I am PISSED...

[Mythsaje]

I got something through one of my author's lists today that just set me off. It's the goddam e-mail about the confrontation in a steak restaurant with someone who referred to our soldiers in the Middle East as "baby-killers." I know it's been debunked. More propagandist nonsense.

I was furious that it should come through on such a list, and, even though the poster is actually the publisher's art director, and her cooperation is pretty much required, I couldn't simply let it stand.

This was my response.

With all due respect, ******, for your son's service and the sacrifice your family has made during this time, but I believe this is a completely inappropriate place to post this. I go out of my way not to post my political views on author lists because this whole issue has become quite divisive and there are far more appropriate venues for these discussions.

This particular story has been debunked by Snopes.com. It never happened. I'd like to point out that the majority of people who oppose this war consider our soldiers victims of a new wave of American imperialism, not "baby-killers," despite what people like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity would like you to think.

This is nothing more than propaganda, and, personally, I think the administration is "catapulting the propaganda" quite effectively without this sort of assistance.

I did type more but I ended up deleting it. Sometimes discretion and all that. :shrug:


Oh, and... :banghead:

Edited because I was pissed and screwed up my initial message.

[salvorhardin]

1. I think you did well

I've faced similar situations and it's near impossible not to offend somebody, but I'll be damned if I'll let people use their electronic megaphone to spread lies, innuendo and ignorance. Good job!

[myrna minx]

2. It's as though they

can only recycle this crap. Our troops know that we liberals support them. I think you were very restrained and articulate.

[wordpix]

3. it's very important to inform people about propaganda v. legitimate infor-

mation. I am doing this regularly now through op-ed pieces and LTTE because often, propaganda is paraded as "truth" when it clearly is not.

Thank you!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Excellent job!

You spoke your piece in a clear and precise way. Let's hope the person who posted this thinks before they post again.

[glitch]

5. I hope you hit reply all.

Actually, maybe not if it was an honest mistake. But if she does it again, hit reply all.

[Mythsaje]

6. Oh, it's a group list...

It went out to everyone in the group. What really gets to me about it is that when someone else took over the list about six months ago, they got really strict on what could and couldn't be posted there. My response, I think, is nearly the first thing I've posted in months because I couldn't stand the new rules.

[glitch]

7. Well, then, fair is fair. Needed to be said, you done good. nt

[SeattleGirl]

8. I think you did quite well in your response

Particularly given how angry you feel about the thing the other person wrote. You were respectful, and informed the poster that the story had been debunked, and where, so the poster could check it out for themselves.

Good job.