Reponse to a Letter at Horsefeathers

There's a reprinted "Letter to Our Enemies" on the blog called Horsefeathers. I've only just discovered this blog and so don't have a good sense of its reputation, but it looks like a LGF sort of place. The author of the letter is Martin Kozloff, Professor of Education at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (or so Horsefeathers indicates).

Normally I would ignore this sort of thing, but this one is truly out there, or I would respond at the source, but I'm not at all certain I could control what I end up writing there---occassionally I'm a bit of a hot head---so I'm posting my response here, where I have some control over what gets written.

Here's an excerpt from Professor Kozloff's letter to a somewhat ill-defined group of Arab-Muslims (one has to assume all of them):

One day soon, our planes and missiles will begin turning your mosques, your madrasses, your hotels, your government offices, your hideouts, and your neighborhoods into rubble.

And then our soldiers will enter your cities and begin the work of killing you, roaches, as you crawl from the debris.

As cowards, you will have your hands in the air and you will get on your knees begging for mercy. And we will instead give you justice. Your actions and your words long ago placed you far from any considerations of mercy. You are not men.

And if you come to this country and harm a child, shoot a mother, hijack a bus, or bomb a mall, we will do what we did in 1775. Millions of us will form militias.

We will burn your mosques.

We will invade the offices of pro-arab-muslim organizations, destroy them, and drag their officers outside.

We will tell the chancellors of universities either to muzzle or remove anti American professors, whose hatred for their own country we have tolerated only because we place a higher value on freedom of speech. But we will no longer tolerate treason. We will muzzle and remove them.

We will transport arab-muslims to our deserts, where they can pray to scorpions under the blazing sun.

Congratulations Professor Kozloff. I am now officially and sincerely more afraid of you than I am the terrorists.

Attempting a rational response to this (not that it deserves one), let me note that this sort of over-reaction is EXACTLY what the terrorists desire when they attack someone. They don't have the resources to win in a conventional sense, so they hope to provoke their enemy into this sort of frenzy, whereby they can level the playing field somewhat. Fury plays to their advantage.

To Professor Kozloff, personally, I'd say: I understand why you're afraid. I understand why you hate. I understand you may feel this sort of bravado is not only warranted, but helpful, and the applause it brings you in certain quarters must be satisfying. I believe, from your words, that if challenged on this, you'll assert yourself in an attempt to demonstrate just how serious you are.

But what you're expressing is ill-considered and threatens the security of law-abiding Muslims. It is arguably illegal as well (any lawyer's wish to comment?) or should be.

On a less rational note, though, and particulary in response to these lines,

Ordinary Americans are arming themselves for war with you. I and many of my friends have closets full of handguns, rifles, shotguns and thousands of cartridges.

If we had enough ammunition and time, we would kill every last one of you.

As one of those ordinary Americans, let me recommend you get help for your revenge fantasies. Leave the tough guy stuff to the US military, and take out your frustrations in a boxing class or something. Seriously.

Comments

[carsick]

I hope he doesn't have tenure.

[praktike]

Wow. What a freakshow. I'm tempted to break the posting rules and drop the eff-bomb.

[Slartibartfast]

Send him an e-mail; horsefeathers printed it.

[carsick]

Quoting Chris Hedges in "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning":

Intellectuals and social critics are as susceptible to the plague of nationalism as the masses. They often find in it an answer to their own feelings of ostracism. In the nationalist cause they are given a chance to be exhalted by a nation that has ignored them. They enjoy the intoxication. There are no shortage of intellectuals willing to line up behind leaders they despise in times of national crisis, an act that negates the moral posturing they often make from within the confines of academia during peacetime. Many hold messianic and uncompromisiing beliefs that they have never had to put into practice. All nationalist movements have such pernicious mentors willing to justify the use of force for a utopian and unworkable vision.

[Hal]

Just as a question, does anyone have a similar example from the left side of the blogosphere? Sebastian once stated that he was darn sure it was out there, yet he failed to produce even a single example (the one half-hearted example he pointed me to was obviously not an example). But that was with respect to comments, but actual blog posts might be easier to find.

Myself, I can find plenty of examples on the left of exceedingly poor taste, ranting conspiracy theories and lots of ridiculing based on levels of intelligence, but so far absolutely zip on the liberal blogs or comments ranting about death, destruction and such. Lawsuits, maybe. . .

Since my own observations form a very biased sample, my thoughts on this are still inconclusive. However, I do find it rather interesting that all this real violence seems clustered on the right side of the fence.

[Edward]

Send him an e-mail; horsefeathers printed it.

I know...but something about that seems fishy to me. I was hoping someone would vouch for this site so I'm not emailing some poor guy who this blog is playing a practical joke on.

[carsick]

Oops. I left out a line just before the sentence starting with "Many hold messianic..."

The line is "These enthusiastic intellectuals can become dangerous in wartime."

[Edward]

"These enthusiastic intellectuals can become dangerous in wartime."

No kidding.

[Jesurgislac]

Dear God.

I have to hope this is is an over-the-top practical joke on someone.

[Edward]

As to whether this truly is the author of this text, here's his personal page on the university website. Other than indications he's patriotic, you can't tell much there actually...but I did find it of interest that he's teaching a course on "The Social Organization of Cruelty."

[Jadegold]

Just goes to show not all your rightwing extremists live in Idaho with 55 gallon drums of rolled oats in their root cellars.

OTOH, UNC Wilmington does tend to attract 'em. Mike Adams teaches there as well when he's not writing for TownHall or the equally odious FrontPage. Prof. Adams is a keen observer as evidenced by this:

Then there are all the times that the name Jesus Christ has been used as a form of profanity in the office. That makes me feel uncomfortable. By the way, I am especially offended by the phrase "Jesus F***ing Christ!" I mean, no one ever says "Mo-F***ing-Hammed!" or "F***ing Buddha!," do they?

Prof. Mike really needs to travel more.

[carsick]

I googled him. In a 2002 annual report the writer states:
"Working together, we can show the world that our gradu-ates make a positive difference in P-12 student learning, refuting criticism from conserva-tives and “antiestablishmentarians”

In parenthesis credits Kozloff with the quoted term "antiestablishmentarians".

I don't think it's a case of mistaken identity.

[sidereal]

No one capable of producing and publishing that violent and ignorant rant should be in the profession of educating students.

[jeff]

"'Ive only just discovered this blog and so don't have a good sense of its reputation, but it looks like a LGF sort of place."

Sounds like a bad comparison. While LGF's unmoderated comments sometimes get out of hand, I've never seen Charles make a post like the one quoted above.

[JadeGold]

While LGF's unmoderated comments sometimes get out of hand, I've never seen Charles make a post like the one quoted above.

Wrong on both counts. Johnson regularly moderates his comments; posts that disagree with him or his views often disappear. Moreover, isn't it strange LGF attracts so many clearly racist comments? Is it coincidence or is there another explanation?

Perhaps Johnson has never made a statement similar to Kozloff's. But I'd suggest that if you foster an atmosphere where blind hatred and extremism are not just tolerated but encouraged, it shouldn't be a surprise if you're associated with those bigots.

[martin]

Sent the good professor the calmest email I could under the circumstances. His reply:

"That our enemies are arab-muslims, and that I named them as such, hardly counts as race hatred. I have no hatred for arabs or muslims or the combination. What should I have called them, "Those who wish to kill us?"

Was it race hatred to say we were fighting the Germans? The hatred was for Germans-now-trying-to-kill-us.

The diff between me and bin Laden is, among other things, he would kill people who have done nothing to him. I would wish the death of people who have killed us.

Perhaps I could have been more precise and made sure it was understod that when I said arab-muslims, I did not mean ALL--only those who work towards our destruction."

Can't say that was the way I read his letter myself. If we were playing by GOP rules, someone would have already forwarded it to the academic dean at UNCW and to the major media outlets in the state. But that would be mean, wouldn't it?

[martin]

More from Dr. K in response to my suggestion that he reread his letter.

"I have many times, and am pretty sick of it. But, I stand by my response. It's not, to my mind, race hatred. Besides, not to put to fine a point on it, arabs, muslims, and arab-muslims are not a race.

One diff between us may be that (given what I take to be the magnitude of the threat to (broadly) our civilization), I am willing to make (serious) errors of overgeneralization if that's what it takes to get people to see that this in not a war on terror or terrorists; it is a war against the fundamental beliefs of Islam and followers--often wahabi--of those beliefs--that have been dormant for centuries. Also, I believe there are times when savage violence is not ONE thing that will work, but may be the only thing that will work.

And, as a Jew, since these people want to destroy all of my people (and were more than happy to join the Germans in doing exactly that), I am willing to return demonization for demonization. Sauce for the gander. Sometimes liberal democratic practices will get you killed.

How is this any different from calling the Japanese Japs in an effort to vilify an enemy so as to get peoople stirred up enough to see the peril?

They want to kill all Jews. Fuck them and the camel they rode in on."

Reminds me of that old biblical thing "that the sins of the fathers be visited upon their sons" or some such, my bible scholarship is close to nonexistent. How long must we keep paying in the currency of such social hatred for the atrocities committed upon earlier generations?

[McDuff]

For a very long time indeed.

Which does not make it in any form right or excusable.

[Stan LS]

I think the important question that everyone here needs to ask is - Why does Martin Kozloff hate them?

[JadeGold]

Why does Martin Kozloff hate them?

Racism and bigotry are functions of ignorance. We hate (or fear) that which we don't (or won't) understand.

On another level, hatred sometimes fills a void in the dysfunctional or dissatisfied life. Lenny Bruce once said Americans need someone to hate. There is a grotesque camaraderie in the violence and hatred contained in the mob. The implosion of the Soviet Union left a big void for some folks.

[Stan LS]

Jade,

Interesting. And now - "Why do they hate us?"

[JadeGold]

. And now - "Why do they hate us?"

Who? Muslims? Iraqis?

[CaseyL]

First, let me say that I believe the war in Iraq started out as a godawful mistake that has since degenerated into the most ill-conceived, badly executed, and strategically counterproductive atrocity since Vietnam.

Second, let me say that anyone who makes sweeping statements that an entire group is by definition sub-human, an enemy, and therefore should be wiped out, is a monster.

These things being said, it is true that the Arab-Muslim political/social sphere is not a pretty place.

Back in 1999, or thereabouts, a group of Arab scholars published what amounted to a broadside condemning the domestic and foreign policies followed by most Arab and/or Muslim countries. In short, the broadside said that such countries were firetraps waiting to happen, thanks to a lack of meaningful employment, lack of personal liberties, and totalitarian police-state politics. The governments use theological extremism and scapegoating to channel their citizens' frustration, despair and rage at acceptable targets (chiefly, the US and Israel), while not addressing the true sources of that rage, frustration, etc.

The broadside lamented how far the Arab world had fallen since its Golden Age during the 11th - 14th Centuries. It begged Arabs to face up to their culture's shortcomings, correct the political/social institutions which prevent Arab society from progressing, and stop using distraction-denial as a tool for keeping power.

The publication caused a stir. But I have no idea if anyone in power - anyone with the power to effect any of those change - paid attention to it (other than to round up and imprison its authors).

Bush's folly in the Mid-East undoubtedly set back internal reform efforts, by confirming the most paranoid accusations against the US.

[Stan LS]

Jade,

Why do they hate us?

[Stevelaw]

Funny, I published a letter to the editor last week calling Cal Thomas a bigot. A blogger named Sobek (who goes to law school with me) took offense at my offense and put my letter on his blog and launched into a defense of Cal. He invited me to respond. I think my response is pretty apropos in this situation:

I don’t want to engage in some tit-for-tat rhetorical dance or back and forth parsing of statements to see who may gain the upper semantic hand. I am far more concerned with the larger ideas that I found implicit in Cal Thomas’s editorial those couple weeks ago, and have seen with disturbing and growing frequency over the last 3 years.

You can look almost anywhere on the far right, at columnists, radio hosts, cable talk, or authors and find either explicit or implicit in much of what is being said a current of intolerance. Not just intolerance, really, but often outright exhortations to violence broadcast across the airwaves or circulated in print. They are constant, and numerous. Mike Savage called Muslims in America a dangerous fifth column that should be killed or rounded up. Limbaugh dismisses torture of prisoners in Iraq (and let us not quibble, it was torture—people went into interrogations alive and came out beaten to death) as just a few guys letting off steam, really nothing more than a fraternity hazing. Coulter, well she consistently advocates violence against just about everyone except herself. Bill O’Reilly has repeatedly called for wholesale slaughter of Iraqi men—armed or no—on his Fox show. And Michelle Malkin penned an entire book on the defense of the internment of Japanese during WWII (and implied that it is something that should be revived again today).

I am certain that there could be more hairsplitting over exactly what was said, in what context, where, when, by whom…but what is the point? It is undeniable that this idea of using violence—and detainment is most certainly a form of violence—against a minority group that is part of our society not only exists, but has been growing and is fomented by those I mentioned above and others. Whatever the rhetorical frame or semantic dancing that is applied to statements and suggestions that have been advanced, if you are prepared to be totally honest and objective in your assessment then you must admit that this is actively occurring. And I for one, am horrified by it and feel compelled to speak out.

Muslims, Arabs, however you want to characterize the group that is currently being demonized, are no more guilty of a collective crime than the Jews of Germany or Russia or the African Americans of the United States or the Tutsi of Rawanda. Yet that is the portrayal that is being foisted on the American public with increasing frequency and virulence. Whatever our differences of opinion as to the way our country should be governed and move forward, this is something that we must not permit. It is a dark, dark road that once started down is hard to turn away from and, as history has shown, even harder to atone for. These calls for internment, for violence, for the curtailment of the civil rights of Arabs and Muslims (and by extension, all of us—the law as applied to one applies to all in the same way) that have been increasing over the last 3 years are something that we should denounce, loudly and without reservation. I can see in these statements that are being made and the calls for action against a minority group that is part of our society in America shadows of McCarthyism, of the shameful treatment of the Japanese in America during WWII, and of worse things still. It cannot be allowed to continue.

Democracy is a fragile thing, and once the rights that we enjoy within our democracy are lost they will never be regained. This is the way that governments falter and the manner in which republics fail. This has been true since Caesar crossed the Rubicon and signaled the demise of the Roman Republic. Citizens acquiesced, they gave up rights, they allowed security to overtake liberty, and they allowed those in the minority to serve as scapegoats for their insecurities and fears.

Whatever our differences may be, the line should be drawn at allowing a minority, any minority, within our society to suffer the malicious rhetoric that is now growing in our society and is directed at the Muslim community. If we will stand to see our neighbors treated in this way and even, as some now suggest, to be taken away and interned then who will stand up for you or me when they come for us?

[katuah]

"thanks to a lack of meaningful employment, lack of personal liberties, and totalitarian police-state politics. The governments use theological extremism and scapegoating to channel their citizens' frustration, despair and rage at acceptable targets .... while not addressing the true sources of that rage, frustration, etc."
hmmmm....why does that sound eerily familiar?

[Lance Boyle]

"...One day soon, our planes and missiles will begin turning your mosques, your madrasses, your hotels, your government offices, your hideouts, and your neighborhoods into rubble.
And then our soldiers will enter your cities and begin the work of killing you, roaches, as you crawl from the debris...."
Will begin? Soon?
Fallujah? Najaf? Rafah? Nablus? Gaza? The slums of Baghdad?
Palestine? Iraq? Afghanistan?
Soon maybe, if they have their way, Syria. Iran. And then Egypt, quietly.
But they're well on their way to making that particular threat a reality.
Since this is not technically racism though, it can't be compared to Nazi anti-Semitism, though since Jews are not a race that wasn't racism either. Or to the beatings taken by Asians of any origin on the streets of the US during WWII.
The "war" in Iraq was not a mistake, the situation there is exactly what was intended all along - a broken, militarily helpless country, lost in turmoil, no longer a threat to Israel, or whatever.
The point is this is what was planned, this is "Mission Accomplished".
And Americans have awakened far too slowly to it, or worse, embrace it as a sign of Armageddon.

[John Thullen]

O.K., here I am again, fresh from self-imposed exile. The Obsidians make it impossible to stay away. Forgive me.

Toe in the water; just some random observations.

Popped over to Horsefeathers just to check it out and notice Samuel Johnson and Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Margaret Dumont (Zeppo) at the top.

Were they alive, that crowd would do a number on The Horsefeathers proprietor, and Harpo's leg hanging from Horsefeather's (does that mean it's parody) hand would be the least of it.

Scroll down to the professor's rhetoric (of Education, no less; looks like far-right pressure on education departments is having its intended consequence) and check out the anti-Kerry spew and other posts (Horsefeathers is fairly articulate which just makes him more dangerous), check out the links to the right and they turn out to be, in fact, to the Right, (you know, the Malkin death camp crowd) and, well, if it's not a hoax ...

... then it's all just getting started isn't it, and Edward is on the money.. and Edward's lover is in danger... which pisses me off!

So, back into self-imposed exile, cause I'm not yet fit for company.

See ya sometime.

P.S. Even my liberal reactionary tin ear suspects hoax, but maybe reality is worse than even I thought.

[Freder Frederson]

I posted this quote over on another blog--Kevin Drum's--on a discussion about the Cat Stevens fiasco.

It is from Martin Niemoeller, a Lutheren Minister, who initially had little to say about Hitler but as the years went on became an outspoken critic which landed him in Dachau. Not speaking out earlier haunted him the rest of his life. There are various versions of the quote:

In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up.

[John Thullen]

What Stevelaw said.

Most eloquent comment ever... anywhere!

Makes my angry sarcasm look cheap.

[carsick]

By some of the comments I read here I guess it's okay to say, "I hate micks" because ...you know...micks aren't a "race" so it's okay.
Hmm. Can't imagine anybody would be offended by that statement because...you know...micks aren't a race.

Unfortunately I stated in a thread too recently that I don't cuss often but here I am again calling something out as F****** Sickening behavioour.

By the way, for folks who actually hate micks and embrace that feeling?...ObWi is probably not the place for you. Try somewhere else.

I guess some people can justify xenophobic, exclusionary and reactionary language and actions...and some people can't help cussing about those people.

[Jared Bjornholm]

"I've worked hard all my adult life to provide for my family, to be useful, and not go out of my way to injure anyone."

So he finds it hard work to NOT intentionally injure people? I sincerely wish him luck with that, but I'm afraid he's not doing a very good job.

In the words of Moe Sizlak, I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish him any specific harm.

[Phoenician in a time of Romans]

By some of the comments I read here I guess it's okay to say, "I hate micks" because ...you know...micks aren't a "race" so it's okay.

Has anyone pointed out to the good Professor that Jews aren't a race either; they're a religion?...

[Gary Farber]

Is this a game? Who is playing?

We love jews. What are we doing.

What is the game?

[Gary Farber]

Sorry; there were odd things in the software, I sware.

[Gary Farber]

"There's a reprinted "Letter to Our Enemies" on the blog called Horsefeathers. I've only just discovered this blog

Okay I really think that whomever put this in made a mistake, and didn' examine all the software, and was a completee asshole about that. Get rid of it! Who the fuck thought software should be adopted without checking it and without behing a moron!

[Gary Farber]

Edward installed this. YOU ARE A FUCKING MORON!.

Jesis. IO know nought about the sfotware to get rid of this. if you don'tk,, you don't deserve to fucking blog, you fucking mucking assholemoreon shithead. how fucking stupid are you?

[Gary Farber]

Backed up again. Weird software. I was only reacting to the weird softward. Bleah.

[Anonymous]

You all might be wondering why we're being hit with all of these foul mouthed leftists all of the sudden.

This should answer your question:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2424889

[Moe Lane]

Jeebus, Gary, that really is you. Please stop swearing on my website.

[Jesurgislac]

Jeebus, Gary, that really is you.

It is?

In that case, Gary, can you explain what you were trying to say, only in cleaner language and with less abuse? I find it incomprehensible.

[Edward]

I'm totally lost.

What are you talking about Gary?

What software?

[Slartibartfast]

Are you all right, Gary? This is unlike you.

[Moe Lane]

I'm starting to worry that it's his gout flaring up, Slart; if that's the case, hopefully Gary will excuse my tone earlier.

[carsick]

Is he referring to the software that automatically edits foul language and makes it look like what I posted above "F*****"? If that's the case he seems to be attempting to test it thoroughly without success.

{rest of comment deleted by Edward}

[Edward]

carsick

I'm sure you meant well, but I deleted the rest of that comment out of concern and respect...hope you understand.

[carsick]

I'll defer without protest. You have more history with the circumstances.

[Phoenix Woman]

Quoting Chris Hedges in "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning":

Intellectuals and social critics are as susceptible to the plague of nationalism as the masses. They often find in it an answer to their own feelings of ostracism. In the nationalist cause they are given a chance to be exhalted by a nation that has ignored them. They enjoy the intoxication. There are no shortage of intellectuals willing to line up behind leaders they despise in times of national crisis, an act that negates the moral posturing they often make from within the confines of academia during peacetime. Many hold messianic and uncompromisiing beliefs that they have never had to put into practice. All nationalist movements have such pernicious mentors willing to justify the use of force for a utopian and unworkable vision.

Which is EXACTLY why the US press is so sickeningly, Riefenstahlishly backing and protecting Bush.

[The Liberal Avenger]

BTW, Horsefeathers has sort of yanked the post... They deleted it in their blogging software - so it no longer appears on the front page of their site and comments can no longer be left for it - but the link direct to that post alone still works.

Why did Horsefeather quash it? Did they realize that it was too over the top?

[Martin Kozloff]

I imagine you folks consider yourselves fair and honest. And I don't doubt that you are. But what you think I feel and what you think has gone on, is not the case. Following is the truth.

[To be sure, some of you, above, wrote me some pretty nasty letters--certainly as vile as my orginal. My responses were not like this one--calm. Instead, I hit back. [Just as most of you have done above]

But can we for the moment relax, have a cigar, and a shot of Jose Quervo, while I tell you the story?

Or are we ALL so dang sure of ourselves that we won't even entertain the possibility that things may not be as they appear?

The letter is vile, loathesome, heinous, racist, and
everything else I DESPISE!!

It is the exact opposite of who I am. [Are you alredy calling me a liar? No offense, but what does that say about being fair?]

It is also a FAKE.

I do not believe ANYTHING in it and I do not ADVOCATE
anything in it. It is the exact OPPOSITE of me.

So why did I write it? You want the story? Here it is...

[Sorry for the lecture here.]

The Athenians figured they should go to war with
Sparta. The Spartans warned them not too. The
Athenians debated--good democratic practice.
Unfortunately, skilled orators stole the show and
convinced the assembly to go to war. Result? Sparta
smashed them flat.

Sparta said, during a truce, "Had enough?" Again, the
Athenian orators riled up the Assembly and they went
back to war for 25 more years. In the end, Sparta
burned Athens to the ground and destroyed the temples.

Rhetoric over reason.

Hilter got his people to kill millions of Jews,
gypsies, people with retardation, gays, etc. [Of course you know this.]

His ideas were crazy and based on mythology. But,
rhetoric over reason.

He convinced them that they could (and deserved to)
conquer the world. Wrong! Rhetoric over reason.

Then...

Lenin.

Stalin.

Franco.

Mao.

The same thing.

And now??? Of course, there is barely any reasoning in this campaign or even in everyday interaction about this war--or whatever it is.

We are at that same spot in the Athenian debate. And
oratory is winning. The left hates anything the right
says and the right hates anything the left says--as if
no one on the other side says anything worth thinking
about. Just emotions and hardened positions. I'm sure that's not an America you want--where might makes (defines) right, and policies are based on ideology (or money). Result = more death and no democracy.

So, ass that I am, just as I tackled autism years ago,
and just as (more recently) I tackled the black-white
achievement gap by helping schools to use effective
curricula, I figured that a few right-thinking people--no matter what their party positions--MIGHT get a few other people to consider how we can stop using rhetoric and start using reason.

So I wrote a COMPLETELY FICTIONAL LETTER to one guy at
Horsefeathers. A decent guy. A rational guy. A guy
who knows I am NOT a right-wing nut. He got it
immediately that the letter, VILE as it was, was
written so well that it could convince people to stop
THINKING and just DO what the letter said.

He asked if he could put it on his website--so that a
FEW other sane people could read it. [Horsefeathers usually has only 3 or 4 people who comment, and most of them are pretty sane, I think. So, I figured the 4 of us could examine the problem of the death of democracy and the rise of fascist oratory.]

And they DID get the point, too. The hope was to discuss the issues(not the letter, which all knew was just a device to get us talking).

But he also put my email address on it, WITHOUT MY
PERMISSION. And that's when a private letter designed
to get a few people talking about how to get out of
the box of being irrational, opened the door to hell.

And the response shows exactly what I feared! Every
extremist on each side came out of the basement. The left did not read the letter closely enough to be able to empathize with an "ordinary American" who was
expressing his fears, and who probably would never feel such hatred if he weren't so scared. And the right did not read it carefully enough to see that the "ordinary American" never called for the death of all "arab muslims," but only the "they" who kill children, behead, and so on.

Fotunately, by writng letters like this one, I have
gotten all but 3 people (out of MANY) to see the point and to apologize for attacking me. (The latter was not important.]

Now it's true, as one commenter above cites my response to him, that I said sometimes we do immoral things or hurtful things to achieve moral or beneficent ends. The commenter and I never got to the point of discussing that--we were both so angry. But the idea was, in a situation of perceived threat, people may be so confused and scared that they become willing to do what they otherwise would never do. I do NOT advocate bombing mosques, cities, civilians, or shooting unarmed men, for G-d's sake! What I am AFRAID OF is that many people--"ordinary Americans"--are moving in that direction.

Well, that's it. Believe me or believe me not. But if I were the kind of @SShole you think I am, why would I write a dispassional letter, admitting my stupidity. I would merely pour on more venom.

Even so, forget whether you believe me. Think of the issue I tried to address.

We may never be friends--I say potato; you say potahto--but we have the same stake in our country.

[Slartibartfast]

Well said, Martin. All too much of what we see and hear every day is rabble-rousing. I admit I didn't even consider that this was supposed to be an archetype, if you will, of the wrongness you were attempting to point out. My reaction to most of that sort of thing is to simply ignore it. Maybe it's lack of nuance on my part.

[carsick]

Hey thanks for tackling that black white achievement gap. I need to keep up with the news a bit more because I wasn't aware it had closed.
A quick google search shows you're definitely not getting the credit for your tackling. Maybe you need a press agent or something.

[Martin Kozloff]

Slartibartfast says,

"Hey thanks for tackling that black white achievement gap. I need to keep up with the news a bit more because I wasn't aware it had closed.
A quick google search shows you're definitely not getting the credit for your tackling. Maybe you need a press agent or something."

I could tell you stories about what REALLY goes on in schools and in teacher-training programs (not mine at UNCW) that would make your hair stand on end (to coin a phrase). How the most idiotic "methods" are taught to new teachers and how untested and worthless curricula are adopted by schools. Result? Disadvantated kids--minority or white--who start off about 2 years begind other kids, get farther and farther behind--as if we WANTED them to fail.

But, hey, we always need a lumpenproletariat to do the dirty work.

THAT IS A SARCASTIC COMMENT. I DON'T MEEEEEEAN IT!

If you want to know what goes on, and how YOU could teach kids to read--for only 20 bucks--email me. I WILL NEVER POST A $#@m THING AGAIN.

[bellatrys]

So why did you say all this back in May? Did your "friends" at Horsefeathers know you were just yanking their chain then, too?

This smells very strongly of CYA - something we are very accustomed to.

Of course, your posting style is so consistently juvenile - the all caps screaming, the bad spelling, the lack of logic - that those who still suspect you of being a troll pretending to be "distinguished" college professor Dr. Kozloff can hardly be blamed. But this does seem to be your natural self.

But to counter that, we have Dr. Jerome Corsi, aka Doctor Nutjob, writing similar things filled with bigotry and bile, until caught, whereupon he groveled profusely and claimed they were all jokes, to national news organizations.

Ah, the smell of karma in the morning...

[sidereal]

I had originally written a long bit about how the position that it was all satire is pretty given disingenous given your initial responses to criticism and to those who endorsed the sentiment.

But it doesn't really matter. If you believe what you've written today and no longer or never believed what was in your original letter, I can't complain.