EMAILS

Decided to collect some of the viral emails I've been receiving (and the replies I've returned). Is it any wonder people are riled! I keep thinking about Mark Twain's observation: "The old saw says, 'Let a sleeping dog lie.' Still, when there is much at stake, it is better to get a newspaper to do it." Today he could say "electronics."

I would like to see FRONTLINE do a story on these emails -- who starts them? how cynical are they? (do they think they are justified in what they say or that the end justifies the means or that everyone will understand that they're just making a joke....)? what's the process that keeps them circulating for years? how effective are they? do people really believe them? etc

My reply appears first, in italics; the viral email is last, in bold. There are five.

Read and weep

and write!!!

as the Washington State Supreme Court said: to follow the First Amendment, what we have to do is not to forbid falsehoods but to "depend... on even more speech to bring forth truth”! (See "Election 08: Clark on McCain" below, November '08)

Write on!



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