To the Editor:
This is a response to a letter written by Mr. Jack Stephenson of Gilford on 8/18/08.
Mr. Stephenson, your use of the word "negro" denotes that you still see color when you look into the heart of a man. We differ. In Barack Obama, I see light, hope, and inspiration. I see a man who has devoted his life to working for the middle class, a bright Constitutional attorney, a fellow American determined to remedy the sorry condition of our country. I admire him. The future of our country as a peaceful, respected, and prosperous nation rests with him, as does the job, health, financial and old-age security of the vast majority of Americans.
You make reference to a desire for a fair election. I welcome fair elections. I suspect all Americans demand fair elections, because, as we all know, legitimate, open, honest elections go to the heart of democracy, and democracy is the gateway to everything else.
But America has a disgusting history of unfair elections ... rigged elections in 2000 and 2004, which changed the course of world history. Election fraud '08 is already in progress. Yes, the shameful scheming used in Florida in 2000 to purge legitimate voters, mostly blacks, and mostly Democrats, has now spread to the swing states: Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, once again ... Florida. 19.4 percent of Colorado voters have been purged; 600,000 voters in Ohio purged.
Voters in thirty (30) states this November will vote on electronic voting machines bearing no paper receipt or ballot; thus, no recount is possible. Including New Hampshire's optical-scan machines, more than 85 percent of the total votes cast in November will be cast on electronic voting machines, all of which are programmed in complete secret by corporate vendors. No one is allowed to know how these machines are programmed - not you, not me, not the Secretary of State, and this secrecy is protected by state and federal law. Would it alarm you to know that our privatized elections system could soon be controlled by Allied Technologies, the 7th largest military defense contractor? If you share my concerns for fair elections, here's where you need to start: www.gregpalast.com
It's never been more important for all Americans to unite, to think independently of 30-second attack ads, to reject the hate and fear mongering which has so divided our nation, and to demand from our elected officials meaningful election reform. The great experiment in representative democracy is squarely in harm's way.
Bob Perry, State Representative, Dist. 3
Committee of Election Law
Vice-Chair, Electronic Voting Machine Subcommittee
Showing posts with label Gilford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gilford. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Beyond Hope, Deserving Pity
To the Editor,
Jack Stephenson of Gilford has tragically revealed himself to be beyond hope. One would have thought that his 75 years of living would have taught him something about decency and civility. Clearly it has not.
Stephenson wrote a letter to the editor that was published Monday in both the Laconia Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun that was offensive and provokes pity. In it he said, referring to Barack Obama, “Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negroes, but he is not, and he has become a total insult to our great successful negroes in the USA.”
Left to the reader’s imagination is how Stephenson defines most “USA negroes“, or “great successful negroes in the USA”. One can only assume that the aging curmudgeon believes such a definition would be superfluous given that clearly his views must be conventional. Perhaps they were five or six decades ago, but the world has moved beyond such uncomfortable and unsavory stereotypes.
Sadly, Jack hasn’t. Somehow he’s avoided any evolutionary thought.
That doesn’t come as a surprise. Having read his letters over the years, a number of which I refused to publish when I was an editor at the Daily Sun, I’ve always been struck by how miserable Mr. Stephenson is. Seventy-five years of life and all he does is complain.
That’s tragic, and deserves pity. If after 75 years one hasn’t found at least a modicum of happiness and good cheer one’s life must seem a complete waste.
Ron Tunning
Laconia
Jack Stephenson of Gilford has tragically revealed himself to be beyond hope. One would have thought that his 75 years of living would have taught him something about decency and civility. Clearly it has not.
Stephenson wrote a letter to the editor that was published Monday in both the Laconia Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun that was offensive and provokes pity. In it he said, referring to Barack Obama, “Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negroes, but he is not, and he has become a total insult to our great successful negroes in the USA.”
Left to the reader’s imagination is how Stephenson defines most “USA negroes“, or “great successful negroes in the USA”. One can only assume that the aging curmudgeon believes such a definition would be superfluous given that clearly his views must be conventional. Perhaps they were five or six decades ago, but the world has moved beyond such uncomfortable and unsavory stereotypes.
Sadly, Jack hasn’t. Somehow he’s avoided any evolutionary thought.
That doesn’t come as a surprise. Having read his letters over the years, a number of which I refused to publish when I was an editor at the Daily Sun, I’ve always been struck by how miserable Mr. Stephenson is. Seventy-five years of life and all he does is complain.
That’s tragic, and deserves pity. If after 75 years one hasn’t found at least a modicum of happiness and good cheer one’s life must seem a complete waste.
Ron Tunning
Laconia
For Some People There Is No Hope
This letter to the editor was published in both the Laconia Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun on Monday, August 18. It was submitted by Jack Stephenson of Gilford and has prompted outrage throughout the community.
Many have vowed to write letters in response for publication in the two newspapers. As I receive them, I'll be posting them on the blog.
Meanwhile, feel free to leave your comments. I realize that it requires a good deal of restraint to remain civil in light of these kinds of attacks, and I'm hardly one to lecture people about responding with anger. As many of you remember, I was quite forceful in my rebuke of local talk show host Niel Young a couple of years ago while I was still an editor at the Daily Sun.
Nevertheless, I ask that you avoid profanity and consider the source. His message sucks, but not nearly so much as he does.
Many have vowed to write letters in response for publication in the two newspapers. As I receive them, I'll be posting them on the blog.
Meanwhile, feel free to leave your comments. I realize that it requires a good deal of restraint to remain civil in light of these kinds of attacks, and I'm hardly one to lecture people about responding with anger. As many of you remember, I was quite forceful in my rebuke of local talk show host Niel Young a couple of years ago while I was still an editor at the Daily Sun.
Nevertheless, I ask that you avoid profanity and consider the source. His message sucks, but not nearly so much as he does.
The Letter
To The Editor,
It is clear that IF we all had the knowledge about Obama which we have heard since he got the "nomination" (not confirmed until their convention), Hillary would be the Democrat candidate. But back then we didn't know that brilliant Obama could not speak intelligently without his staff prepared cue cards. Back then we didn't know that he opposed any increase in safe, clean, cheap energy sources (long proven nuclear, wind, solar and clean coal). Back then we didn't know that he would propose the biggest tax increase ever in the US! Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negros, but he is NOT, and he has become a total insult to our great successful negros in the USA. Back then we didn't know that he was both against the Iraq war and for it, both against battles in Afganistan and for it, and wants to greatly increase number of our troops in Afganistan (the most dangerous place on earth). He is totally for WAR and totally against war, totally for outrageous taxes and totally against taxes, totally for 100% control of all medical care, and totally oppossed to government control of health care.
It is absolutely clear that Obama is totally for and totally against every issue which Americans are concerned with. IE, he is the ultimate politician, as his Church Pastor long ago told us!
Honesty, practicallity, need, usefulness, has nothing to do with Obama. Clearly, Obama is trying to steal from Clinton the title of the world's best LIAR! Hillary tried that, but Obama beat her out for that title.
We must encourage Hillary to take the nomination away from misleading Obama, and give the nation a chance for a fair election. It can happen, and if it doesn't, we are in for a "Hollywood style" president!
Jack Stephenson
Gilford
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