Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 20:58:17 -0500
From: Ted White <tedwhite at compusnet.com>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Political Inventions
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Elspeth Kovar wrote:

> 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 racist, 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.

Thank you, Elspeth.  You've said it all.

--Ted White