Letters to the Editor
maureenodonnell
Published Letters: 475 Editor's Choice: 5
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Yes, Dolores Flower, but wasn't Colin Powell at retirement age in 2003?
[Read the article: Hillary's time of troubles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I presume he has a very nice pension and someone has written on this site that he's on television. I don't care about his "shame" but I'm really mad at myself for ever believing him. People I know attended a huge rally in Dublin, protesting against the invasion of Iraq and I didn't go. It beggars belief that a man of such reputation and rank could address the UN persuading world leaders that Saddam Hussein had WMDs. Maybe that's OK in your book but it never would be right in mine. Colin Powell is not reviled in Europe because most people have forgotten about him and the part he played in an illegitimate war. Bush and his gang are both reviled and laughed at - "What a dope!" is a common reaction to George W. every time he appears on television. I'll tell you this with absolute certainty. America's reputaion in the free world is at rock-bottom and we don't really give a hoot about "inspirational" speeches either. America has "lost her innocence" and the very idea that Colin Powell whould be excused is anathema to me and millions of others. I'm really quite amazed that you would give that dreadful Nazi excuse which I referred to in my response to AJ Calhoun. It just doesn't wash and it never should. Powell had an option - honourable resignation as he was in his mid-sixties. He didn't take that option. End of story.
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AJ Calhoun, Who do I think I am?
[Read the article: Hillary's time of troubles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think I'm Maureen O'Donnell. I'm not using a nom-de-plume just my own very commom-or-garden Irish name. My first name was the one given to me by my parents and the surname is the one I took when I married. You see, I'm not your common-or-garden feminist insofar as I had no particular objection to the name and I wasn't out to prove any point. Since we're
into literary allusions, I could say that "A rose is a rose is a rose.
You took it upon yourself to interpret what I'd written as if it was mumbo-jumbo. I had the notion that my English is fluent. I was engaged in what I'll loosely refer to as a "discussion" with Xrandudu Hutman who, apparently, disappeared into the shadows and then you came on to explain what I had written. I call that somewhat arrogant but, of course, you can suit yourself, which is just another one of our quaint sayings. I'm not really chastised, AJ Calhou, because I was told I was a "bold girl" by my parents and my grandparents totally disagreed with them. I love the oul' bit of quotation but that word "slatternly" is not very nice because it seems to refer only to women. Anyway, AJ Calhoun, have a pleasant nap. I'll say no more tonight because I'm sorry for upsetting you.
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Who is this Anonymous person at 3:28 p.m.?
[Read the article: Hillary's time of troubles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'll refrainf from writing what I really think of you, although I'm tempted. The "Good Soldier" is/was General Colin Powell and it was AJ Calhoun who called him that. I hope you're having fun with my surname but I think it's much better than Anonymous, a species that seems to breed like rabbits. I really haven't time to waste on someone who has trouble reading but I'm sure there are literacy classes somewher near you. You should avail of them. Good night and buzz off!
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AJ Calhoun, you wouldn't want to take too much notice of me
[Read the article: Hillary's time of troubles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm very argumentative but I'm well able to see the funny side of things. If everybody says "That's great" about something or other, there's some predisposition I have to argue that it's not. That doesn;t mean that I'd exonerate Colin Powell. My critical faculty was very much dormant when America declared war on Iraq and I'm probably annoyed to have been "taken in" as well as angry about the consequences. I'll finish with a bit of Yeats "Out of Ireland have I come, much hate, little room, has maimed us from the start". I don't think I hate anyone although I'm able to despise, which is a different matter. I must rush now. Thanks for trying to sort things out.