Hotel Vegas
A Pox on All Sides
RECEIVED Thu., Jan. 25, 2007
Dear Editor,
Mr. Black declares that President Bush is shallow [“Page Two,” Jan. 26]. Now there is a bulletin. But why stop there. This entire dumbass, video-game playing, fashion-obsessed, have-to-have the latest CD, Paris Hilton-loving country of ours is that way, on both the left and the right. Neither side has a monopoly. Mr. Black, allow me to introduce you to the great majority of Americans. We neither supported vigorously nor opposed the Iraq war. Don't confuse our support for the troops. They are just kids with jobs that may get them killed. As with countless generations of us before every war we have ever fought we approached this with a mixture of dread and hope, probably not unlike people in other countries. We tried to maintain some faith in career government officials tasked with these things because, unlike some self-appointed oracle sitting in his cubicle in Austin, they have the job. OK, they blew it. We have no problem saying that out loud. But to those who botched the job and even now support the current course in Iraq and to those standing around with the their thumbs hooked in their suspenders gloating, "I was agin' it from the start," we vote a resounding, "a pox on both of you." We've had about enough of both extremes whacking us around because we didn't and don't genuflect at the revelation of some bit of wisdom that, at least in the view of each side, should have been self-apparent. And as for shallow, how about reading the pages of your own publication. It's page after page of this or that deep, meaningful, insightful, thought-provoking, humankind altering, earth shattering (take your pick) – huh – guitar-playing singer. Perish the thought that any of them should be merely entertaining. That will never do. This isn't written in anger. Mr. Black, I think you are a very, very smart man. But when you are thundering away at those idiots on the far right, at least be courteous enough to acknowledge the existence of those of us over whose heads you are shooting. I would say no less to them.
Mr. Black declares that President Bush is shallow [“Page Two,” Jan. 26]. Now there is a bulletin. But why stop there. This entire dumbass, video-game playing, fashion-obsessed, have-to-have the latest CD, Paris Hilton-loving country of ours is that way, on both the left and the right. Neither side has a monopoly. Mr. Black, allow me to introduce you to the great majority of Americans. We neither supported vigorously nor opposed the Iraq war. Don't confuse our support for the troops. They are just kids with jobs that may get them killed. As with countless generations of us before every war we have ever fought we approached this with a mixture of dread and hope, probably not unlike people in other countries. We tried to maintain some faith in career government officials tasked with these things because, unlike some self-appointed oracle sitting in his cubicle in Austin, they have the job. OK, they blew it. We have no problem saying that out loud. But to those who botched the job and even now support the current course in Iraq and to those standing around with the their thumbs hooked in their suspenders gloating, "I was agin' it from the start," we vote a resounding, "a pox on both of you." We've had about enough of both extremes whacking us around because we didn't and don't genuflect at the revelation of some bit of wisdom that, at least in the view of each side, should have been self-apparent. And as for shallow, how about reading the pages of your own publication. It's page after page of this or that deep, meaningful, insightful, thought-provoking, humankind altering, earth shattering (take your pick) – huh – guitar-playing singer. Perish the thought that any of them should be merely entertaining. That will never do. This isn't written in anger. Mr. Black, I think you are a very, very smart man. But when you are thundering away at those idiots on the far right, at least be courteous enough to acknowledge the existence of those of us over whose heads you are shooting. I would say no less to them.
Scott Sexton
