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Bias? You be the Judge
Anytime This is True runs stories with (shall we say) controversial subjects, it generates letters. But nothing brings more letters than the division between left- and right-wing politics! Some of the people who read the column on President Clinton's White House Intern 'Fornigate Scandal' thought Randy was unfairly biased. (One, from Arizona, said Randy was a "fascist right-wing conspirator" and a "Christian Coalition prevericator (sic)"! Oh, my! How quickly they forget!)
We get much more mail from conservatives ranting about supposed left-wing bias than the other way around! (The difference, though, seems to be that liberals' emotions get out of control, leading to name-calling, while conservatives tend to do the tsk tsk tsk thing, telling Randy he'll go to hell if he doesn't shape up.) So, in the interest of fair play (since the Clinton piece is posted on this web site), and in the spirit of the "Republican Response" speeches that the media carries after a speech made by our Democratic president, we offer:
A True Story Subject Responds
It isn't often that someone featured in a This is True story writes to complain or argue about a story about them. The few that have written with comments are indeed generally not at all upset, but rather quite amused by the whole thing. So much so that I wish I got more such notes.
In any case, I realize that not everyone will be happy with what comes out in one of my stories. Fair enough: I certainly wouldn't expect that. My column dated 15 November 1998 included this story:
Forgive and Forget:
The recent murder of New York gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Barnett Slepian, who performed abortions, isn't all bad, according to Canada's B.C. Catholic, the official newspaper of the archbishop of Vancouver. The murder has been linked to several similar shootings in Canada. Editor Paul Schratz wondered in an editorial, "How can anyone help but be pleased that murders of abortionists just might have some positive side effects?" He added that the fear that zealots shooting them in the back may cause some doctors to go into other fields of medicine "goes to show that our all-powerful and all-loving God can bring good from any evil situation." (UPI) ...If we all went to church more often, perhaps we'd know about these loopholes and exceptions in the Ten Commandments.
True's Readers Respond to B.C. Catholic
I actually expected the B.C. Catholic story to generate some outraged response mail. It didn't: Just one (one!) reader said I hadn't represented the original editorial fairly. I explained that wasn't my point: I was trying to represent the newspaper story about the editorial fairly, and I believe I did. Then, I got the letter from the editor of B.C. Catholic.
Continue reading "True's Readers Respond to B.C. Catholic" »
They're Trying to Make it Hot in Here
Blasphemy!Yep, that's what I'm guilty of, if you believe "Santa", one of several people who wrote about a story in the 23 April 2000 issue. Here's the story:
I See the Light!
The British Tomato Growers' Association encouraged its members to try using feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice to create harmonious environments by channeling energy flows, to increase the yields of their gardens. That didn't sit well with two employees at Arreton Valley Nurseries on the Isle of Wight. "It put me in conflict with my faith," complains Martin Kelly, who quit the nursery and took his son Paul with him. "I'm not working for a farm that openly claims it relies on a power other than God." (Reuters) ...You mean like the sun?
Religious Freedom in the USA
It's not a big controversy like some This is True stories have generated, but there has been considerable confusion generated by two stories from the 13 August 2000 issue. Now, it's true that I write ambiguously on purpose sometimes to spark the reader to think about an issue. What did he mean by that, now? isn't such a bad response sometimes. But with the two stories in question, I was perhaps too subtle, too ambiguous, in my sarcasm and criticism, leaving readers unclear on just what I meant or, worse, thinking I meant the opposite of what I wished to convey. This page is an attempt to change that. First, the stories, then some background, and then some feedback.
We The People
A group of 450 Muslim families in the predominantly white, Christian town of Palos Heights, Ill., had no place to worship, so they agreed to purchase an unused church for $2.1 million and turn it into a mosque. Local townspeople were aghast, and when one suggested to the City Council that the Muslims should convert to Christianity or "go back to [their] own countries," the Council voted to give the group $200,000 to drop their purchase plans. Mayor Dean Koldenhoven called the action embarrassing, fiscally irresponsible and an insult to Muslims, and vetoed it. (AP) ...Per the Constitution, "Freedom of Religion" means Freedom of Religion for everyone.
In Order To Form a More Perfect Union
The Colorado Board of Education has voted to encourage schools to post the motto "In God We Trust" in all schools. No way, says the Jefferson County School Board, which oversees the bullet-riddled Columbine High. "In a time where there are already many lines dividing our children in schools, one more reason to point to differences cannot help," said Anti-Defamation League regional director Saul Rosenthal in applauding the decision. The state points out that the motto is included on U.S. currency and would be "a way to celebrate national heritage." (AP) ...Despite the Constitution, "Freedom of Religion" doesn't include Freedom From Religion.
Isn't Life Already Short Enough?
A story in the 22 July 2001 issue really captured my interest -- it amazes me how people will adapt to their technology, rather than make their technology adapt to them. It's certainly nothing new: the keyboard on the computer you're sitting at right now probably has a "Qwerty" layout for the keys. That key arrangement is anti-ergonomic -- it was specifically designed to slow down typing because of the mechanical limitations of typewriters in the 1870s. Problem with the keys jamming? Anti-engineer the keyboard to slow people down, don't fix the technology to keep it from jamming! (Which, of course, they did do long ago -- but we're still stuck with Qwerty even though a far superior alternative has been available for decades!)
Jerry Falwell Transcript
Partial transcript of Jerry Falwell's comments on the Thursday, 13 September 2001 edition of the "700 Club", the basis for my story about The Original American Taliban:
JERRY FALWELL: And I agree totally with you that the Lord has protected us so wonderfully these 225 years. And since 1812, this is the first time that we've been attacked on our soil and by far the worst results. And I fear, as Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense, said yesterday, that this is only the beginning. And with biological warfare available to these monsters -- the Husseins, the Bin Ladens, the Arafats - what we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact -- if, in fact -- God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.
Fundamentally Wrong
Written 21 September 2001 And see the 2005 Update
It was rather difficult to sit down and write an issue of what's generally supposed to be a funny column after the events of 11 September, even though I didn't have to write another column until Sunday, 16 September. But that date rushed right up and the work was slow going, keeping me up until about 1:30 a.m. Monday so I could meet my 8:00 a.m. deadline.
White Hot Rage
Welcome to the 21st Century
Editorial comments from This is True for the week of 16 February 2003:
It's pretty rare that I get truly angry over a story.
Outspoken and direct, sure, which some readers sometimes take for anger, but actual anger is quite infrequent. The first Premium subscriber, Dave in Colorado, sent me a story earlier this week that has me seething: a young lady in Tennessee has sued her public (taxpayer-funded) school because she can't stand the continual humiliation of verbal and physical abuse by teachers and other students because she's not a Christian.
India Tracy Story Summary
This is a summary of the story discussed here.
Despite being a well-behaved, straight-A student, India Tracy was often sent to the principal's office at Horace Maynard Middle School in Union, Tennessee. She was sent there when her mother refused permission for the school to send India to a tent revival during school hours, and when India declined to portray Mary in a religious Christmas play.
A Chat with Dr. Rev. Rus about the "Brave Girl" Case
Naturally, this story started a discussion between me and True's Official Consulting Pastor, Dr. Rev. Rus Jeffrey, who is the Senior Pastor (read: boss) of a church in Upstate New York. (He also understands e-mail publishing, as he runs several lists of his own -- check out the "Communications" section of his site's nav bar.) Below is a transcript of the most interesting part of the discussion.
Continue reading "A Chat with Dr. Rev. Rus about the "Brave Girl" Case" »
The Missionary's Position
Or, Much Ado About Nothing!
I got exactly one complaint about a story in the 6 July 2003 issue:
Down Under
Remington is introducing its Bikini Trim and Shape electric razor in the U.K. The razor, which was previously introduced to the U.S. market, is specifically designed for women to use to shape their pubic hair. According to the company, their market research found that 79 percent of women shaved off part or all of their pubes, and 36 percent trimmed their hair into a specific design, such as a heart or their partner's initial. (PA) ...In block letters, or Braille?
Still Fundamentally Wrong
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I dubbed Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson "The American Taliban". In the four years since, not much has changed. In 2005's 9/11 issue of True came this story:
Civil Rights: Justice for All, or...?
Read the story, then decide: why did I include it in a weird news column?
Good Clean Family Values
Hey: the priest didn't have any problem with it. From True's 4 December 2005 issue -- just another story that simply needs to have a photo included.
Where There's Steam, There's Heat
Famiglia Cristiana ("Christian Family"), Italy's leading Roman Catholic magazine, came under fire after it ran an ad for a ventilation company which showed a woman in the shower. Readers could easily see her backside through the steamed-up shower door. "If you want to see clearly," the ad said, "call an electrician now." The editor, the Rev. Antonio Sciortino, at first defended the ad, but decided to apologize to readers after they "made it clear" the ad upset them. (Reuters) ...Hey, cut him some slack: if he's been following his vows, the photo wasn't something he'd be able to recognize.
Randy the Anti-Christ?
Religion and Politics. It's said those are the two subjects one should never discuss in polite company, because it just leads to impolite arguments.
But when you write a news commentary column about weird and stupid things, politics comes up often. And, indeed, if I rant about something stupid done by a politician from the left I'm branded a "stinking heartless Conservative", and when I zing a politician from the right I'm called a "leftist Boulder liberal". Dare I say that equates to "anti-Democrat" and "anti-Republican" both? That kind of name-calling came to a head, if you will, during the Clinton Sex Scandal, and I addressed both of those complaints with a Special Clinton Scandal Issue and its "Liberal Response".
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