Ms. Noonan, I thought your column was well written, intelligent and the most unbiased opinion article I have read in much too long, far less biased, in fact, than many news articles for that matter. I didn't agree with all of your points of view but you displayed them in a reasoned and articulate manner with a plausible and logical argument behind them. Of course I had a little trouble with the -the media picks on Republicans- line of rational as I don't believe it is true but at least you put it in the context of because it sells, which by and large is why the media does anything. Anyone who believes the media at large has any greater altruistic vision is deluded. There was one statement that you made that I have to take great exception with "The world is a dangerous place. It has never been more so, . . ." This is purported over and over by many reporters, politicians - basically anyone who stands to make a great deal of money scaring the crap out of the public at large. The world has seen far more dangerous times.
The rest of my response is directed at the majority of the commentators I have read.
It seems as of late people have come to the conclusion that if the opinion doesn't match yours it is not only not valid but it is an attack and partisan. Words can no longer be rendered without belonging to the left or the right. I often wonder how my old Civics teacher is bearing up under the madness.
Some have responded to Ms. Noonan's attack with cries of "what about . . . " followed by a perceived affront from the other side. Personally, I really don't see that she was launching an attack but even if she was - she is not under any obligation to balance the scales. This was not an article about the left versus right or Republican women versus Democratic women or any versus of any kind. This was a piece about Sarah Palin.
This trend of responding to criticism with pointing the finger at someone else is disturbing and juvenile. We were taught as children, if your parents were worth their salt, that it didn't matter what other people were doing. So, that other politcians are lacking is sad but not a pass.
It's been pointed out that many politicians are stupid and "why is Ms. Palin being referred to as thoughtless?" Frankly, I thought Ms. Noonan did a very laudable job of illustrating a number of examples but . . . here is one thing that sets Ms. Palin apart: she did not know the scope of the responsibilities and power of the position of Vice President, that is a bit excessive. Her parting comments are another good example: "I think on a national level, your department of law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we've been charged with and automatically throw them out," So, forgetting for a minute, that she is either suggesting that a national department of law would be more judicial or that being a VP would give her license to not have to be judged for her actions; the capital S stupid here is that there is no national department of law.
Oh, and to the one person who said that Ms. Noonan was angry because she had to work hard and Palin didn't have that struggle. That is demeaning to everyone involved. Ultimately you are saying that Ms. Noonan would not hold the same opinion of Sarah Palin if she was a man. It is only an intellectual version of the comments taht implicate this is a "cat-fight".
Of course, I suppose I should applaud everyone here - the last time a woman wrote an unflattering op-ed piece about Sarah Palin the readers responded by saying that she was just pissed cuz Palin was hotter.
So as long as we are all sitting around arguing about whether our guy is stupider than yours; yours has less integrity than our; your 'woman' is hotter (how this has any place in the conversation at all is beyond me); who is on the left; who is on the right; whether the media works for the aforementioned left or right . . . our supposed representatives are out there not doing much in the way of our interests.
i'm preggers
also, i think i'm working on carpal tunnel syndrome.
2 comments:
I doubt Ms. Noonan gives a shit that you're pregnant, but we're very happy for you!!
hmm, well, i'll tell helen hunt then.
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