Letters to the Editor
MarieA
Published Letters: 264 Editor's Choice: 19
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When you go to government schools, you are glimpsing the future
[Read the article: Free speech for the rich and powerful]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]For many, many years, the government, which runs public schools, has proclaimed that students have no rights. They have no right to freedom from unlawful search, no right to free speech, no right to dress as they choose.
It seems that the majority of the country thinks that's swell. After all, they send their children off to school every day into the loving arms of government workers. You wouldn't feel very comfortable doing that if you didn't trust them, now would you?
These schools have said, in essence, we own your kids while they're in school. And, well, since what they do outside of school affects what happens in school, we'd like a piece of that to, so we'll give you diet advice and pay you to show up for parent-teacher conferences.
Over time, the way of the public schools seems to be the way of the country. Never thought you'd be required by law to show proper identification if a police officer asked you? Yup, that ship sailed some years ago. (School equivalent: "Where's your hall pass!") Thought you were free from unlawful searches? Gone. (School equivalent: "We're bringing in the dogs to sniff your car in the parking lot!")
Look at public schools and you get a glimpse of the New America.
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There is probably an explanation & maybe a solution
[Read the article: I work with the most annoying man alive]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, we have fiction saturation and all that, but from the description, it sounds like this is a man who has some kind of social interaction problem, perhaps intense shyness or maybe even some kind of mild autistic tendency. What passes for gregariousness may actually be symptomatic of anxiety. He may be using the easy phrases of TV-speak so he doesn't have to come up with words of his own. He knows that people will recognize his intent from the use of catch-phrases and odd accents. It's likely that his behavior is not a fully conscious decision on his part but rather a crutch.
Solving the dilemma, however, ain't easy. HR is not likely to be much help. Supervisors can help if they are careful and consistent in how they go about--and what are the chances of that?
If a lot of people are talking about him behind his back in groups, it might be interesting if you proposed that everyone try to engage the man regularly in real conversation. The bold may even say call him on his use of the catchphrases in these conversations.
Most people won't want to do this. They are uncomfortable. But a couple may cotton to the idea and that's all it takes.
I have seen a couple of these kinds of people make significant improvements when they know that they are being engaged in meaningful interaction and that they can converse comfortably in standard language.
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The Rise of the Journalism School
[Read the article: Our rotted press corps, a division of "Camp Victory"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have watched the proliferation of Press Release Journalism for many years and find an interesting parallel with the increase in journalism schools.
Not that having a journalism degree precludes becoming a fine journalist, but rather that journalism schools are churning out mediocre reporters.
This shouldn't be surprising in that the very nature of such schools attracts those who want an easy path to career success. And what do most people do in school? Swallow what the professor tells you and regurgitate it properly, no questions asked.
Fine training for Press Release Journalism.
Contrast that with those who learned their professions on the job from experienced in-the-trenches editors and reporters.
David Halberstam did not have a journalism degree, but rather the more general Bachelor of Arts. Until journalism schools became ubiquitous, aspiring reporters were advised to get a good grounding in general knowledge and then gain experience on the job.
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Apparently the time for objective discussion has passed
[Read the article: Even the lawlessness was lawless]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yeah, yeah, we all hate Bush -- that's pretty much a given. And yes, it's very hard to give the benefit of the doubt to someone that we hate. I get that.
And while the merits of commuting Libby's pardon certainly deserve discussion, are there not greater issues at play here than to gnaw at the breaking of guidelines?
Guidelines are just that -- guidelines. They do not have the force of law, especially for the President under the Constitution (I remember that document, even if the President doesn't). It is not difficult to imagine that these guidelines are in place so that there is a procedure for those lesser lights who have not worked with the President and whose trial has not been front page news, and you can consider that it is cronyism at best and corruption at worst. But the fact is, the President doesn't have to follow the guidelines and in this one crazy instance, he doesn't have to.
In commutations and pardons, guidelines are handy for the President and the Justice Department to shuffle all the supplicants through. Ever had favors to impart? Then you needed guidelines, didn't you? "So sorry, I'd love to help you, but first fill out these forms and it will go into the review process."
Instead of getting down in the weeds about the guidelines, consider that as I watched this morning's press conference with Tony Snow, as soon as they moved on to another issue (immigration), all the newscasts broke away.
Discuss that!
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Wow, you have a lot of tolerance, Mr. Olbermann
[Read the article: "Even Richard Nixon knew it was time to resign"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]President Bush broke my trust when he began using signing statements and executive orders to circumvent Congress and the Constitution, using rendition (not the first president to do this, btw), and selectively suspending habeas corpus, among other things.
Guess I just don't have Mr. Olbermann's slow fuse.