Letters
LETTERS Rite and wrong As a new subscriber, I have just recently been delighted to see my views on character quoted in the January issue of your distinguished periodical ["Not Just Read and...
...These are like the North Star in determining our general direction, though it may require long and difficult reflection when we are forced to act on them in the conflict and hurly burly of daily life: Kindness is better than cruelty, honesty is better than mendacity, education is better than ignorance, courage better than cowardice...
...Jefferson's work for good citizenship and Sakharov's courage show us that we learn virtue through action and example and not only through reflection...
...The fifth paragraph says: "There is no concrete evidence to support the notion that white political leaders have actively perpetuated, or consciously tolerated, the drug scourge in the black community...
...A front-page story in The Washington Post under the headline: "WORLD TO END TODAY, SOME PEOPLE SAY," even if it is intended as a study of cultural attitudes, and even if it includes a disclaimer in the fifth paragraph, is bound to suggest imminent disaster to many readers...
...In addition, rather than cite an 18-year-old movie scene, as Kurtz did, for evidence of widespread black acceptance of the theory, why didn't he cite some kind of reasonably scientific research, such as a poll...
...And on the other hand, neither do I want them patriotic in the manner of Earl Browder, Paul Robeson, or Abbie Hoffman...
...The 64 trillion dollar question (Carter inflation, you know) is how to do it...
...Major civic leaders all spoke out against Westmoreland's remark (while sometimes defending him personally...
...It's certainly fair to challenge my interpretation of this sub rosa debate...
...Certainly one would not want ethnic squabbling to interfere with the accumulation of wealth...
...But placement of that kind of story on the front page gives a story objective weight that can, if due care is not taken, easily run at cross purposes to its point...
...I do not want patriots in the manner of Nixon, North, and Helms, and certainly I don't want them patriotic in the manner of Germans in the Nazi era...
...Avoiding this kind of confusion requires a strong editorial voice in the article that Kurtz's "many say/some say" approach failed to supply...
...I will say, however, that you seem selective in deciding who gets to use the list...
...Now patriotism, perhaps much to Ms...
...Let me fervently assure Ms...
...Money talks The report ["Tidbits and Outrages," February] concerning the remarks of Houston City Councilman Jim Westmoreland about renaming Houston Intercontinental Airport "Nigger International" has a happy ending...
...The amount was $1,000...
...But to ridicule the piece for not proving the very conspiracy theory we describe as unfounded is the worst kind of intellectual dishonesty...
...Townsend and your faithful readers that I, and people who think as I do, stand foursquare for "truthfulness, temperance, public spirit, and respect for honest labor...
...In this publicity-conscious era, that's all that really matters, right...
...But the conspiracy theory rings true to some blacks who are convinced there must be an ominous explanation . . [emphasis added...
...Westmoreland, who had generally been viewed as approachable by the city's minority community before his gaffe, was defeated for reelection...
...I suspect that all the above got their vision of what it is to be patriotic via simple indoctrination rather than reflective inquiry...
...Fortunately, there are no $3 watches and other such items offered...
...The most telling argument, however, was that such racism would spoil the business climate in Houston...
...Honoraria Addendum: Correction: In last month's disclosure of honoraria received by Monthly staff members, one from the Southern Conference of Attorneys General was inadvertently omitted...
...This is the kind of cheap shot that is far below Washington Monthly standards...
...It does seem legitimate for newspapers to write about false beliefs that tell us something important about those who believe them...
...Assailing the piece for "hysteria and groundlessness," Shuger writes: "Not one fact about the conspiracy—not even the name of a single conspirator—is revealed in the story...
...How these moral truths play themselves out among competing interests and values makes life exciting, difficult, and dangerous...
...government—that we personally find far-fetched...
...Rather, I want my students to become patriots in the manner of Socrates, Jefferson, and Sakharov...
...FREDERIC P. HILBER Arcata, California Postmortem I am the author of what you characterize as a "bizarre" Washington Post story about blacks who believe in a con spiracy theory that the white establishment has intentionally fostered drug abuse in black neighborhoods ["Paternalism by the Post or Blackmail by the Blacks...
...I would argue they acquired their patriotism through deep, thoughtful, even painful inquiry and reflection...
...Townsend, let me close by quoting from the syllabus that every student I have taught in the last quarter-century receives when entering any of my courses...
...For instance, I want my own children and my students to turn out to be good, patriotic Americans...
...Sure, there was some debate at the Post about whether to give prominence to a theory—like "The Plan" for whites to take over the black-run D.C...
...HOWARD KURTZ New York, New York The author replies: If I gave any offense in describing Howard Kurtz's story as •"bizarre," I apologize...
...Shame...
...Due to a single letter error in my name, which has continued to appear to this day, I have been aware that The Washington Monthly subscription list is also made available to others...
...LETTERS Rite and wrong As a new subscriber, I have just recently been delighted to see my views on character quoted in the January issue of your distinguished periodical ["Not Just Read and Write, But Right and Wrong," Kathleen Kennedy Townsend...
...Townsend's astonishment, is not as simple a matter as many Americans believe...
...Scott Shuger, February...
...More remarkable, he was defeated by a black political novice, who would have under normal circumstances been fortunate to get a quarter of the vote...
...It was too inflammatory a word, especially since he has done so much good reporting over the years...
...Please do not correct this slight error...
...This should amply demonstrate how "valueless" this professor is: "The truly educated person recognizes some great fundamental moral truths...
...That was the theme Ms...
...Townsend so blithely ignored: Is character best created by rational inquiry or simple indoctrination...
...To further confuse Ms...
...But great moral truths of this nature no truly educated person can ignore with impunity...
...BRYAN JONES College Station, Texas What's in a name I was startled to read the item about the practice of selling mailing lists as practiced by The Eden Press and as castigated by you ["Tilting at Windmills," February...
...True, Ms...
...Primack "wants his children and students to be good, patriotic Americans...
...Townsend distorts my views in a most cruel but highly creative fashion, but then she did spell my name correctly...
...My original point was that although lapses like these are usually scrupulously avoided by such papers as the Post, they often are not when the story is about blacks...
...So do I. And, happily, our goal is neither so complicated nor so mental as he supposes...
...The whole point of the article is to explore why blacks from different walks of life are giving credence to a racially charged theory with no apparent factual basis...
...ROBERT PRIMACK Gainesville, Florida The author replies: How good to learn that Mr...
Vol. 22 • April 1990 • No. 3
