Hateful, anyway

I ’m pleased to see that my old neighbor Peter (Aug. 16, “Freedom of speech”) shares my views on the First Amendment. I also agree with him that defacing the picture of the president is not a racist act simply because the president happens to be black, but he misses the mark on the hate issue.

Unless one is a holocaust denier, there is probably no more universal iconic representation of hate than Adolph Hitler. It may not be racist, but putting a Hitler mustache on the President of the United States is a clear expression of hate.

To relate President Obama, President Bush, or any other American president to Adolph Hitler is disrespectful to the millions of dead and damaged that Hitler left in his wake.

So can we cry racism? I don’t think so. I think that we can, however, safely say that they brought hate to our village in the form of a disgusting and disrespectful bit of political propaganda.

Rick Bruce Cambria

Tale of two letters

Two letters appeared in the July 26 issue of The Cambrian. While they address two separate issues, they share a common theme.

The first letter ( “Ineptocracy”) is not as much a letter as it is a view the followers of Ayn Rand have, that of rejecting the ethical value of Christ in the Gospels, to extol human greed and ego, and exalt the predatory “I”. The definition consists of three sets: “least capable to lead,” least capable of producing” and “least likely to sustain themselves or succeed.” All are identical.

The members of all three sets consist of newborn babies, people in comas, people on life support in intensive care, those born with no or damaged frontal lobes, those with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, those with IQs below 60 and Fox News True Believers. And just what have “the Producers” produced since 1981? Additionally, as “Free Loaders” go, well, Mitt the Wit’s tax records could speak volumes.

The second letter ( “Train will cost more”) was as fine an example of inchoate rambling as has ever graced the printed page. Is it an indictment of mass transit? An expose of criminal conspiracy? A comment on engineering of a Boston road?

The author’s point is at the end of the letter when he utters the rallying cry of “We gotta.” This is hardly the stuff of more renowned utterances, such as “Dieu et mon Droit” (Edward the III at the battle of Crecy), or “Give me Liberty or Give me death” (Patrick Henry). However, there is one call to action that’s close: “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!” (Bluto in “Animal

House”). The writer then concludes his letter by noting his preference for a Grecian pastry, baklava.

I would suggest both writers take that baklava to the temple and make an offering of it to the mythical Greek god Koalemos. They are stellar acolytes of this deity who has, obviously, blessed them generously.

James E. Mulroony Cambria

‘Rumors’ runs wild

I’d like to start a rumor! It involves a wonderful cast of characters, a most inventive director, a terrific set and a non-stop sophisticated farce.

The plot is a scandalous romp in black tie and designer dresses.

The rumor is Neil Simon’s play, “Rumors.” What a treat! You’ll be laughing long after you leave the theater. It’s wonderful!

Ruth Fleming Cambria