Bob Alberti
Tue, 29 Oct 2002 07:24:58 -0800
I personally don't consider those voices "conservatives", I consider those "reactionaries."
Conservatism in its various forms is an actual set of beliefs. It is possible to be conservative in different ways: fiscally, socially, etc. It's possible to be a noble conservative, acting out of conviction and principle. Conservatives are capable of observing the decorum that prevents one from speaking ill of the late lamented. Reactionaries tend to do just that -- react -- without any particular motivation besides fear. They are typically uninterested in the subtleties of a given situation, and don't care to fully understand any particular issue before issuing their conclusive opinions on the matter. There are no noble reactionaries, just angry mobs. Reactionaries can no more refrain from shooting their mouths off than birds can refrain from messing up car windshields. Fortunately we have AM radio, where people with no moral or ethical qualms are free to make money by selling bad advertising while helping vent the collective spleen of the nation's reactionaries. Without AM radio, pitchfork-wielding mobs might take to the streets for every controversial art exhibit or Michael Moore book signing. But AM talk radio allows them to remain in their easy chairs, warmed by the crackling glow of burning straw-men. Be careful about mixing up reactionaries and conservatives. Conservative voters made that mistake in 2000, and now we have a national government run by reactionaries. So don't broadbrush conservatives as reactionaries. And when you go to the polls in the upcoming Minneapolis elections, remember: don't vote in reaction to your fears, vote FOR your beliefs. Only YOU can help stamp out reactionaryism. Bob Alberti, President Sanction, Inc. Data Security http://www.sanction.net Cusp of Longfellow and Seward "A Tempest! Grab the teabag and hang on for your life!" -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:mpls-admin@;mnforum.org]On Behalf Of Wendy Introwitz Pareene Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 8:50 AM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Mpls] Re: Inconsiderate conservatives on the air Saturday afternoon as I was driving to work I dialed around and heard a local talk show host on KSTP fielding calls from people who were discussing why they disliked Paul Wellstone. One caller scoffed that Senator Wellstone was being canonized by liberals while he was the furthest thing from a saint, another caller said that Senator Wellstone was a murderer for supporting abortion-choice and she essentially said he got what he deserved. I was so sickened. This was the very day after the Senator's untimely death. That show host and radio station demonstrated to me why the "right" needs to be feared by the average U.S. citizen. These callers, the show host and the radio station demonstrated a lack of decency, a lack of respect for others, and a sheer cold-heartedness that would have made Stalin, Hitler, and the Taliban proud. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 12:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Re: Inconsiderate conservatives? Tim Neuenschwander, understandably grief-stricken by the death of Senator Wellstone, is filled with rage by someone holding a Coleman sign and "smirking". I wish he had more fully described what this fellow was doing to inspire such rage. It seems from what Tim wrote that he was simply holding a sign for Coleman and smiling, and I think it's a pretty huge leap for Tim to make to assume that he was smiling at the news of Wellstone's death. For all we know the fellow might have been simply enjoying what he was doing, having a good day promoting his candidate, and not have heard the news at all. Let's not leap to conclusions, shall we? I seldom agreed with the Senator's policies, and worked on both of Senator Boschwitz' campaigns against him, but you had to admire his sincerity and obvious devotion to the causes he supported. You don't have to like someonme to respect them, but I think it says volumes about the Senator's character that arch-conservative icons such as Jesse Helms could honestly call him friend. I suspect Tim is jumping to conclusions. We conservatives may not have liked Paul Wellstone. and may have done our damnedest to defeat him, but to imply that we celebrate his death is vile and beneath contempt. On the contrary, we were contacted by the state party on Friday night and asked to refrain from campaigning this weekend as a sign of respect - which I have done. God bless him and his sons. Having lost my own father two years ago this December, I know what they're going through. Kevin Trainor RPM Candidate HD 61A East Phillips www.taxpayersfortrainor.org _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls