Carrie A. Merriman – 11/11/08

This page was last updated on November 16, 2008.

It’s time to put aside hate and negativity; Carrie A. Merriman; Beaver County Times; November 11, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I was shocked to read Thursday’s letter to the editor ‘‘Great loss for ‘sweet land of liberty.’’’

“Apparently, the writer does not know that one of the definitions of ‘liberty’ is freedom of choice. The people of this country have made their choice, and it is now time for us to now unite and heal.”

[RWC] I don’t know Ms. Merriman, so I can’t help but wonder if after the 2000 and 2004 elections she believed it was “now time for us to now unite and heal.”

“What has angered me most in this post-election time is how during Sen. John McCain’s concession speech, his supporters booed the mention of President-elect Barack Obama, while during Obama’s acceptance speech, his supporters were civil enough to applaud McCain’s efforts.

“I’m hearing and reading words from McCain supporters like ‘disgusted’ and ‘outraged’ when what is truly outrageous is this propagation of hate and negativity.”

[RWC] In case you’re interested, since a search uncovered no letters she wrote on the topic, Ms. Merriman apparently didn’t find “truly outrageous … [the] propagation of hate and negativity” toward President Bush for nearly eight years. The only letter I found from Ms. Merriman was to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on January 28, 2008 when she wrote, “The PA system of state controlled liquor sales is just one of the reasons I want to move away from the place I was born and raised.”

“There is no doubt that McCain is a hero to our country for his years of service, but it’s time for fresh, new ideas in Washington. It’s obvious that the old-school ways are no longer working in these changing times.”

[RWC] Note Ms. Merriman didn’t tell us what those “old-school ways” are.

“But the continued anger, hate and negativity isn’t going to help.”

[RWC] Again, Ms. Merriman didn’t appear to have a problem with “continued anger, hate and negativity” when it was directed at President Bush.

“The letter writer should be glad that she lives in a country where people are free to choose. Although I guess that would also make her free to choose whether or not she buys into the myths that come into her mailbox or via a robo-call.”

[RWC] That applies to Ms. Merriman as well.