's what we have Advent*
for. [* "Shopping Days" in the secular lexicon].
Thank God for NRO.
Larry Nolte
THE GRINCH WHO STOLE THE HOLIDAYS
The only people more annoying than people than get annoyed by hearing the
word Christmas are the people that get annoyed by hearing "Happy Holidays"
or "Seasons Greetings". Get over it and yourself. Is it really that annoying
to hear Happy Holidays? I don't throw a tizzy when I hear Merry Christmas.
Mostapha Sabet
CATHOLIC TIME
As a mildly interesting aside to your Christmas post, I offer that the
Roman Breviary of 1962 still counts time as Domenica (Sunday), Feria 2nd,
Feria 3rd, Feria 4th, Feria 5th, Feria 6th, and Sabbato
(Sabbath/Saturday). The current Liturgy of the Hours may do so, as well,
but I don't know for certain.
This is, however, part of the Catholic Church's official reckoning of
time.
Chris Cain
Arlington, Texas
CONGRATS, CLOT
Congratulations...on winning your little crusade. Doesn't mean you're not a clot,
though.
Glenn Kenny
HAPPY GIFT CARD THINGY
Just bought an Amazon gift card to be emailed to my brother for his
birthday. In the process I was peeved to note that Amazon's
selections of gift card design offer one generic "all occasions"
design, one "birthdays" design, and five "Christmas" designs -- all of
which say "Happy Holidays" and none of which include the word
"Christmas." Thus we have the answer to the question, When is a
Christmas card not a Christmas card -- when Amazon.com refuses to give
its millions of customers here in Western civilization even the
*option* of sending a Christmas card.
Thanks for all you do.
John McGinnis
SWINGING SECULARISTS
I didn't see the poll on Graham's site, but here are a few would-be classics of the
rabid secularist's genre.
- Winter Solstice in Killarney
- I'll be Home for Dinner
- (I'm Dreaming of a) White Day Off
- Feliz Sabado
- All I Want for Solstice Is My Two Front Teeth
- Blue Kwanzaa
- Grandma Got Run Over by a Snow Machine (Driven by Sarah Palin)
- Here Comes that Guy from the Macy's Parade
- O' Rockefeller Center Tree
- Barack Obama is Coming to Town
Happy Christmas
Earl Fando
OY TO THE WORLD
Seven customer care representatives a leaping. Can I join in your reindeer games?
*Rockin' Around the Tall Decorated Thing in the Corner
*I'm Dreaming of a White day-that-falls-between Dec. 24 and Dec. 26
*Have a Holly Jolly Pagan Ritual, Infidel
*Let it Go! Let it Go! Let it Go!
*Oy to the World
*Do You Smear What I Smear
*Bleck, the Schmalz
A couple silly things off the top of my head.
Have a wonderful day,
Cindy Beaudin
Vero Beach, Florida
O HAPPY DAY
I was kind of rooting for 'O Tuesday Night'.
Steven D Smith
Denver, Colorado
HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY RAMADAN
f course, we must be ever respectful of those other cultures as your
other correspondents have pointed out. I just returned from an extended
trip to the UAE, where the weekend is Friday/Saturday and the work week
begins on Sunday. That's a recent change from the more traditional
version still practiced in Saudi, where the weekend is Thursday/Friday.
However, when I was there in August I found it highly amusing that the
Muzak at one of the large shopping malls had the occasional Christmas
carol interspersed with the normal bland pop.
I'm guessing by the time this meme is beaten to death we'll be exhausted
by all the energy it will take to keep the tongue planted firmly in
cheek. It's worth it, though.
Kevin Kays
Chicago, Illinois and
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
ANCIENT YULETIDE CAROL
Totally off-topic, but your title reminded me of a long-ago comic strip.
Walt Kelly's "Pogo" was the "Doonesbury" of our day (the 1950s), though, in
taking on McCarthy, he was far braver than anything Trudeau ever did. (Pogo
Possum ran for president in 1954---I had an "I Go Pogo" button at the time---to
counter others' "I Like Ike"!)
I'm hoping---with your punnish sense of humor---you'll be amused by Pogo's
take on the same carol:
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla-Walla, Wash. and Kalamazoo.
Nora's freezing on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower, aleegaroo.
Don't we know archaic barrel,
Lullabye lillaboy, Louiseville Lou.
Trolley Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola, hullabaloo.
Sorry if I took up your time with this silliness, but I just had to share!
Sylvia Baumgarten
Forest Hills, New York
LAST WORD
Thank you for the brief laugh in this continuing vale of tears. Walking around
angry, depressed, and cynical...but mostly angry and so thank you for the smile
your Corner posts on the 12 days of (fill in the blank). Now I am off to buy more
ammunition.
Pierre Legrand
Baton Rouge
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