Open letters are the hissy fits of our times, petulant and tedious expressions of collective outrage. It is also by some considerable measure the laziest form of protest.
In other words, the terminally aggrieved could take to the barricades but that would mean having to walk all the way to the barricades, standing around, feeling uncomfortable and what if it rained? It’s much easier to simply put names to a letter someone else had written in strident agreement with its contents.
There is one particularly egregious example of the open letter that caught my eye last night. It comes from the Columbia Journalism Review and is allegedly an open letter from the American press corps to President-elect Donald Trump.
As if journalists weren’t despised enough by the community, along comes this haughty expression of well … a journalist’s basic job description albeit dripping in sanctimony and self-importance. It even includes the grammatical venal sin of writing ‘you’re’ as ‘your’. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Full column here.
Interesting reading the Business review in the OZ and press today having Shane Oliver AMP boss saying business is rising in America with markets up 12% since the Trump election leaving Europe best for 12 months. On another article , australia highest its been since 2008 the markets . I wonder if this US media a very abstracted mob with get being their economy now on all this .Business in America is gearing up for a multiple transformation following hideously reports and condemnation that america will be grounded by the new administration . Australia had 8 top bank CEOs just returned from the Trump meetings very optimistic following the lingering vitriotic sour fools in the Washington region trying to destroy initiatives politics and investment opportunities having identity politcs , PC agenda politics mobilising forces to street march for a womenPM such as Hillary. Looks like the segregation attitudes and banging on for globalisation policies , are still in the minds of the haters with condescending attitudes , will always grow into difficulty dealing with these people.
Unsure why journalists would be despised, other than by some of the grubs they expose when turning over rocks. They may ask inconvenient questions but thats the nature of the trade. I can point to great work done by dedicated reporters that have exposed the softer, weaker parts of some politicians and criminals. Nixon, Joh, Brian Burke just to name a few. I think the soggy, open letter nonsense would likely be penned by some wannabe types, like Mark Latham. Or Gerard Henderson. Wafflers. Some opinion pieces can sound like open letters, and vice versa, but put roundly, journos do a good job under tough conditions. A bit like cops, but cops probably don’t get told ‘10,000 words by sundown or you’ll be going to the ‘Bugtussel South Mercury ‘ or somesuch.
I have great respect for scribes. It would be a poorer world without them.
Yes bloggers on Travis Head you mentioned , how brilliant he was the young man , absolutely brilliant in the BBL yesterday , well done .
Yes only a matter of time the Left-wing sour egg on their face media , now started on Trump’s wife .Social media kicked it off wanting a “hate” future for Americans to happen ,
As for the ‘hysterical feminist movement ‘,where are they now on this? They doing all they can to distabilize America ,can’t take a beating and sour wanting a women president.
OK – I’ll just say this.
I am not a conservative voter. Nor a lefty.
I regard myself as politically agnostic these days. In other words not really believing in any of them. But prepared to evaluate what I hear and read in a pragmatic way and not take reflexive sides.
I would label myself a pragmatist.
Which brings me to the point of this comment :
Can one make a comment on this blog these days and receive a rational counter to it – or not?
I don’t see the point of adults resorting to labelling participants with nicknames – more often than not intended to denigrate or provide smug self-importance to the perpetrator . It’s amusing up to a point – maybe as a one-off. .But then it becomes rather like a blowfly that gets inside and buzzes around annoying the crap out of you until you roll up a newspaper and knock its head off.
Good point Yvonne but I have never seen anyone at all change their mind on a subject based on another bloggers reply – simply never!
I rate you as a very intelligent bird.Well done. Now whereis Annie.
Sarcasm doesn’t become anyone Bassy…….
Ive tried that call to reason before, Yvonne. It doesn’t work.
But I have just figured out that Avon thing!
This light “at home with President Trump”-style piece in the NY Times suggests that the new leader of the free world watches too much television, quite literally:
“He rises before 6 a.m., watches television tuned to a cable channel first in the residence, and later in a small dining room in the West Wing … But his meetings now begin at 9 a.m., earlier than they used to, which significantly curtails his television time. Still, Mr. Trump, who does not read books, is able to end his evenings with plenty of television.”
The article also casually mentions in passing that the new POTUS is using “his old, unsecured Android phone, to the protests of some of his aides”. Lock him up! Lock him up!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/us/politics/president-trump-white-house.html
Razor says:January 26, 2017 at 9:42 pm. “So are you JB, JOH and Dazza engaged in groupthink?”
Big difference. The esteemed contributors you name will not follow the sheep just to be part of the flock. They have the strength and ability to review, consider and come to a conclusion on their own. They always answer for themselves not just accept the flocks bleating and fall into line. All the esteemed contributors you mention differ in opinion on most subjects and present considered evidence from various sources. You on the other hand?
Dismayed – may I respectfully suggest you curtail your negative references to “sheep”. Surely you’re aware that our great nation rode on the sheep’s back for many years. We owe them a very great debt of gratitude.
Just by way of interest, I was wondering if you have any personal woolen garments in your wardrobe? If so, were they made in Oz?
Of course, a response to either of the above questions is not compulsory
I trust you are well, cheers.
Carl on the Coast . 04;40pm
The other gentleman you are arguing with, forgets that Keven Rudd when took over in that first speech in parliament, thanked Peter Costello for gaining back all tripple “As” back in 2002 from Paul Keating with Costello 2003 gaining an IMF award. Chris Richardson was well tuned in at the time and well into the financial direction saying Labor forward estimates will run up debts to 667 billion by 2019. Rudd excited at the time making Costello to manage the FF ,also thanking him for leaving a strong debt free economy. Your apponent hates the Costello period leaving a “strong economy” that helped Rudd and Swan get through the GFC . Swan over his poor ,never gained a IMF award like Costello did . Swan left a record 240 billion deficts and debts 317 billion left for the conservatives which has put our once strong country back decades . Costello left a low unemployment of 4.9% 22 billion in the banks plus set up a 60 billion FF now worth near 119 billion. Hard to convince a far Lefty idealogue Carl! Swan completely destroyed Australian economics when had the highest commodity prices on record like iron ore and coal which more then compensated for GFC loss .Iron ore was near $120 to $169 for 4 years average under Labor . Costello had a piddling 29$ a ton maximum . He set up the China boom that helped Swan through the GFC , Lets hope the gentleman who hates the LIBS and hates the press like the OZ , can latch onto all this . Judith Sloane is among many that can verify facts over all these years comes to economics ,along with many great people in the Australian the best in the business.
I don’t know who Kim Jong-un’s Barber is Mr Insider but that’s a shocker of a haircut he has. Luckily I don’t live in North Korea otherwise I may well be taken away for “thought adjustment” if I was. Come on Kimmy you big puss get a decent haircut you big fairy!
In the charming world of “I’ve earned the right to sit on my fat arse, drink beer and do nothing, because it’s not my problem”
Well it might be.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-27/nuclear-doomsday-clock-ticks-closest-to-midnight-in-64-years/8216458
OH NO! Robin!
Please tell me this isn’t rue!
Perth Now. ” Opposition Leader Questions Perth Bid For Winter Olympics in Kalamunda.”
as good a place as any…
Ah you can freeze your arse off in Kalamunda in the winter JB.
And the toboggan track is very bloody steep, I suggest you start training now.