Janet Volzer – 10/25/09

This page was last updated on October 25, 2009.

Stop name-calling and stick to issues; Janet Volzer; Beaver County Times; October 25, 2009.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I am sick of all the hatred I read in the letters in The Times.

“There is so much hate on all sides of the issues. Racism is not only shown by white people; it is in every race and nationality. All disagreement with the Obama administration is not racism.”

[RWC] The vast majority of “disagreement with the Obama administration is not racism.”

“A recent writer (‘Peace prize reaction revealed quite a bit,’ Thursday) attacked Limbaugh, Beck, the birthers and all teabaggers as haters and racists. What about the other haters — Soros, Huffington, Maher, Farrakhan, to name a few? I guess they are excused because the writer agrees with them. No one is more hated than Sarah Palin. Bill Maher actually wished her dead.”

[RWC] Though I suspect she doesn’t know what “teabagger” really means, note now Ms. Volzer used this pejorative to describe people who show up at tea parties. This is why it is important to pay attention to language. If we don’t, we can end up saying things we don’t mean.

“And don’t forget all the hate put forth by our political leaders on both sides. That is how they avoid answering questions on the issues.

“Someone actually thought the Obamas were poor and should keep the Nobel money for their daughters. They have an abundance of cash and much more to come from his books, past and future. Giving the Nobel money to charity was a good thing to do.”

[RWC] I disagree. If Mr. Obama accepts the prize in person, he should use the prize money to help defray the cost of the trip.

“I would like to think the race haters are a minority, and we give them too much attention. Let’s stick to the issues and stop the name-calling and hate.”

[RWC] In my opinion, the use of the term “hate” is greatly overused. It’s now used to shut up people, as are charges of racism, sexism, et cetera.