Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 20:45:22 -0500
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at radix.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Political Inventions
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Candy Madigan wrote:
>
> Does anyone other than Ted wonder why I find him offensive?

Doubt it, or not anyone who saw your exchange.

However, anyone who didn't know Lee rather well could have taken

> > >         The flag did go away but the National Association to Annoy
> > > Confederate People hasn't.

as being, if not actively racists, certainly offensive and insensitive.
I doubted that he meant it that way but reading it did give me pause.
Ted's comment was entirely justified.  Lee has said that it was intended
to be snide, and has offered reason for saying it and his bona fides.  I
agree with his points but race is a sensitive enough issue that I am
distinctly uncomfortable with his changes to the meaning of the acronym
NAACP.

It's also a case where being subtle by being snide is likely to result
in equally subtle distaste without a challenge for Lee to explain
himself.  Which is unfortunate.

As for Ted, I've never found him offensive.  Blunt, yes.  Quick to
challenge people, yes.  Sometimes irritating, often interesting and/or
prompting further thought and discussion, and sometimes quite
refreshing.  But never have I found him offensive.

YMMV -- and, apparently, does.

Elspeth