Dear Editor:
In a recent letter, I had alluded to some
”
slanderous
”
comments made by a certain liberal apologist.
Dear Editor:
In a recent letter, I had alluded to some “slanderous” comments made by a certain liberal apologist. Slanderous, which refers to an oral, not written act, was used loosely and incorrectly. Mr. Harold Williams’ letter infers I should have used the word “libel.” Libel is a legal term not to be taken lightly. Libel is defined is a false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person’s reputation and the act of presenting such material to the public. My point was that, I was being erroneously called a racist or bigot.
When one calls someone “Archie Bunker” or calls someone, “one of the Archie Bunker Gang,” what are they saying? Archie Bunker is synonymous with bigot or racist. The label was inaccurate, but not libelous. Nor is it libelous when I use my favorite liberal label, “Red Diaper Doper Babies,” on left-wingers on these pages.
Rather than go tit-for-tat, why not speak plainly. I am a conservative. I believe what I say. I may not master the language as well as Mr. Williams, but most people understand exactly what I am saying. You need not stare into the windows of my soul or sneak in my back door, Mr. Williams. My method is much more honest and direct, often like a slap in the face. What you see is what you get, without all the self-aggrandizing prose.
As far as referring to yourself as a know-it-all, it does make my point that you have a serious, yet misguided, superiority complex. Lighten up, Harold.
Mark A. Zappa, Gilroy
Submitted Tuesday, March 4 to ed****@ga****.com
