One again, we find letters concerning TKR on the opinion page of the local paper. One, by Else Gottlieb, is well-thought and well-written even if I don't agree with her.
The other letter falls on the side of sheer ridiculousness. Mr. Mike Higgins actually calls TKR a stupid book, and tells everyone that it isn't necessary to actually read the book for ourselves. We should just trust others to tell us about it and to take excerpts out of context! What a lesson for our children!!!! Don't actually educate yourself about any issues, kids! Let's let the politicians and pundits do your thinking for you. If we are raising future leaders, should we encourage them to think for themselves and to gather as much information as possible before making decisions and forming opinions? I'm sure Hilter would have flourished in a world where people are complacent and gullible enough to think that one can make an informed decision without knowing all the facts. Thankfully, back in the 1940s, there were some folks out there who did think for themselves; otherwise, we'd all be speaking German.
Alexander Pope wrote that "A little learning is a dangerous thing." The key word there is "little."
Next, the comparison of reading a novel to trying crack cocaine is ludicrous, and I am not going to spend any more time on that statement.
Finally, while I am sure that he was trying to be witty, stating that the teacher should be jailed just makes his opinions sound even more absurd. If teachers should be jailed for teaching novels that include people committing crimes, then I guess students could never read the following:
Oliver Twist--He steals.
Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer-- Both novels include theft and slavery (both of which are against the law).
Of Mice and Men--murder
The Scarlet Letter--Adultery is illegal is some states.
The works of Henry David Thoreau--It's illegal to refuse to pay your taxes.
The Great Gatsby--adultery and murder
The Canterbury Tales--Members of the traveling party (The Miller/The Pardoner) commit fraud.
I sure we could make this a lengthy list; however, I am going to end it now so that I can go read a book that someone told me was pretty good. I'm going to read it for myself so that I can form my own opinion. Shocking thought, isn't it?
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6 comments:
Went on the GIS, into the phone book, and into People Finder.com. Else does not own property in Burke County, nor does she list her phone. The only Else Gottlieb that popped up in People Finder is in NY state.
Just curious as to where these people live.
Try the rest home listings....that is where the other Buff/Norman supporters are residents and writing letters!! Remember the lady in the rest home that cannot even "pen" a letter.....What will they think of next!!!!
Mike Higgins' letter tells us more about him than we need to know - unless someone out there needs to score some smack.
Everything he will ever learn will be via the hard way.
Just so you know... Else Gottlieb is the middle and maiden name of a resident of Burke County.
Our editor has not been calling to verify the people who have submitted letters to the News Herald -- at least none of the 5 or so people that I personally know who have submitted them have been verified.
It would be a hoot to send in a letter with some off-the-wall comments, sign it with anyone's name - pick your neighbor, your paper boy - anyone - and watch it go straight in the paper. She will get burned one of the days if she doesn't start calling people to verify the author of the piece, especially if it contains libelous statements (like Corkran's did).
Thanks for the compliments on the Gottlieb piece.
Oh, and by the way... the Gottlieb piece was submitted with the title "Rate that Book", not Cheryl's title of "Find an Alternative". The last sentence isn't bossy like Cheryl's title - it simply asks the question if we can't find an alternative.
I thought it was interesting that she took the tame title and turned it into a command.
That's the power of the editor, though! It's good to be the queen.
i would really like to see this board of education go.
feel free to contact me, my name is ted here is my email: archerpope@hotmail.com
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