News
Opinion
ENLARGE
Like a number of other columnists and writers, I should take this time and reflect on the events of the past year and what 2009 might bring. I should offer my own analyses of the current crises from the perspective of a writer, a journalist, a small business owner, a wife, a woman, a really opinionated American citizen.
In other words, I should do my job. Right?
Well, after much thought, I think that what I’ll do instead is to offer YOUR opinions instead. I’ve spent the past 11 months rattling off my words, my thoughts, my experiences. Contrary to popular belief, I recognize that I don’t have all the answers, or even all the questions.
So, instead of doing the usual, boilerplate wrap-up so common among newspaper columnists this time of year, I’m turning this column over to YOUR thoughts, the ones you’ve been so kind enough to share with me over the past year.
(Note: I’ve printed all comments — most of which are excerpts of longer e-mails — exactly as they were submitted to me, punctuation, grammar and spelling mistakes included.)
From M., who responded to one of my pieces about the once and future political lightning rod Sarah Palin: “As a self-absorbed anti-journalist, you must understand you’re going to get flak for screwing up so badly and somehow getting it into print. ... It is really quite ironic that, although your article was printed in the ‘Free Press’, your example surely doesn’t make a good argument [sic] for a free press. Please be responsible.”
From J.W., also commenting on a Palin column: “I often laugh at your one sided, misguided attempts at journalism but this one takes the cake. Try and at least get your facts straight before parading your tripe before the public. ... No offense, okay maybe a little, but Sarah Palin has more class, charisma, and intelligence in her little toe than you will ever be able to muster up in your whole body.”
From J.H., thundering about my being ‘Anti-American’ and apparently misunderstanding the process of how both low-income and undocumented immigrants receive medical care: “I’m angry at our own stupid government, St. Marys [sic] (who will excuse immigrants’ bills, but turns over Americans to collection agencies), and most bleeding heart liberals (communists) like yourself, who will go out of their way to cater to these damn illegal aliens, who should get their care in Mexico, while neglecting American native born citizens.”
From B.J.: “I have tried for the last three weeks to read you [sic] poorly thought out, and poorly executed column. My conclusion? You’re not stupid, your [sic] not uneducated, you are simply ignorant. You are ignorant of real life, real people and real problems. My guess is that you have been coddled by your family your whole life and have never really spent any time scraping to get by in life.”
From R.C.: “[Sarah Palin] is self made 100% thru and thru, feminism sure seems to be more about liberalism than it is about woman or woman’s rights and that’s really sad because so many intelligent and strong women get crucified for simply choosing life over murder. Your [sic] going to do a good job taking over for [liberal columnist] when she kicks the bucket, your [sic] a little raw and immature compared to her but I suspect your [sic] less than half her age, inexperienced yet good looking. Qualified? Only time will tell.”
K.S. returned to the tired and disproved argument questioning President-elect Obama’s citizenship, while also throwing one in there for Gov. Palin: “What gives you the bias authority to judge Sarah Palin’s qualifications? At least she has a birth certificate showing she was born in this country. That’s more than Obama can say. Amazing how you liberal oriented people can over-look [sic] the violation of the laws of the US Constitution to push your agenda (natural born citizen).”
M.T. put it more succinctly, writing, “You are wrong in your analysis of Gov. Palin.”
From T.S., on my column about why I’m not anti-choice: “You apparently are unaware that you are the worst type of hypocrite of all - the uneducated kind, devoid of common sense and morality.”
From a couple sharing an e-mail address: “I liked Sarah Palin even if you don’t think the libs are just plain scared of her because of moral values and character, a couple of traits required for making logical decisions.”
And lest you think that I get nothing but poison darts hurled in my direction, my personal favorite of all, from JCM: “Just wanted to tell you that your column this week was superb.”
I get variations of this e-mail sprinkled along with all the insults and diatribes. It’s not all bad. But if you happen to see me imbibing more than my share of bubbly at some random party on New Year’s Eve and wonder why I need a drink so badly, ask me again to share with you some of the e-mails I get about this column.
Have a safe and happy New Year, folks! Keep those comments coming in 2009!
Marjorie R. Asturias is a freelance writer and weekly FP columnist living in Grand Junction. Reach her at marjorie.asturias@gmail.com.
In other words, I should do my job. Right?
Well, after much thought, I think that what I’ll do instead is to offer YOUR opinions instead. I’ve spent the past 11 months rattling off my words, my thoughts, my experiences. Contrary to popular belief, I recognize that I don’t have all the answers, or even all the questions.
So, instead of doing the usual, boilerplate wrap-up so common among newspaper columnists this time of year, I’m turning this column over to YOUR thoughts, the ones you’ve been so kind enough to share with me over the past year.
(Note: I’ve printed all comments — most of which are excerpts of longer e-mails — exactly as they were submitted to me, punctuation, grammar and spelling mistakes included.)
From M., who responded to one of my pieces about the once and future political lightning rod Sarah Palin: “As a self-absorbed anti-journalist, you must understand you’re going to get flak for screwing up so badly and somehow getting it into print. ... It is really quite ironic that, although your article was printed in the ‘Free Press’, your example surely doesn’t make a good argument [sic] for a free press. Please be responsible.”
From J.W., also commenting on a Palin column: “I often laugh at your one sided, misguided attempts at journalism but this one takes the cake. Try and at least get your facts straight before parading your tripe before the public. ... No offense, okay maybe a little, but Sarah Palin has more class, charisma, and intelligence in her little toe than you will ever be able to muster up in your whole body.”
From J.H., thundering about my being ‘Anti-American’ and apparently misunderstanding the process of how both low-income and undocumented immigrants receive medical care: “I’m angry at our own stupid government, St. Marys [sic] (who will excuse immigrants’ bills, but turns over Americans to collection agencies), and most bleeding heart liberals (communists) like yourself, who will go out of their way to cater to these damn illegal aliens, who should get their care in Mexico, while neglecting American native born citizens.”
From B.J.: “I have tried for the last three weeks to read you [sic] poorly thought out, and poorly executed column. My conclusion? You’re not stupid, your [sic] not uneducated, you are simply ignorant. You are ignorant of real life, real people and real problems. My guess is that you have been coddled by your family your whole life and have never really spent any time scraping to get by in life.”
From R.C.: “[Sarah Palin] is self made 100% thru and thru, feminism sure seems to be more about liberalism than it is about woman or woman’s rights and that’s really sad because so many intelligent and strong women get crucified for simply choosing life over murder. Your [sic] going to do a good job taking over for [liberal columnist] when she kicks the bucket, your [sic] a little raw and immature compared to her but I suspect your [sic] less than half her age, inexperienced yet good looking. Qualified? Only time will tell.”
K.S. returned to the tired and disproved argument questioning President-elect Obama’s citizenship, while also throwing one in there for Gov. Palin: “What gives you the bias authority to judge Sarah Palin’s qualifications? At least she has a birth certificate showing she was born in this country. That’s more than Obama can say. Amazing how you liberal oriented people can over-look [sic] the violation of the laws of the US Constitution to push your agenda (natural born citizen).”
M.T. put it more succinctly, writing, “You are wrong in your analysis of Gov. Palin.”
From T.S., on my column about why I’m not anti-choice: “You apparently are unaware that you are the worst type of hypocrite of all - the uneducated kind, devoid of common sense and morality.”
From a couple sharing an e-mail address: “I liked Sarah Palin even if you don’t think the libs are just plain scared of her because of moral values and character, a couple of traits required for making logical decisions.”
And lest you think that I get nothing but poison darts hurled in my direction, my personal favorite of all, from JCM: “Just wanted to tell you that your column this week was superb.”
I get variations of this e-mail sprinkled along with all the insults and diatribes. It’s not all bad. But if you happen to see me imbibing more than my share of bubbly at some random party on New Year’s Eve and wonder why I need a drink so badly, ask me again to share with you some of the e-mails I get about this column.
Have a safe and happy New Year, folks! Keep those comments coming in 2009!
Marjorie R. Asturias is a freelance writer and weekly FP columnist living in Grand Junction. Reach her at marjorie.asturias@gmail.com.
