Got another LTTE published today -- fighting back!

[theHandpuppet]

Well, the Cincy Enquirer may not find my LTTEs fit to print, but this is the third one (or fourth; I've lost track) published by my small hometown newspaper, The Portsmouth (OH) Daily Times. This particular LTTE was in response to someone who wrote in proclaiming "Democrats Don't Mix With God", which was the topic of a recently posted thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=700819

Anyway, here was my response, published just today in the PDT: http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/articles/2006/03/25/news/letters_to_the_editor/1letters_rights.txt Don't let the RW fundies use our newspapers as unchallenged pulpits of misinformation and hate!

Reader points to history possibly repeating itself in American issues

Friday, March 24, 2006 8:51 PM EST

In response to the recent letter writer from Minford who suggested, “Many Democrats Don't Mix With God,” I humbly offer a proposal:

Perhaps we could follow the example of another country which decided that gays, reproductive choice, and a multi-party system are the antithesis to God's teachings.

Like this historical example, we could send all gays and non-Christians off to camps (work shall set you free!) and their children off for special schooling, where they could be segregated from any contact with possibly insidious influences and thoughts of people not like ourselves. Further, reproductive choice would be outlawed and we could gladly proclaim God's approval as we send our armies off in pre-emptive strikes against our neighbors.

In addition, we should encourage our children to report unpatriotic teachers and professors. Certainly we can all concur that anyone disagreeing with the government should be refused the right to travel, “subversive” books should be banned or burned, newspapers and radio should be censored as to discourage dissent, and modern artists should have their work condemned as “degenerate.”

We most assuredly should view our leader as an infallible “man of God” and our place in the world as exalted and superior, with our divine destiny to conquer and subjugate inferior and heretical cultures and peoples. Dissent with the ruling party and leader should be immediately condemned as unpatriotic if not outlawed.

Sound familiar? Perhaps some of you are also familiar with this quote: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” - George Santayana

Kate Maynard

Martinsburg, W.Va.

[Strathos]

1. That is awesome!!!

Good job and keep writing.

[wakeme2008]

2. LOL sorry to say some Repugs could not name

that country...

[theHandpuppet]

3. Oh, I'm sure some of them are still guessing

Which is one reason I didn't spell it out. Other than the most obvious example, the description I gave could fit any number of totalitarian/fascist regimes. Besides, you can't use the "Nazi" word and expect to get published. I think the point was made, though. ;)

[MASSAFRA]

4. My problem

is I can think of more than one.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Oh but that's NOT a problem

It's one of the very reasons I didn't spell out just one example. Humanity HAS repeated its mistakes over and over again -- the description I provided could have fit any number of governments we've seen over the eons.

[MASSAFRA]

6. Some

supported by our own government.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Yep...

I could certainly think of some recent examples -- ones making the news this very day.