One interesting aspect of writing a newspaper column is reader letters and emails. Lately, mine have been more supportive and friendly than not. I usually try to respond, although Ive fallen down on the job of late. So, if youve sent me a fan letter and havent heard back, my apologies. I do read them all. Especially the ones from people who are fond of cows.
Oddly, given the state of permanent outrage in which many Trumpers appear to live, its been months since Ive gotten a death threat. Maybe thats because its pretty much impossible to send an anonymous email. You can create a false identity, but its harder to disguise where a message has originated. People learn these things from watching CSI programs on TV.
Then there are the ones from people who claim they refuse to read my offerings but are outraged anyway. They tend to be online tough guys. Heres a classic of the genre:
Just when I didnt think you could say anything stupider, I never read your articles just your stupid headlines because its when I turn the page how can you say Trumps mental health when youve been looking at four years of the most stupid man ever as president as a former marine combat infantry man I despise the fact your even in my country, get the [bleep] out my country you Commie!!!
Well, its my country too, Ace. None of my friends who are former Marines appear to think their service has given them ownership rights. But then they dont brag about their service, either, so it makes me wonder about the true extent of our heros combat experience. The figure of the miles gloriosus, or braggart soldier, has been a stock character in comedy since the Roman dramatist Plautus wrote a play with that title circa 206 B.C.
Shakespeares Sir John Falstaff is perhaps the most famous example: a blowhard and a rascal who considers honor and courage delusions.
A bit like Trump, actually, but much funnier.
Its also remarkable how many are stymied by what I call the Mystery of the Apostrophe. You know, as in your Trump Derangement Syndrome [or TDS] vs. youre a Commie. Sixth-grade stuff.
Speaking of elementary school, my son Gavins invariable response when he got his hand caught in the cookie jar was, What about Doug? Doug being his younger brother, equally prone to foraging for treats.
Just so my aggrieved correspondents, who ask, What about Joe?
A classic example, politer than most: You completely ignore the facts regarding your man, Joe Bidens, continuous and accelerating cognitive decline and focus on the mental decline of Donald Trump. Yes, its true that he spouts off ridiculous, misleading and sometimes dangerous statements, but you, as a member of the liberal state-run democratic media, are scared to death that Trump may win the election and COMPLETELY IGNORE the daily gaffes, errors, lies and total decline of Bidens mental ability and capacity. I long for the days when the media was unbiased and reported facts, not just your slanting of what you consider to be facts that you believe that the general public needs to know according to your agenda.
Youve got to love that state-run democratic media part. I cant decide whats more foolish: this fellows seeming belief that the small-city Tennessee newspaper where he found my column is part of the state-run democratic media or that Im in it for the big bucks.
Of course it is clear to me and others that you do this for the $$$s. Its easy to profit by spewing hate on a popular figure.
Whats clear to me is that this fellow one of several who made similar accusations has no idea whats been going on in the news media since the advent of the internet. Newspapers have been going out of business in droves.
Many also appear to have no concept of the distinction between news coverage and opinion columns, which are expected to be factual, yes, but also opinionated. What Im still waiting for is a single correspondent who can identify a factual error in the column that set them off, which concerned Trumps crazy confusing of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his Republican primary opponent Nikki Haley.
What made Trumps gaffe truly outrageous is that the whole thing was based upon a particularly brazen and thunderous lie. Specifically, that there was ever a phone conversation between then-President Trump and anybody at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, regarding military protection for Congress.
Did not happen. Trump made no such call. Pelosi never received one.
Haley bore no responsibility and was nowhere in the vicinity.
Ive challenged several of my correspondents to show me any remotely similar episode involving Biden. One guy said he once called Kamala Harris President Harris.
Otherwise, crickets.
Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of The Hunting of the President (St. Martins Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at [email protected].
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