Re: What is simipathy? clarification

["Linda B. Merims" <lbm@ici.net>]

Lisa Salas <jsalas@tampabay.rr.com> said:

>This was one of the comments the undisclosed writer wrote to Howard. See, assuming does make as ass
>out of oneself. I read the original story and it made me laugh (God forbid on this page) and cry. Isn't that
>what most good stories do? Yet, another example of all the people who know everything. So people were
>offended by his description of a certain person, or the fact that he and his wife have sex. (I hope that is a
>fact :) Hellooooo, did we not just celebrate the 4th of July and Freedom? Freedom of all kinds of things,
>including speech, writing what one feels or thinks without repercussion. Didn't his very serious thoughts
>count for anything? I would like to ask, didn't anybody learn anything from his story, but it seems everyone
>already knows everything. I agree, some things were offensive. But if describing someone as a "witch" is
>that derogatory and harmful, I am in deep s#^+!  Shame on EN for refusing to print the second half.
>Those who opposed had every right to contact EN and protest. But I have every right to be able to read it.
>I am not defending Howard, only his right to write. If our media as a whole, censored what we read or saw
>we would be in Cuba. I wouldn't want to only be able to read the crap the miserable, no sense of humor,
>self-righteous, know it all's would want me to read. It is bad enough, they want to tell me how to ride and
>race my horse. Lisa Salas,  The Odd Farm  Free from oppression as long as it goes MY WAY! :)

>Before I get any ugly replies, let me clarify something. When I stated that some of what Howard wrote was
>offensive, I meant for other people. I was not offended by anything he wrote, but I also was not the one he was
>referring to as the witch. (I don't think...no, I wasn't even there. Whew!) She had every right to be angry. And so
>did her friends.  EN was in the wrong. What does the editor do? I didn't read any meanness in his description,
>only humor. It's like when your kids piss you off so bad you say things you don't mean and throw a fit, and then
>if you had to write about it later it would be funny. My point is, we all read the same story, and came away with
>different feelings. Don't let feelings get in the way of learning. That was the point of the story. Learning what not
>to do. We could all be a little more tolerant when talking or writing about other people and subjects. Live life like
>you mean it. With a sense of humor and an ice cold Corona if you need it. Lisa Salas, The odd FArm 

Cheryl in WNY said:

>Hi Lisa-
>
>Great, great insight, and the best explanation yet.

Amen.

Linda B. Merims
lbm@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA