An Open Letter to Sonja Dalton...
January 09, 2007
Ms. Dalton, of AFT fame, sent me a message in response to the post below. While it would be a rude reposting her email -- as I didn't ask permission to do that first -- it's not inappropriate to say that in said email she just doesn't get it. For her own edification, and for anyone else who isn't clear about what Sonja and, by extension, the whole of the "Americans For Truth," did wrong, the following is a open note, explaining just how asinine their actions are.
Dear Sonja,
You can justify your actions by whatever measure of superstition and noblesse oblige you desire, but at the end of the day, you still turned your organization loose on a 16-year old who was merely rapping with his 'mates.
Since you seem to have a problem understanding this, allow me to reframe your actions for you. I used to do a lot of reframing when I was a county Protective Social Worker. For some reason, some people just couldn't grasp the fact that being an ass to others wasn't okay. It fell on my shoulders to point out why.
Well, me and Mr. Rogers. But he's dead.
So since you obviously weren't paying attention the first time Mr. Rogers taught the important lesson of "How to Play Well with Others," I'll try to fill his shoes with the following example that illustrates exactly how you screwed up.
Ready?
Okay.
After shouting your incendiary opinions into the Public Square -- and hey, you knew people wouldn't agree with you, you knew a lot of people wouldn't agree with you from the get-go -- you overheard a young man talking off the cuff with his friends about his emotional reaction to your point of view. He found you to be petty, prejudiced, and a bigot and shared as much with his friends.
Angered by his comments, and contemptuous not only of his peers, but his peer group too, you refrained from addressing him personally, by way of a quick note, or even a comment on his blog. Rather, while dressed in the uniform of your employer, you proceeded to bitch-slap the young man, film it, and play it back in the Public Square for all to see. Oh, and you expected kudos for your actions.
Is that any clearer, Sonja? If your error still remains illusive, I'll try to explain it to you in still simpler terms. Smaller words? Cartoons? No dessert? I really want you to understand.
I'm sure Mr. Rogers does too.
All my best.
J
Posted by Jody at January 9, 2007 08:29 PM
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Comments
Funny, isn't it? Earlier this month,she chickened out of replying to another open letter that was posted on Pam's House Blend, yet she has no trouble replying to a boy who didn't like their point of view and attacking him. Brave. Real brave.
Posted by: Nelson G ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://WWW.nakedwriting.COM/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 10, 2007 03:35 PM
I don't get it either.
Well, I take that back. I do get it.
She's a bully, plain and simple.
Posted by: Jody at January 10, 2007 11:43 PM
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