[Vision2020] My Column / Megaloads & Hippies

[Ted Moffett]

It appears that factual logical reasoning was not the primary focus of
this op-ed from Mr. Johnston, therefore attempting to engage him in
factual logical dialog to potentially refute his statements is a
fool's game.

I base this conclusion on the following comments from Mr Johnston:

"I'm glad to see I've raised the hackles of Moscow's keyboard
commandos here on Vision 2020!"

Angering rather than engaging in fact or reason, appears a motivation.

"My columns are simply the exercising of my first amendment rights to
share my opinion with whatever twist of humor I desire."

Again, humor, not fact or reason, a motivation.

Note he does not address any of the objections expressed on
Vision2020, to the facts or logic in his column, in his response on
Vision2020.

Why think he will in the future?

I suspect he will not engage in an in-depth dialog on Vision2020.
Why?  Because, as he phrased it, he might be "publicly and brutally
ripped... a new one..."

My goodness, such cruel language!  It is no surprise that someone who
thinks in this manner would mock and stereotype those he disagrees
with, as he did in this column, while asserting his noble "first
amendment rights."
------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 6/7/11, Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Henry,
>
> I dare say if Brett, who in my experience is a gentle person, intended to
> lynch you, I think he would have left V2020 off his address list.
>
> I have a couple of questions for you. You wrote, "In my book, doing so is
> akin to stopping a funeral procession on its way to the cemetery because you
> disagree with burial as a way to care for our dead."
>
> Can you explain how the environmental damage from a single burial compares
> to that done by the oil sands project? In hindsight, don't you think that's
> a pretty weak analogy?
>
> Do you really think that people leaving downtown bars are going to be as
> loud as these loads?
>
> Most important, do you think the council gave its constituents enough notice
> that they would be passing a resolution on this issue, and took enough
> comments from those constituents?
>
> Finally, do you think that defining those who oppose the shipments as
> hippies really moves serious dialog forward? Perhaps this is the humor you
> refer to, but it comes across as a trite stereotype.
>
> I will be away from my computer for the next few days, but look forward to
> your response when you get a chance. I may be tardy in my own response, but
> will be as timely as I can.
>
> Sunil

> From: hearseboy85 at gmail.com
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:58:14 -0700
> Subject: [Vision2020] My Column / Megaloads & Hippies

> I'm glad to see I've raised the hackles of Moscow's
> keyboard commandos here on Vision 2020!
>
> While I'm no longer with RadioShack in Pullman (I
> haven't been for over a year now) where I work should be of little concern
> to
> anyone on this site.  My columns are simply the exercising of my first
> amendment rights to share my opinion with whatever twist of humor I desire.
>
> For what its worth, I do live in Moscow with my
> partner/husband Alex and am a Moscow/Latah county taxpayer.
>
> So whats that to you and your friends on your
> mailing list Brett?  Gonna send a lynch mob after me?
>
> Also, Shirley Ringo was incorrect in assuming
> that I'm a "republican" with "big business" leanings.  Yes, I was a page in
> the legislature (nearly 10 years ago) and I do have
> a slightly different outlook about business in Moscow (and in general) than
> the
> members of this forum.
>
> I do however pride myself on becoming quite
> moderate with a slightly conservative slant in the past several years
> (compared
> to my earlier writings) and, if you've been following my columns, I quite
> publicly and brutally ripped the Latah County GOP a new one a couple months
> ago.  It was also in that column that resigned my membership from the Idaho
> and Latah GOP's in favor of becoming an independent.
>
> If the readers of this forum want to take my
> writings literally then so be it - I presume then there is nothing I could
> write
> that wouldn't offend someone.
>
> Rather than start firing off phrases like
> "offensive idiot" I would much rather prefer that you step back and look at
> what
> I write with a little bit of humor as Tom Hansen has - yes Tom, it must be a
> hippie thing and no I don't understand.
>
> I'm flattered that you care so much about me and
> what I write
>
> Cheers!
>
> Henry Johnston
> Columnist
> Moscow Pullman Daily News
>
>
>