erikred: (Default)
Erik, the BFG ([personal profile] erikred) wrote2005-08-19 10:04 am
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On Intolerance of Intolerance

Ganked from [livejournal.com profile] foomf, an excellent editorial rant on intolerance of intolerance (or better titled, "Yes, Virginia, there are causes worth fighting for").

[identity profile] palecur.livejournal.com 2005-08-19 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not the politics, I swear. It's the shitty, shitty writing. Purple, shrill, more adjective-beladen than HP Lovecraft, and egregious abuse of parallelism and reiteration.

Anne Lamott at least has an excuse for her shitty writing -- she's a thoroughly broken woman, and dreadlocks on white people confer an automatic -20 to IQ (no save).

I haven't read op-ed columns regularly in a year or two, so I'm out of touch, but surely someone out there is making similar points with a modicum of skill?

[identity profile] erikred.livejournal.com 2005-08-19 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't know because I, too, do not read op-ed columns. Frankly, this is because I lost interest when Safire went senile.

Hell, the entire industry's been in decline since Mike Royko died.

[identity profile] foomf.livejournal.com 2005-08-20 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
I agree that he writes poorly, but at least he says what should be said.

[identity profile] palecur.livejournal.com 2005-08-20 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Hm. Well, I'm not the sort to agree with that statement, m'self, but we shan't argue over matters of taste.

[identity profile] foomf.livejournal.com 2005-08-20 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Freedom of expression is a valuable thing. Saying things that make people want to re-examine the policies and actions of the people in power is also a valuable thing, at least, in a democracy (or whatever we have now, representative republic corrupted by wealthy special interests, I think is the closest.)

[identity profile] erikred.livejournal.com 2005-08-21 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
I'm given to understand we have the best government money can buy.