Just folks
The more I think about it, the more I see how thoroughly Jillian Bandes, author of that racial-profiling screed, has swallowed the bait. I would like you to consider the just-folks connotations implicit in “Bushie waged war on ‘em.” I left this as a comment on the post in question, but I’ll duplicate it here as well:
Consider how many political statements are wrapped into the simple sentence “Bushie waged war on ‘em.” Here are a few of them:
1. “Bushie,” not “President Bush.” His friends ‘n’ neighbors call him “Bushie.” Because, you know, he’s just folks. (Kind of like how J-Lo is “still just Jenny from the Block.”)
2. “Waged war.” Conflating the invasion of Iraq with the initial campaign against the Taliban; conflating, in fact, all the actions of the Bush administration over the past four years with the 11 September terrorist attacks. Everything the Bush administration does is all part of “Bushie” “waging war.”
3. “‘em.” The apostrophe shows us that we’re still in just-folks mode here; it’s also something of a synecdoche for the Global War on Terror: we simplify our pronouns, our speech patterns, just like we simplify our Weltanschauung. Who’s got time for details? “Bushie” is “waging war” on “‘em”! If that’s not good enough for you, you’re not good folks, and you’re not a real American.
In Bushie’s America, we’re all just folks, readers. We’re just folks gettin’ along and wagin’ war on ‘em.
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September 16th, 2005 @ 21:42
The paper’s editor is taking a leave of absence to clear his head and come back a better man.
In response to being called Fat and Wimpy, he posted the following:
“I have been described as “fat” and “wimpy” in a variety of e-mails.
I also received a rather interesting message this morning that simply included a picture of a person with his head up his … y’know … and said “Your Problem is Obvious.”
So I’d just like to set the record straight:
1. I am, in fact, a pretty big kid. But man, the picture that ran with my column is just not me. That dude looks about 400 pounds.
2. My head, however, is huge, and could not fit in any of my bodily orifices.”
HAHAHAHA I had forgotten how stupid and useless are college newspapers like the one at UNC.
I wrote him the following personal note:
Mr. Coletta, your “few points” is really just one point, that you aren’t as fat as you look to everyone who sees his picture. How about discussing the more important issue of wimpiness? I guess it is sort of funny to point out that in actuality your big head would not fit up your ass; but, are you a joker or a college newspaper editor coming to terms with his serious lapse of judgement? The stock photo that makes you look like a 400 pound fatty may lie but your words, when you read between them, do not. Your excuses show you to be just as culpable as Bandes. Perhaps you are even more culpable. She is poorly informed and obviously lacks the compassion that eventually (hopefully) comes with interacting with those different from herself (“The Other”). As her editor though you should know better. Your biggest error–indicative of a seriously flawed character–was rather ungallantly throwing her to the wolves while hiding behind a very weak journalistic ethics defense ie “she misled interviewees.”
You’ve been judged accurately as “wimpy.” You’ll be lucky if that is the only epithet that sticks.
September 16th, 2005 @ 22:22
That’s a good letter.
He should, at the very least, be extremely ashamed of himself for printing that neo-Nazi propaganda, and then attempting, Pilate-like, to wash his hands of the matter.
September 17th, 2005 @ 08:16
How long before Bandes has her own talk show on Fox News Channel?
Remember, in America you don’t have to be right; you simply have to state your case with absolute certainty. Ignorance and bigotry are their own reward…and can often lead to a six-figure book contract.
September 19th, 2005 @ 09:24
Another DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener
Just folks She’s like Ann Coulter without the penis Its sad, but racial profiling is necessary for our safety Columnist misled readers, took quotes out of context (Thanks to Christopher Schroen and Jesus’ General) DUMB@$$ AWARD wieners #2…