Now, For a Little Comparison
Dec. 2nd, 2005 01:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jenny_wildcatBefore you read this entry, go back and read the "Save a Horse, Ride a
Chevy" post below. Now that you've read the article, read the
two responses I got from it. The first one is an e-mail I
received from Cliff Brehan on Dec. 1, 2005.
Even though I own a Honda Ridgeline and I love it I
enjoyed your column. I think you nailed one of the main reasons many
of us drive trucks. I believe you have a great talent for writing. I hope
you use it well. I expect you will be a famous writer some
day.
( I admit it wasn't looks that attracted the
Ridgeline.)
Cliff
The second is a (rather lengthy) Letter to the Editor that appeared in today's (Dec. 2) Statesman:
Dear Editor,
What brilliant journalism! What witty social sarcasm! I am, of course referring to the inspired writing of Chrissy Johnson, "Save a cowboy this season, ride a Chevy". In one single opinion, Chrissy parodies and lampoons several aspects of American life. In case anybody missed it - I've spelled them out below:
1. Our national consumption of oil! Screw Hybrids! Of course, we should all be doing what we can do to conserve oil - although only until the Iraq war is over.
2. Our stupid, romanticized notion of the American West! We're all cowboys! Er… Cowpersons. Of course, this is utter nonsense - the American west is not a frontier. What ranchers are left are largely corporations subsisting on cattle welfare.
3. Our egocentric view of ourselves! We're special - I need a big truck! This must be because it only snows in the west. People in the East and Midwest get by fine with cars in snowstorms - but not in the west! We're special!
4. Our winter driving habits! With 4-wheel drive, I'm invincible! People with 4x4s often forget that 4-wheel drive doesn't help you stop, and hence drive at 45 mph down mainstreet - oops! I just slammed into a car! Blame it on the snow, not on stupid driving…
5. Our silly fascination with ripping up the desert in ATVs! Woo Woo! Like a scene out of Guys Gone Wild! Really, why don't people just go to DisneyWorld?
Congrats again on a great piece! And watch out for Al-Qaida at your local Smith's!
Eric Dinger
Now for my five-minute rebuttal: "People Like You Are the Reason People Like Me Think The World Has Gone to Hell" or Jackass Misses Point (who saw this coming?)
When did I ever mention Iraq or Al-Qaida or any of that other political mumbo jumbo in my article? And why is this bozo asserting that the West is not a frontier? Has he ever been in Utah south of Spanish Fork or in Nevada north of Las Vegas (Mesquite doesn't count)? Has he even seen a cow outside of McDonald's (well, that's a dumb questions, since this twerp is obviously at Utah State and Logan has plenty of family farms around here -- not corporate mega-giants, mind). And when did I mention anything about sliding down Main Street at 45 mph? Cruising, yes, but not speeding down like a maniac. And (this is the crowning achievement) when -- when -- did I ever profess myself to be a journalist? I'm an opinion writer, the name of my column is "The Way I See It". The contact info the Statesman puts at the end of my columns say that I am an English major, not journalism.
This brings me to my main point: I'm so stoked that I finally pissed someone off enough to write to the editor and really show the rest of the world how stupid this twerp is. Some people just cannot distinguish an innocent opinion from politics and that irks me. Life is not all about worrying about world events and crap like that. Why can't we just have a little fun without worrying about "liberal-conservative" freak-ish-ness?
I just think it's great that I got two very different responses to this article. The first one wasn't looking for attention. It was a discreet note thanking me for my opinion and complimenting me. The second was a public roast just to get his name in the paper. It means I have arrived.
I think the e-mail should have got more recognition, since it was more insightful and was actually productive. The letter was destructive and contentious. 'Nuff said.
Thanks heaven for the little sanity in the world.
Love from,
Jenny Wildcat
The second is a (rather lengthy) Letter to the Editor that appeared in today's (Dec. 2) Statesman:
Dear Editor,
What brilliant journalism! What witty social sarcasm! I am, of course referring to the inspired writing of Chrissy Johnson, "Save a cowboy this season, ride a Chevy". In one single opinion, Chrissy parodies and lampoons several aspects of American life. In case anybody missed it - I've spelled them out below:
1. Our national consumption of oil! Screw Hybrids! Of course, we should all be doing what we can do to conserve oil - although only until the Iraq war is over.
2. Our stupid, romanticized notion of the American West! We're all cowboys! Er… Cowpersons. Of course, this is utter nonsense - the American west is not a frontier. What ranchers are left are largely corporations subsisting on cattle welfare.
3. Our egocentric view of ourselves! We're special - I need a big truck! This must be because it only snows in the west. People in the East and Midwest get by fine with cars in snowstorms - but not in the west! We're special!
4. Our winter driving habits! With 4-wheel drive, I'm invincible! People with 4x4s often forget that 4-wheel drive doesn't help you stop, and hence drive at 45 mph down mainstreet - oops! I just slammed into a car! Blame it on the snow, not on stupid driving…
5. Our silly fascination with ripping up the desert in ATVs! Woo Woo! Like a scene out of Guys Gone Wild! Really, why don't people just go to DisneyWorld?
Congrats again on a great piece! And watch out for Al-Qaida at your local Smith's!
Eric Dinger
Now for my five-minute rebuttal: "People Like You Are the Reason People Like Me Think The World Has Gone to Hell" or Jackass Misses Point (who saw this coming?)
When did I ever mention Iraq or Al-Qaida or any of that other political mumbo jumbo in my article? And why is this bozo asserting that the West is not a frontier? Has he ever been in Utah south of Spanish Fork or in Nevada north of Las Vegas (Mesquite doesn't count)? Has he even seen a cow outside of McDonald's (well, that's a dumb questions, since this twerp is obviously at Utah State and Logan has plenty of family farms around here -- not corporate mega-giants, mind). And when did I mention anything about sliding down Main Street at 45 mph? Cruising, yes, but not speeding down like a maniac. And (this is the crowning achievement) when -- when -- did I ever profess myself to be a journalist? I'm an opinion writer, the name of my column is "The Way I See It". The contact info the Statesman puts at the end of my columns say that I am an English major, not journalism.
This brings me to my main point: I'm so stoked that I finally pissed someone off enough to write to the editor and really show the rest of the world how stupid this twerp is. Some people just cannot distinguish an innocent opinion from politics and that irks me. Life is not all about worrying about world events and crap like that. Why can't we just have a little fun without worrying about "liberal-conservative" freak-ish-ness?
I just think it's great that I got two very different responses to this article. The first one wasn't looking for attention. It was a discreet note thanking me for my opinion and complimenting me. The second was a public roast just to get his name in the paper. It means I have arrived.
I think the e-mail should have got more recognition, since it was more insightful and was actually productive. The letter was destructive and contentious. 'Nuff said.
Thanks heaven for the little sanity in the world.
Love from,
Jenny Wildcat
