Martha Stewart's Christmas Message (would Ken Lay say anything like this?)

[NAO]

Here is Martha Stewart's Christmas Message, snipped from Katrina vanden Heuvel's column at The Nation. Reading it, I could not help but think that if Ken Ley, or any of Bush's cronies were put in jail that they would never think about or show genuine concern for others as Martha Stewart is doing.

I was never a fan of Martha Stewart, but I think her Christmas message is a fine example of Democratic Moral Values. It is a sham to 'moral values' that she is in jail while Ken Ley and the other Enron, World Com, Tyco, and other corrupt Bush contributer cronies are free.

http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7

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An Open Letter From Martha Stewart

Dear Friends,

When one is incarcerated with 1,200 other inmates, it is hard to be selfish at Christmas--hard to think of Christmases past and Christmases future--that I know will be as they always were for me--beautiful! So many of the women here in Alderson will never have the joy and well-being that you and I experience. Many of them have been here for years--devoid of care, devoid of love, devoid of family.

I beseech you all to think about these women--to encourage the American people to ask for reforms, both in sentencing guidelines, in length of incarceration for nonviolent first-time offenders, and for those involved in drug-taking. They would be much better served in a true rehabilitation center than in prison where there is no real help, no real programs to rehabilitate, no programs to educate, no way to be prepared for life "out there" where each person will ultimately find herself, many with no skills and no preparation for living.

I am fine, really. I look forward to being home, to getting back to my valuable work, to creating, cooking, and making television. I have had time to think, time to write, time to exercise, time to not eat the bad food, and time to walk and contemplate the future. I've had my work here too. Cleaning has been my job--washing, scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming, raking leaves, and much more. But like everyone else here, I would rather be doing all of this in my own home, and not here--away from family and friends.

I want to thank you again, and again, for your support and encouragement. You have been so terrific to me and to everyone who stood by me. I appreciate everything you have done, your emails, your letters, and your kind, kind words.

Happy holidays,

Martha Stewart

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Maybe Martha can be the one...

To start that progressive news network, when she gets out of stir.

She could do it, you know. I think her world view will have changed a bit, as well.

[marcologico]

7. Could Martha's second act be as America's Mother Theresa?

I guess it would be her third, counting her stockbroking days.

[alittlelark]

8. That is a top-knotch idea!!!!

I never cared much for her until the indictment (and finding out that she was a HUGE DEM donor). But not just for a 'progressive news network', also for desperately needed prison reform.

I'm all over that one. Don't we have a higher % per capita than ANY 1st world country in prison? Moral Superiority indeed.

Either we are the least moral (aka criminals), or the least moral (locking up of the non-dangerous).

[InvisibleBallots]

11. Get Martha Stewart and Oprah - we rule the airwaves

think about it

[2Design]

2. nice - my heart goes out to her and I too support her more since

she became a political prisoner - while the real criminals are in the wh

[nytemare]

3. One shows their true character in times of trouble

I was never too much of a fan of hers. I recognized her talent and abilities though. She has shown true class in this letter.

[prodigal_green]

4. I hope she has Susan MacDougal on her show

She's a big activist for prison reform now too.

I have mixed feelings about Martha Stewart. She has worked hard to build her company, but I've known people who worked with her who say she is a monsterous employer (people say the same thing about Michael Moore, by the way, maybe that is what it is like working for someone with a vision); on the other hand, she's validated domestic arts, which a lot of women, feminists in my generation in particular, were ashamed of enjoying.

[Mabeline]

5. I always liked to watch her show..

thought she was a bit snobbish acting, but brilliant at cooking and decorating.

Actually I believe she was convicted because of lieing to the feds instead of doing anything many more have done and gotten away with. But that's just MOH.

[vixengrl]

6. I think that it reflect very well on her character

that she looks at her situation and then at those around her, and sees how things ought to be done a better way. It shows a concerned and compassionate heart, and I know she has the kind of energy to devote to change if she sets her mind on something. I find I also look forward to what she might be doing once she's out.

Something tells me if, through so crazy fluke where justice works, Ken Lay finds himself *inside*, it'll be just one long complaint about his misery, appeals to be let out, and being better than those around him. Just a guess.

[mcscajun]

9. I'll say this upfront...I never liked Martha Stewart

All that business with tin snips and glue guns and "it's a good thing" just GOT to me.

That said, I think she was the BushCo 'poster child' for corporate crime (anyone see Ken Lay doing time? ever???) and got railroaded because she was a powerful woman.

Now...to the letter. It's fine that she's 'encouraging the American people to ask for reforms...', et cetera. But in the very next paragraph, she's back to herself and plans for her own life and usual pursuits. Not a word about anything she might be planning on doing to address the issues she mentions. And let's face it, she has both the money and the media exposure to take some of this on by spearheading something productive Beyond her next home decor or cooking show.

I still don't care for her.

[InvisibleBallots]

10. It's amazing she maintains such a positive attitude

it's inspiring really

[Sleepless In NY]

12. Why isn't Ken Lay in jail?

anybody know?

[InvisibleBallots]

15. I've been asking that for years

:shrug:

[SlowDownFast]

13. Maybe she's been talking to the anti-war nun

that she's incarcerated with.

check this out:

Nun enjoys prison meals with Martha
http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1128StewartLunch28-ON.html

and

On July 25, 2003, Sisters Jackie Hudson, Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte were sentenced in Denver federal court under sabotage for their symbolic act of "disarming" nuclear missile silo N-8 in northeastern Colorado.
http://www.coloradopeace.org/PlatteGilbertHudson/

[gumby]

14. "Political Prisoner"

is the way I see Stewart. Being a huge Dem donor only reinforces my opinion.

The neo-con Prime Directive is to defund the Dems and the left. Martha Stewart was used as an example.

Tort reform, school vouchers, SS private accounts and faith-based initiatives are more examples.

I've always wondered if Enron was just a money laundering front to get the Bush Crime Family in power. They didn't really "make" anything and then went "poof" the minute that King George was coronated. hummmm?

[InvisibleBallots]

16. they also wanted a CEO with sympathy I think

After 4 years of Enron, Worldcom, etc etc etc, a lousy economy, CEOs and the rich were feeling mightly nervous about showing up in public, what with the crowds of people waving pitchforks. I think part of the reason she was targeted and set up was to generate some sympathy for white collar crooks - since Martha is so nice and got shafted, perhaps Ken Lay isn't so bad after all?

The fact that they could take down a Democratic fundraiser was icing on the cake.

[mr blur]

17. Well...

"getting back to my valuable work, to creating, cooking, and making television."

"Valuable" work? Just asking...

[dryan]

18. Okay, flame me.....

sorry but Martha is right where she should be. Ken Lay and company will get theirs soon enough.

[tsuki]

22. No, the Enron workers "got theirs." If they could convict Martha

Stewart on lying to the Feds without proving it first, Kenny-boy should be in jail.

[Bridget Burke]

21. Martha does "women's work"--so how can it be valuable?

She made a career out of glorifying humdrum housekeeping tasks. Nobody could seriously achieve that level of perfection--without her many assistants. But her shows are amusing & some of the ideas are useful to mere mortals.

[txaslftist]

19. She finally sees how the other half ...

Spend their christmas. I think her conviction was a travesty, because she committed no crime and had no victim other than a prosecutor who was out for blood. Maybe this experience will make her an activist for prison/sentencing reform.
The US imprisons more people per capita than any other nation in the world, including the 3rd world.
If we looked at any other country, say Russia, and they had the highest rate, we'd say that's a police state.
So how do we expect them to view us.
Martha's prison is a minimum. At the maximums the gangs run the discipline and rape is more prevalent now than at any time in our history. The victims of prison rape are not rapists, they are anyone who is younger or weaker than the gang.
I wouldn't wish prison on any innocent person, and I wish for a lot less of it on the guilty.
There are a lot of good web sites on prison problems. I would encourage a Google search.

[indepat]

20. Thank you, Martha Stewart for a sane and loving alternative to 'Puke

values of long hard-time for first time non-violent offenders.

[xchrom]

23. i love martha!

that bitch can do anything -- including be graceful about time spent in prison.
i'm gonna go clean my house -- in honour of the poster who said she glorified womens work.
i'm not a woman -- and that's what my mom did most of her life as work.
she was/is proud of her life -- and i'm proud of her and martha!

[txaslftist]

24. Yeah... gotta admit I like her a lot better now

that she's been to jail. She took the whole thing with such humility and grace.

Never liked her before -honestly never gave her much thought- but I like her now. She's the real victim of this witch hunting philosophy going around...

She just took it really well.