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November 25, 2008
A Surplus of Sarcasm
Over the past few days, there seems to have been an upward ratchet in the amount of sarcasm. I've certainly been whacked with some in the comments sections and in personal email (especially from Tiverton teachers). This letter in today's Providence Journal — even though I share its underlying frustration — makes me think that it's time to call for a moratorium on the rhetorical device:
I want to thank the voters of Rhode Island for turning out in such great numbers to exercise their right to vote. I also want to thank them for returning to office many of the very people who are putting us in bankruptcy on every level: local, state and national.I'm sure you all put a lot of thought into who you voted for, so I'm sure you won’t mind the continued decline of our economy and personal liberty, along with high unemployment rates.
Keep up the good work. We will all be bankrupt shortly.
No doubt, some will guffaw that such a remonstration would come from me, but what Rhode Island needs, right now, is persuasion, not oratorical victory. Sarcasm is a useful tool, but it tends to beat back, not draw out; too many people have to be convinced to change their ways and their expectations for the former to be the goal.
We on both sides must be firm in our beliefs and resolved in our suggestions, but there's a viciousness to sarcasm — an insinuation that the other side is beneath consideration.
About Community Crier
About Engaged Citizen
"the other side is beneath consideration."
You still don't get it. This is a war of extermination started by the progressives.against decent people.
Posted by: Mike at November 25, 2008 7:56 PMIt is 1918 Russia or 1936 Spain all over again.
Franco, God bless him, had a REAL effective cure for the vermin that are progressives.
A little about Mike's hero, Francisco Franco:
After winning the civil war with help from Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, Francisco Franco dissolved the Spanish Parliament and established a one man government for 40 years.
Franco was in Spanish Morocco at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war. His first problem was how to move his troops to the Iberian Peninsula, since most units of the Navy had remained in control of the Republic and were blocking the Strait of Gibraltar. He requested help from Mussolini, who responded with an unconditional offer of arms and planes; Wilhelm Canaris, the head of the Abwehr military intelligence, persuaded Hitler, as well, to support Franco's Nationalists.
I'd like to hear Mike say a few words about Franco's pals Benito Mussolini and Adolph Hitler and describe their relationship. He might also like to comment on Generalissimo Franco's invitation to the Nazis to practice their dive bombing techniques on the helpless Basque town of Guernica.
Mike should also describe the "REAL effective cure for the vermin that are progressives" that Franco used and that he so much admires.
OldTimeLefty
Posted by: OldTimeLefty at November 28, 2008 7:55 AM