All posts in the topic Letter to the editor 10-31-08 (Short link)
Summary
- There are 10 posts — by 7 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by John Finn at 2008 Nov 08 18:00 UTC
I was disappointed in one of our elected school board member's letter to
the editor that appeared in the Winona Daily News today. I understand
we all have 1st Amendment rights, but I thought the letter was uncalled
for and embarrassing not only for the writer but the school board and
our community.
Chris Nelson
Here is the letter that appeared in the WDN today:
*What Obama really is
By Ted Hazelton | Winona
*
*.*
*I find it interesting that if you take a long look at an Obama-Biden
yard sign, you can really see it for what is. Just simply drop the “B”
in Obama and replace it with an “S.” Then rearrange the letters in
“Biden” and add an “L” and an “A” and what do you get? Answer: “Osama
bin Laden!”
If that ain’t scary enough, consider Barack Obama’s middle name. It is
“Hussane!” As in Sadam Hussane!
Beware America, beware. Vote McCain on Nov. 4*
And I forgot ..... this elected official spelled Saddam Hussein's name
wrong in the letter.
Chris Nelson
Ted Hazlelton's opinion letter in the Winona Daily News is very troubling.
If for no other reason than we have seen Ted grow in his position in a way
that this writer would never have expected. It is disappointing.
Bob Sebo
Winona
Sadly, I don't find the letter even a little bit surprising. Nor do I find the fact that WDN saw fit to print such a piece surprising. Which is even more sad and more disappointing. Terri Hyle > Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:10:03 -0500 > From: <email obscured> > To: <email obscured> > Subject: [Winona] Letter to the editor 10-31-08 > > I was disappointed in one of our elected school board member's letter to > the editor that appeared in the Winona Daily News today. I understand > we all have 1st Amendment rights, but I thought the letter was uncalled > for and embarrassing not only for the writer but the school board and > our community. > > Chris Nelson > > Chris Nelson > > Info about Chris Nelson: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/3qlx8qIli8ECzUj4kQQyTs > > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/49eyJbWDHtqZNzRFmvsD6K
Am I remembering incorrectly that there are 2 people with the name Ted Hazelton in the area? I thought there had to be a disclaimer last election in the Letters to the Editor, but perhaps it was with someone else running for school board. I was holding out hope that this was not the board member. Sarah Dixen> From: <email obscured>> To: <email obscured>; <email obscured>> Subject: Re: [Winona] Letter to the editor 10-31-08> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:06:15 -0500> > > Sadly, I don't find the letter even a little bit surprising. Nor do I find the fact that WDN saw fit to print such a piece surprising. Which is even more sad and more disappointing. > > Terri Hyle> > > Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:10:03 -0500> > From: <email obscured>> > To: <email obscured>> > Subject: [Winona] Letter to the editor 10-31-08> > > > I was disappointed in one of our elected school board member's letter to > > the editor that appeared in the Winona Daily News today. I understand > > we all have 1st Amendment rights, but I thought the letter was uncalled > > for and embarrassing not only for the writer but the school board and > > our community. > > > > Chris Nelson> > > > Chris Nelson> > > > Info about Chris Nelson: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/3qlx8qIli8ECzUj4kQQyTs> > > > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/49eyJbWDHtqZNzRFmvsD6K> >
I realize that our school board elections are non-partisan, but does that
mean that there is an expectation that board members shouldn't publicly
advocate for their preferred candidates in elections that are? There's
nothing in the school board code of ethics about that.
Two board members that I know of have been active in the DFL, but I don't
recall any letters to editors by them, so maybe Mr. Hazelton has broken some
sort of unspoken rule.
On is it just that Hazelton has expressed a conservative viewpoint about the
presidential campaign? (Per Saint Mary's professor Steven Schild's
observation on WOD's "Oligarchy of Opinion...")
John N. Finn
I don't know if there is an absolute expectation that school board members not
publicly advocate for political candidates or causes.
Speaking for myself, my objection to Mr. Hazelton's letter is not who he
supports but the manner in which he chose to smear the other candidate.
Instead of advocating for Sen. McCain on the basis of his stance on issues, his
experience, his character, etc., Mr. Hazelton chose to use a rather tortured
parsing of Obama's name to prove that somehow, Sen. Obama is not to be trusted
John, You're kidding right? Not only am I appalled that a school board member would use the word "ain't" in a letter to the editor, I'm even more bugged that he would use someone's name to incite fear. I suppose if he was named Christian Patriot Anderson he would be acceptable to Mr. Hazelton? Good grief. And if by some chance this isn't the school board member, I'm not appalled by the ain't. :-)Cherisa > From: <email obscured>> To: <email obscured>> Subject: Re: [Winona] Letter to the editor 10-31-08> Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 07:04:27 -0600> > I realize that our school board elections are non-partisan, but does that> mean that there is an expectation that board members shouldn't publicly> advocate for their preferred candidates in elections that are? There's> nothing in the school board code of ethics about that. > Two board members that I know of have been active in the DFL, but I don't> recall any letters to editors by them, so maybe Mr. Hazelton has broken some> sort of unspoken rule.> > On is it just that Hazelton has expressed a conservative viewpoint about the> presidential campaign? (Per Saint Mary's professor Steven Schild's> observation on WOD's "Oligarchy of Opinion...")> > > John N. Finn> > -----Original Message-----> From: Bob Sebo <email obscured>] > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 6:06 PM> To: Chris Nelson; Winona online> Subject: Re: [Winona] Letter to the editor 10-31-08> > Ted Hazlelton's opinion letter in the Winona Daily News is very troubling. > If for no other reason than we have seen Ted grow in his position in a way > that this writer would never have expected. It is disappointing.> > Bob Sebo> Winona> > > > > > > > John Finn> Winona, Winona> Info about John Finn: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/johnfinn> > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4Vx0w5tPyVW45TXNUUqyGN>
The accusations in Ted Hazleton’s letter has deserved their negative
responses. I do agree with John Finn that criticism would not be so swift if
someone whose political preferences accorded more closely with the
ideological orientation of many respondents wrote a message of similar tenor
with McCain as the object. Moreover, I agree with Dwayne Voegeli that
Hazelton’s public expression of his views represents an openness largely
missing in many elected officials. His message does provide people with a
good view of him. Certainly, no one supportive of freedom of speech,
probably the most fragile component of democracy, would be happy to see the
letter censored. Cherisa Templeton has noted that the letter could incite
fear, but incitement to fear is a charge that could be leveled at almost
anyone dealing with national politics. The letter, however, does deserve a
reaction in the form of reasoned disagreement.
But in responding to individuals with whom one disagrees, one should try to
avoid blanket attacks on everything about the person. Cherisa Templeton’s
criticism of Hazleton's use of “ain’t” is not reasonable. The word is
colloquial, but in no way is it a grammatical error. It has been in common
use in English for more than two centuries and is widely accepted in ethnic
and regional speech throughout the English-speaking world. Many prominent
fiction writers from Mark Twain to Flannery O’Connor have used the word, not
only as a form of characterization but also as part of narrative in
emphasizing a point or simply being humorous. Many nonfiction writers from
John Adams to Harry S Truman have used the word in writing or speech. It has
been part of a title of many popular songs and of many frequently repeated
phrases. The word is quite appropriate for informal essays, personal
letters, letters to the editor, conversation or online communication. There
are many solecisms in print and speech, but “ain’t” is hardly one of them.
Although anyone who depends on a grammar book or dictionary published more
than a half-century ago or on Microsoft Word’s rigid and often incorrect
language recommendations might view the word with horror, virtually all
guides to English now find it acceptable in almost all forms of writing
under the right circumstances. Anyone with doubts may check the unabridged
Merriam Webster Dictionary or the Oxford English Dictionary. Virtually all
modern guides to English discuss the word also.
Hazleton’s use of the word, regardless of the quality of his reasoning,
should not be considered a danger to students.
I think it especially important to tell WOD participants to feel no
hesitation in using the word or other colloquialisms that are not obscene.
Informality is fine. Colloquial English is perfectly acceptable and should
be used if it is the best way to convey views strongly.
Cherisa, and all,
I'm not sure what you thought I might have been kidding about, unless I came
across as being in support of the opinion expressed or of the manner by
which it was arrived at. I'm not, but think that since Hazelton's letter was
consistent with one of the Republican campaign's themes, its publication was
appropriate.
I spend much of each day, probably more so than most WOD participants, with
conservatives and the so-called "values voters". They would agree with Ted's
conclusions, although based more on fears of socialism, gun confiscation,
and/or on arcane and cryptic prophetic indicators as to the "otherness" of
Obama.
John N. Finn
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