4 / WWW.TSWEEKLY.COM opinion THE MAILBOX


BLOOD ON OUR SHIRTS The Republican primary victory of Rand


Paul in Kentucky for the seat of Jim Bunning who is leaving the Senate was so revealing that it merits some follow-up. Mr. Paul, whose initial claim to fame comes from his famous, decent and independent father, Ron Paul of Texas, was fully embraced by a fringe part of the so called Tea Party movement and kept at a distance by the traditional Republicans (Senate Majority leader (Mitch) McConnel supported his opponent Trey Grayson). Suffice to say that other fringe members of the “give me my country back” crowd such as Mrs. Palin and Glenn Beck also backed Mr. Paul’s in- cursion into the “small government” is the only form of acceptable government move- ment. Presumably, rolling back guarantees of fair treatment under the law would be forthcoming. Mr. Paul’s early rants regarding opposi-


tion to parts of the 1964 Civil Rights legisla- tion have brought him unwanted exposure after his victory. He has been taken to task by an alert few television and newspapers reporters and he has struggled to justify his statements – such as the ones that the government has no right to enforce busi- ness owners offering services to members of all races. Given that these sentiments are get-


ting traction in some parts of the South is perhaps no surprise. The dark period that followed the American Civil War at Appotomax has never really been put to rest. During that time, freed African Americans were hunted down, beaten and killed with renewed cruelty that exceeded even the unimaginable days of slavery. The Confederacy may have laid down their arms against the superior forces of the North, but continued to wage war to ensure that African Americans never attain full and


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541-504-8886 “GO BIGS” WEB COMMENTS In Re: There’s a Hole in the Budget—


again. (The Wandering Eye 5-22) After I was introduced to you through the


recent health care debate, I thought I would never agree with you on anything. But it is with excitement for me that we concur in everything you wrote here. Your thoughts are right on in my book and I thank you for expressing them.


— Tom C. In Re: Bend Over, Bend – Here It


Comes Again (The Wandering 5-22) The guiding Mothers and Fathers of the


city of Bend have been so far behind the Eight Ball for the last 30 years that i have lived here that it is beyond STUPID. There has not been a short term outlook;


much a long term. Enough said, just look at the track record of


the city and the select few that have led this CITY for the last 30 years.


— Paul C. Patrick


In Re: Slick Tricks (Upfront, 5-22) “You don’t get it do you. We’re not opposed


to a black man in the White House, we’re op- posed to Barack Obama in the White House.


There is a distinct difference.” — Phil Robert


You are right,


it’s not that you are opposed to a black man in the White House, just not one that is President. How can you with a straight face say that race has nothing to do with it when I am sure you have visited more than one forum, and attended more than one tea party function, like I have, and seen the ig- norance and hatred coming from people’s mouths? Don’t believe me? Go to the rants and raves or politics section of craigslist RIGHT NOW, then come back here and tell me it has nothing to do with race. You are lying either to yourself, or to those people that you claim “don’t get it” without the slightest sense of irony. Perhaps you it is you who is pretending to not call the pot black, only really really dark, sinister and evil.


— Brad Bailey


equal freedoms accorded to all Americans as written in the U.S. constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The waiving of a Bloody Shirt by demagogues of that time to remind audiences of the blood of the fallen was despicable. It is, therefore, unacceptable that in 2010, a candidate to the U.S. Senate brings up ambiguous argu- ments to justify discriminatory behavior by any segment of American society. Rights of full citizenship were hard fought. We must never allow them to be taken away. The history of slavery is repulsive


enough. To have a bright but flawed can- didate such as Rand Paul question equality and find a receptive audience highlights how alert we must be to fight back. - Carlos Wysling, Bend


FAIR AND BALANCED Your cynical response to John Sabo’s


letter (5/20) says all I need to know about The Source Weekly. I have 35 years of ex- perience working in government, private industry, politics in my younger years (as a Democrat) and even a little community organizing (in Chicago no less), and I can tell you that Chris Dudley has as many tools to be a good governor as Obama’s very short Senate career and “community organizing” (which means nothing in terms of running a country well). Your blind liberalism and anti-Republican approach to everything lacks any insight into real problems of our country. Every several months I check out the Source to see if it’s become more en- lightened (that is balanced), and I’m sad to see nothing has changed.


- Glenn Miller Editor’s note: For the record, we’re not op-


posed to Dudley or trying to suggest that he wouldn’t make a suitable governor. However, comparing his political track record to Obama’s, even pre-2008, is a stretch.


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