Tuesday, September 25, 2007

LETTER TO A JACK-ASS

Mr. Gitlin,

You are the "reasonable" leftist. You are the 60's expert. You help us commoners understand what went wrong and why, and what is acceptable activism and what is not. You remind us that the left should reclaim the American flag and not alienate people. You inform us that Ralph Nader is a power hungry maniac, but use much more mundane language to describe our leaders. In fact, I can't think of an instance where you have criticized them at all. You discipline us immature radicals. You mock the Weathermen for their use of violence, but haven't said much about the Pentagon, the Defense Department, napalm, and clusterbombs. Mr.Gitlin, just what qualifies you to insult men like Ralph Nader, men who have actually done things to improve this country while you "reasonably" sit back, detached in your academy and condemn those who have chosen to live? Mr, Gitlin, perhaps you need a weatherman to tell you which way the wind is blowing,but I don't believe you do. You know that as long as you are the "reasonable" leftist, your job is secure. You know as long as you insult the right people, your books will be published. Mr Gitlin, there is a war going on right now where our government has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Will you condemn our government's policies in the same manner you condemned the Weathermen's largely symbolic violence? Mr. Gitlin, you have condemned Ralph Nader for exercising his right as an American citizen over the age of 35 to run for president. Ralph Nader has presented ideas to raise the minimum wage, grant our citizens universal health care, and has publicly opposed the militarism of our foreign policy. Do you agree with him on these issues? Just what do you believe in? Mr Gitlin, will you condemn our leaders who have prosecuted wars, cut social services, and lowered taxes for the rich, in the same manner that you have condemned Nader? Mr. Gitlin, when will you do your job as a leftist and attack war, racism, and corporate power? Mr. Gitlin, when you will stop being so reasonable? Mr. Gitlin, come home while there is still time.

Yours in struggle,

Rufus T. Firefly

1 comment:

ultrafknbd said...

Why such the hard time for the likes of Eric "I'm not Fromm" Alterman and Todd Gitmo? Why, the Dems are our Zapatistas. Well um, just less (as in naught) articulate or, I guess, principled. And on top of that the war on terror would not only include the current war they doth feign protest, and it looks like Feingold's the only one (of the varsity crowd), but at least there'd be eminent domain thrown in the mix. That'll learn ya,Libertarians and Greens!