|
|
|||
|
Navigation User login Who's online There are currently 11 users and 102 guests online.
Online users
Support OlyBlog OlyBlog is run by volunteers who care about Olympia. If you like what we're doing, make a donation: OlyBlog is powered by:
Who's new
 |
Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 05/29/2007 - 2:25pm.
Seajane has a good post up on Cindy Sheehan's recent announcement: We Lost a Great Leader Yesterday - What is wrong with people that they have to smear and spew hatred when faced with a message they don't like. Al Gore is so right when he writes that reason and honest debate is missing in our society now. Comments are enabled there. Update 5/30: comments seem to not be working on Seajane's blog at the moment, I'll open up thread here.
|
OlyBlog.net OlyBlog is devoted to citizen journalism, including hyperlocal news and discussion specifically about Olympia, Washington. If you care about this community and are tired of corporate media, then this is the place for you. If you'd like to contribute, please register for an account. Here is a list of local news beats that need to be covered. You can post your news as a personal blog entry, and it will be reviewed (and possibly edited) for promotion to the front page. Once you've established a record of responsible blogging, you can become an autonomous user. You can also send news via email. All members of OlyBlog agree to abide by our comment and fair use policies. If you are frustrated about something said in a comment thread, go here. Now playing at: 
Latest Classified Ads Upcoming events Blog Local 
|
|
|
More Flickr photos tagged with "olympia" and "washington" OlyBlog is a site for news and discussion about Olympia, Washington. |
|||
Comment from Janet B
Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 05/30/2007 - 5:45am.I am sorry to say that it is likely that the person who held the sign that said "God Bless Bulldozers" was a local man, Jim Hampton. I learned this in the course of researching an article for Works in Progress. Apparently he displayed this sign to offend Cindy Corrie, who sometimes stands with Women in Black. This man also wrote a letter to the Olympian mocking Women in Black, which, surprisingly, the Olympian saw fit to publish on May 10, 2007. What kind of person rubs salt in the wound of a grieving mother? I am sad that such people are members of my community, and I hope someday he opens his heart and learns to have some compassion.
Janet B
The Olympian was correct in
Submitted by Ehver Green on Wed, 05/30/2007 - 11:04am.The Olympian was correct in running the opinion. I don't share the same feelings as Jim, but should he be muted because we disagree with his opinions? You can draw the line in the sand and say he crossed it, but his line is far from ours.
As for the topic, Cindy Sheehan, she blames the President for the loss of her son. I can understand that and am close to agreement, but, her brave son joined a volunteer service with no bounds. Her other reasoning that she lost her husband and financial stability is HER fault. She could have been just as active without criss-crossing the country for the cause. She mentioned that the peace movement won't achieve peace until ego's are set aside. I only hope she listens to herself.
egos
Submitted by enpen on Wed, 05/30/2007 - 11:26am.If Cindy Sheehan's premise is correct, that our country's commander and chief wittingly entered our nation into a morally indefensible war, exactly how does the fact that her son voluntarily joined make his death any less senseless and murder.
Ken Lay and company made a lot of money at the expense of a lot of people by manipulating the energy market. For all of the grunts who signed up to dig the proverbial trenches, did they deserve to lose their jobs? retirement accounts? sense of security? It seems that Cindy Sheehan's points hold water, particularly in light of the severity of death in the human experience.
Perhaps the ego that she's speaking about is the pessimism people bring to her message. People see the private interests supporting her, the publicity engine generating the news feeds, and immediately her message is looked at with harsh skepticism. And while it's often easy to see what these supporting interests have to gain, exactly what does Cindy Sheehan have to gain by making herself a public figure? I'm sure the death threats are a blast. And hearing people curse you and your son, that too must be a hoot. But yes, I'm sure you're right, she could have been just as effective of an activist had she just shut-up and kept her voice down...
"Please name to me a single tribe in the last 500 years that became better off after contact. There is none!"
Women in Black
Submitted by OlyCop on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 6:23pm.As I have said before, the Women in Black are the only anti-war demonstrators that resonate with me. Their message is extremely powerful and presented in a way that doesn't detract from the message the peace movement wants to deliver.
Most of the protests in this community turn ugly and violent. The protestors become, to some degree, what they are protesting. All I see is their bad behavior and it creates disgust and anger.
I agree with EG that it would be wrong to mute Jim. I don't agree with much of what Hampton represents. But he should be allowed to voice his position.
Olybloggers are quick to want to stop free speech when they don't agree with the message, and frequently call it hate speech. Yet they do nothing to correct their fellow progressives when there is hate speech if they agree with the message. This has been pointed out many times here. The fact that the "open minds" on the left aren't really all that open is something you have to accept if you want to co-mingle with our confused but entertaining progressives.
"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." Ellen Ripley - Aliens 1986
A question to my fave cranky cop
Submitted by stevenl on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 7:07pm.OlyCop, what do you make of this ? If you have been following OlyBlog, you know I view the Left/Right division as outdated and rather view the world in terms of authoritarian/libertarian. You also know I can be as cranky as yourself in my own way. I think you and I shop at the same store and take the same cranky pills every morning. And we share the slings and arrows, as public employees, from people who don't understand our jobs. As far as I am concerned, this IV person has overstepped the boundaries of civil discourse. Do you agree? I was posting a simple historical article of interest and this individual used it as an opportunity to slam me and really all of OlyBlog. And it appears to come from the Limpbaugh trained right wing. Where do we draw the line? I'm interested in your opinion.
Also, if you belong to any conservative blogs, I'd like to know what they are so I can join and perform the same role there with same considerable (I wonder why?) energy you put into OlyBlog. Please list them. I'd like to test if they are as tolerant as OlyBlog.
Your Comrade in Middle Aged Crankydom, stevenl
Stevenl
Submitted by OlyCop on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 5:07am.I think IV was way out of line. Either he can't read or didn't read your post. Or perhaps he is fed up with the left agenda and chose to lash out. I don't know. But he was out of line.
Olyblog is probably more tolerant than some left blogs, or right blogs for that matter. But there is significant room to improve.
"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." Ellen Ripley - Aliens 1986
I'm with ya on the Women in
Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 7:35pm.I'm with ya on the Women in Black vs. other war protests...
You should really check out Ground Zero out in Kitsap County. Those folks have gone so far as to become good buddies with their jailers. They announce their actions ahead of time, along with their intentions regarding arrest. They cheerfully accept arrest, and they are NEVER violent. Yet some of them have jail time under their belts that could make Jimmy Hoffa blush. They are the epitome of what the peace movement ought to look like, if you ask me.
The Canaanite's Call
Jail time == time and money
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 7:48pm.Jail time == time and money and waste. I'll stick with the Women in Black. When was the last time they had an arrest and cost the community $$$?
There have been some things,
Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 8:10pm.There have been some things, in the course of our history, that have been worth the time and money associated with civil disobedience. The black civil rights movement, for example. Or the free speech actions of the nineteen teens and twenties (IWW). Or all of the history of the labor movement, for that matter. And the peace movement of every generation.
The Canaanite's Call
Disobedience is patriotic
Submitted by stevenl on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 4:50am.Add to that the American Revolution, the very foundation of our American universe. Disobedience is the American Way.
Sufferage? does that count?
Submitted by chad360 on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 9:46am.Oops.
Submitted by Phil Owen on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 3:16pm.Suffrage would be a big one, now wouldn't it?! Sorry for slipping.
The Canaanite's Call
Free Speech vs. Editorial Discretion
Submitted by jlw on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 9:59pm.How would you feel if the Olympian published a letter that said "Cops are stupid, overpaid pigs who've killed 9 Olympia residents with Tasers since February"? A lot of people hate cops. That opinion is out there. People have the freedom to make any statement they damned please, even though the facts are obviously wrong. But should the Olympian publish an opinion when it is expressed in such a crass and irresponsible manner? I don't think so. And I think publishing Jim Hampton's letter showed poor judgment, as well.
I've noticed that the quality of Letters to the Editor in other papers, usually bigger papers, such as the P-I, the LA Times and the New York Times, are usually much better than those published in the Olympian: well-thought out, well written, and generally referencing facts accurately. I haven't noticed a lot of, say, racist name-calling in the LTEs in the New York Times. Naturally, these papers have more letters to choose from, so they can afford to have higher standards. How sad that our local, McClatchy-owned Olympian does not have the luxury of doing the same.
Dont forget..
Submitted by bubba z (not verified) on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 10:38pm.I think we'd all agree the
Submitted by Ehver Green on Tue, 06/05/2007 - 12:09pm.I think we'd all agree the Bulldozer comment is ruthless and shows no compassion. But, I'm missing the point in your second paragraph. In Jim's letter he stated an opinion that you disagree with. In your comparison example you made a false statement (re: the taser comment). Big difference here. The Olympian has a responsibility to fact check at a minimun.
How would I feel? I wouldn't feel anything. I can separate fact from fiction. I would do one of two things - find out the facts, if I'm passionate enough about the topic, or stop reading the publication. I have free will in what I do and do not read, do you not?
Why must you change everything you don't agree with? Talking about running The Olympian out of business, inflicting financial doom, etc. It's all too much and really, really tired. By the way, the day you bring down The Olympian is the day I'll hold a boycott sign in front of Ralph's with you. Never gonna happen...
went wrong here
Submitted by chad360 on Tue, 06/05/2007 - 3:59pm.Now I remeber why I thought Janet was referring to a real event: the other examples are referring to real events (sign holding)--
I thought Janet was using the "9taser" deal as an example of how something (while true) can be said in a real lame way (pigs, etc...).
So, in fact I thought is was true, and used as an example of how things can be said badly (regardless of free speach issues/concerns)
>end<
thxs again EG-
Regardless of it all
Submitted by Norm on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 10:38am.