Letters to the Editor
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Honestly...
Do we not have more important situations to worry about, than a woman who wrote a good story, but may have "borrowed" from another author or two? I honestly do not think there is an original thought or line left to be said or written. In my opinion all of the best "someone expresses their love for someone else" have all been used by Hollywood. Myself, I read the novel when it came out. I found it interesting, amusing, and insightful.
Especially into how parents, both generational and immigrated Americans push their children to achieve what they perceive as to what is best for their children. Most times not taking into account how this may affect them in the present and future. My parents were the same. I was to be the prodigy of my family, I was able to read and understand the 2 sets of encyclopedias that my parents had as references when I was 4. I passed college entrance exam tests at 8, except math never really liked math. I was to be a Doctor, Attorney, or some other such epic title.
Here is what really happened; my home life was abusive in most forms, until I was removed at 11. I then was moved from place to place being the "Smart Kid" who had to be street smart & to street fight at the same time as trying to pass with "Good Grades". I did not get scholarship offers or invites to apply to a prestigious university / college. What I did do was join the United States Army, as an Infantry soldier after getting a GED. When I finished in the Army, I went through several types of work, until I wound up in the Protection field i.e. bouncer, bodyguard, brawler, etc. Then I had a brief stint working in Law Enforcement. I then decided to try a few other interesting but not exactly safe and sober career choices, most ended with unique results. All this time wanting to continue my education, but had no extra funds to do so.
Eventually at 33 years of age, I did something that most people at my age do not even attempt to do. I became a Firefighter, at 34-EMT, at 35- Apparatus Engineer (Driver of the fire engine for those who do not have FD lingo handy). I also obtained my certification for Confined Space Rescue Tech & Heavy Vehicle Rescue Tech. I love this work. I have honestly never worked at any trade that was more satisfying. I am also going to get my degree in Fire Engineering.
So here is what I say, the woman wrote a pretty cool book, some passages may have come from these other novels, but the rest came from her. How many of you, who have demonized her could do the same, I sure as hell cannot and I actually have the background to use for a novel. Just back off, leave her and her family alone, she is 17, she got into Harvard and she has to deal with enough, without all of you "Day after Fire Scene Commanders or Back Seat Engine Officers" harassing and haranguing the lady. Get life, get a hobby, just get something! Try to imagine how she feels and what she is going through. Like you have never made a mistake or error in judgment before? If not let me know, we can start a "Cult of Personality" for you.
You do not agree or feel like arguing with me go ahead and write to me;
engine5company@insightbb.com
Engineer Robert Christian
Engine Company 5-P.R.P.F.P.D.
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Hey Bobby, how do you get your fire gear on with that huge chip on your shoulder?
For a guy who claims to be smart, your heart may be in the right place but your head? Well, I'm just glad you're a firefighter instead of a postal worker. You don't read about people "going firefighter" when their repressed anger boils up. The young woman got into Harvard with the help of a $20,000 "coach." She's a cheater. She's simply being held accountable for her own actions. Fortunately her cheating only soiled a few reputations. If someone like you cheats, lives are lost. I am glad you are dedicated to what you do. Think about simply holding her to the same standards and it becomes less the pity party and more simply treating her like a young adult.
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Indio-Trouble
Here in Southern Alameda County, near San Francisco, the City of Fremont was finally forced to shut down the annual Indian Holi festival because Indians were chasing out and/or attacking anyone who was white, black or Hispanic. When I was working for a large software firm in San Jose, a young Indian engineer caught my eye. I asked her out on a date, and she matter-of-factly explained that she could not date me because I was "a white American." She further explained that I shouldn't take it personally, and that in any case she had no time for any relationships. I asked why. She replied that she had to cook and clean up after her father and brother, who spent six months of every year with her, and her mother, who spent the other six months with her. That just stinks.
The bottom line is that a certain strata of Indian immigrants and Indio-Americans have a VERY serious attitude problem. What is scary is that their children are likewise afflicted, which means that aren't assimilating. That's not good, for them or for the country.
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Boo Krishna Hoo
What a crock of rancid curry: "oh, the poor Havard girl, forced to accept a half million dollar deal for a puff-fluff souffle of estrogen-induced fog. Just how piss-poor a writer does one have to be to borrow that steaming pile of pathetic prose? Eudora Welty must be retching in her spittoon to think that this thin gruel passes for literature. It is nothing but indulgent shit. Plagiarism is criminal, but it's almost more criminal to bother stealing the pig-scat instead of the pearls. Get a past life, or whatever the Hindi way would call for.
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Spoken like a true idiot!
In light of your comment, Rob Anderson: I'm glad to see the spirit of Orientalism alive in you. Maybe it'd be best for the country if everyone forfeited their own cultural values for yours. I do agree that Indian culture is patriarchal, but to their credit India and Pakistan have both had a female head-of-state. More than we can say for our land with its liberated women. By the way, have you seen a beer commericial lately? Also, it's disturbing to see that one Indian woman's busy, family-oriented schedule is all it took for you to familiarize yourself with 1.5 billion people. And if there are more like her who won't adopt your near-perfect values? Should we take those poor children from their uncooperative parents?
About Kaavya: There's another tale of plagarism at Harvard, but this time it involves a professor. Alan Dershowitz plagarized "A Case for Israel" from Joan Peters' "From Time Immemorial" as meticulously documented by Prof. Norman Finkelstein, but such an occurence is considered a conspiracy theory. Sadly, Dershowitz's plagarism ruins more lives than Kaavya could with a chainsaw and PCP, but we subscribe to the official pieties by teaching her a lesson in honesty. Maybe her humiliation is enough. Is it too far-fetched to consider that she might be bearing the lashes for the 99 before her and the 99 after her who were never caught?