Letters to the Editor (I had to pinch myself)

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN ^ | Thursday, September 25, 2003 | Letters to the Editor

[Arrowhead1952]

Here's more context

Re: Sept. 20 column by Arnold Garcia, "Difference of opinion? Fine. But the Red Scare, this is not":

Garcia says that people have a right to some context with the link between the Communist Party USA and MoveOn.org.

While he gave the simplistic context that MoveOn.org's Glenn Smith did not give permission to CPUSA to have a link, he failed to note a further context that should be considered: Organizations carefully select the links they put on their Web sites. They know that when a surfer leaves a site through a link, they have lost their attention. Thus, links are included only when the link and its contents will serve the organization's aims or the aims of its visitors.

While MoveOn.org might not be an organ of the CPUSA, CPUSA must think that MoveOn.org's goals benefit the goals of CPUSA and its members.

It is the height of naivety to believe that MoveOn.org was unaware of the link at CPUSA. "By their links you shall know them" may not be Garcia's idea of a honest argument, so how about "Birds of a feather flock together"? Or, "You are known by the company you keep"?

WILLIAM BARNES

San Marcos

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`Disenfranchised' voter

Re: Sept. 22 article, "Mapmakers spare Travis . . . for now"

I noticed in the article that the district of my U.S. House representative, Lloyd Doggett, will be left alone in the redistricting fight. Since Doggett and I are from different political parties, I've come to accept that he will never be of any service to me and that he certainly doesn't represent my views. And dumb old me has always thought that it was just democracy in action. You win some, you lose some.

But now I know -- according to state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte's definition -- that I've actually been "disenfranchised" (Sept. 14 article, "Redistricting hits close to home for 2 lawmakers"). What rot. The sorry thing is that she knows that there always will be enough people around who will buy into her nonsense and keep sending her back to the Texas Senate.

SCOTT SEXTON

Austin

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Playing the race card

I am appalled with the assertion that state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin, pulled the race card during this redistricting process. As a Mexican American, I am ashamed of the Democratic senators for their childish and disgraceful behavior. They should have stayed in Austin and fought the redistricting situation rather than flee the state.

I, as well as many other constituents, feel that the Democrats owe Texas $1.7 million for each of the special sessions that had to be called because of their absence.

Each of the 11 Democrats who fled the state represent all the constituents in their district, be they Anglo, African American, Hispanic or Asian.

GUADALUPE CRUZ JR.

Pflugerville

[Arrowhead1952]

Here are three letters to the editor the Austin American Statesman had today. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was awake and not dreaming.

Normally, this paper runs only letters to the editor that are left wing or bash Bush. This was the first time I saw three letters in one day that support a conservative point of view.

Maybe, the media is starting to listen to what people are sayong about them being to biased in their reporting.

[max_rpf]

I think they are just chummming the waters. They will have 10,000 rebuttal letters to choose from tmrw.

[carlo3b]

Maybe they have finally awakened to the inherent corruption and moral bankruptcy of the liberal, and communist leaning left-wing of the Democrat party and their shallow whining, narcissistic constituency.

Then again, their regular editorial board might be attending The American Socialist/ Communist Party USA convention, and left an affirmative action English impaired intern in charge of the mail.

Then again, you may be dreaming, and I somehow inadvertently entered your dream, and none of this is really happening.

Then again this might be candid camera!

[Arrowhead1952]

Then again, their regular editorial board might be attending The American Socialist/ Communist Party USA convention........

Then again, you may be dreaming

I read this at home this morning, and had to get to work and look at the paper on-line to make sure these letters were actually printed.

The Austin Un-American Liberal Longhorn Un-Statesman usually will not print letters from conservatives. Three in one day - that is a record.

[kevkrom]

is this guy arguing that a website is responsible for links completely out of its control?

No, he's arguing to look at why the CPUSA would want to link to MoveOn.org -- he posits that it is because they organizations are similarly enough aligned, in the minds of the CPUSA.

[Redbob]

Somebody in Austin must have been asleep at the switch to let those three letters through!

[Arrowhead1952]

Look at the second second sentence in the reply from carlo3b #3. He has it pegged.

Bet the ed-op page editor will have some explaining to do. This paper has been slamming conservatives and especially Bush since he was governor.