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Media reaction
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Published: November 28, 2009
Having observed the media-establishment reaction to former Gov. Sarah Palin, I was not surprised that Ellen Goodman's Nov. 21 column "Barracuda Lessons" was derogatory. I find the contrast between the treatment of Sen. Ted Kennedy (at a minimum complicit in the death of another human being) and Sarah Palin (guilty of nothing more than an unsophisticated rural demeanor) to be astounding.
I was confused at first by the vile media reaction to this woman. You could disagree with her political philosophy, but this wouldn't explain the derision that we have seen on a personal level. I have come to understand that it is simple elitism bigotry. How dare this woman with her simple, earthy, rural values pretend to play on the national stage among the erudite Ivy League alumni of the Washington-New York-Boston corridor? They are compelled to attack her intelligence at every opportunity. Make no mistake; they feel the same way about dim-witted slow-talking Southerners. This behavior is nothing short of the prejudice that they so blithely attribute to other people.
The next time they attack the qualifications of Sarah Palin, remember that they're also attacking our suitability for the governing class. Harry Truman in today's world would have been a pariah, although he served as both vice president and president -- in the most difficult times.
BILL HURDLE
Clemmons
World peace
Men can't maintain world peace. Those in leadership positions seem unable to forego the obscene profits and vain glory of war. Sexual dominion, property confiscation and the seductive allure of historical significance have strong carnal and ego appeal.
Peace provides a convenient time interval between wars, allowing new coalitions to form. Meanwhile, another crop of cannon fodder physically matures without knowledge of war's horror or its effect on their minds should they survive.
Fascism is the collusion of corporate greed and political megalomania. Such governments formulate militant policies designed to precipitate conflict for gaining access to or acquisition of the spoils of war. Fascists destroyed democracy in Italy and Germany and took their nations to war. Corporate infiltration of our government resulted in the same disaster.
A conservative neo-Republican coalition is supporting corporate welfare over public well-being. It's threatening violence to achieve its goals. Even assassination has been implied. Fascism in American is sinister and real.
To achieve enduring peace, women must acquire strong public support and political authority to sculpt it. Women give birth to and nurture life. They find no meaning or glory in the sacrificial death or deformity of loved ones that the gore of war demands. They might seek to resolve conflict through political accommodation rather than military confrontation.
With prayer, in time, the sisterhood of women will help bring to pass the brotherhood of man.
JOSEPH J. CUTRI
Winston-Salem
Understandable interest
I am excited and energized by the fact that Americans are more involved in and vocal about their government than I have ever experienced in my lifetime. This is a direct result of our having endured eight years of a highly controversial administration followed by the historic election of the very first non-Caucasian president. It's totally understandable that there is so much interest and discourse, and it's a good thing.
That said, I take great offense toward all the general government bashers. It's a daily lament: "The government runs nothing well."
The U.S. government is the largest employer in the world. It is not perfect -- never has been and never will be. We live in the greatest country in the world and I am sick and tired of hearing it bashed over and over again. What ever happened to American pride?
WENDY D. SCOTT
Winston-Salem
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