To The Editor:
After all this time, and all the many clues, signs and signals, why did it have to be left for Maureen Dowd to make the call and the diagnosis: much of the country cannot stomach even the thought that a black man is now President. Everything else, all the other noise, is filler. The problem is race. How sad, how very sad, all of this is. Shame on all of us.
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Sunday, September 13, 2009
J. Osteen--Elmer Gantry--letter to observer
To The Editor:
What has happened to our beloved Queen City? Is it something in the water? First it was Wachovia and the disastrous purchase of Golden West. Next came B of A and the acquisition of Merrill. And now Tim Funk reports (Sat., Sept 12) that Joel Osteen arrived in town and delivered his spiel on Friday to thousands of unsuspecting souls at the Time Warner Cable Arena!
No slur on Mr. Funk intended, but had Sinclair Lewis been reporting the event, Osteen would have been skewered. He is your latter-day Elmer Gantry--a total charlatan, nothing less. How else to explain this guy, who has the audacity to stand up there and with a straight face tell his adoring audience that God is just waiting for the right moment to come to their rescue, etc.,and so be patient......but in the meantime, we're passing the hat, folks, and would you please let me have all your spare change? He then finishes off with an I thank you for that, God thanks you, and God bless you!
Folks, if this is advertised as a winning ticket, I say consider the lottery as a very attractive alternative.
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
What has happened to our beloved Queen City? Is it something in the water? First it was Wachovia and the disastrous purchase of Golden West. Next came B of A and the acquisition of Merrill. And now Tim Funk reports (Sat., Sept 12) that Joel Osteen arrived in town and delivered his spiel on Friday to thousands of unsuspecting souls at the Time Warner Cable Arena!
No slur on Mr. Funk intended, but had Sinclair Lewis been reporting the event, Osteen would have been skewered. He is your latter-day Elmer Gantry--a total charlatan, nothing less. How else to explain this guy, who has the audacity to stand up there and with a straight face tell his adoring audience that God is just waiting for the right moment to come to their rescue, etc.,and so be patient......but in the meantime, we're passing the hat, folks, and would you please let me have all your spare change? He then finishes off with an I thank you for that, God thanks you, and God bless you!
Folks, if this is advertised as a winning ticket, I say consider the lottery as a very attractive alternative.
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Saturday, September 12, 2009
letter to observer--steven brown review--9/12
To The Editor:
Looking for that reporter who can file an A to Z story with a "take-no-prisoners" deadline? Then look no further than your own Steven Brown. It is baffling to pick up Saturday morning's Observer and be able to read all about last night's Charlotte Symphony concert, which had ended only a few hours earlier. And, it was an excellent review, I thought! Kudos and three cheers for Mr. Brown.
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Looking for that reporter who can file an A to Z story with a "take-no-prisoners" deadline? Then look no further than your own Steven Brown. It is baffling to pick up Saturday morning's Observer and be able to read all about last night's Charlotte Symphony concert, which had ended only a few hours earlier. And, it was an excellent review, I thought! Kudos and three cheers for Mr. Brown.
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Monday, September 7, 2009
Dump Carlos Krauthammer
To The Editor:
My thanks for your lead editorial yesterday (Take a deep breath..." ), which while mild, nonetheless was timely and very much in order. Nonetheless, it hardly compensates for the tirade offered readers on the following page--yet another hateful column of bile and repetitive ranting, by Charles Krauthammer. He loathes President Obama, as all of us have learned weeks, if not months ago. He writes of nothing else of late! We understand now, we get it...Obama is evil, a loser and already a failed President. We don't need to be told this any more! Away with you, Carlos!
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
My thanks for your lead editorial yesterday (Take a deep breath..." ), which while mild, nonetheless was timely and very much in order. Nonetheless, it hardly compensates for the tirade offered readers on the following page--yet another hateful column of bile and repetitive ranting, by Charles Krauthammer. He loathes President Obama, as all of us have learned weeks, if not months ago. He writes of nothing else of late! We understand now, we get it...Obama is evil, a loser and already a failed President. We don't need to be told this any more! Away with you, Carlos!
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Letter to Charlotte Observer--Time's 'Awastin'
To The Editor:
Time's awastin'--someone has to come out and say it and I figure it might as well be me: Republicans want no part of health care reform, let alone universal health care. Protestations to the contrary are balderdash.
Thus, if these (more or less) United States of America are ever to have anything resembling universal health care, Democrat lawmakers must bring it about. There will never be another time and so, Democrat lawmakers: On Your Mark, Get Set. Go!
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
Time's awastin'--someone has to come out and say it and I figure it might as well be me: Republicans want no part of health care reform, let alone universal health care. Protestations to the contrary are balderdash.
Thus, if these (more or less) United States of America are ever to have anything resembling universal health care, Democrat lawmakers must bring it about. There will never be another time and so, Democrat lawmakers: On Your Mark, Get Set. Go!
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
Letter to WSJ--Senator Kennedy
To The Editor:
One can have hoped that the Journal might set aside just one day to lay off Democrats, but no, "Rules Eased on Bank Buyouts" is your day's lead story and headline--and not the passing of Senator Kennedy. The Journal must be the single newspaper in the country able to make this case. You have accomplished nothing by this, save to dishonor this man and, in so doing, embarrass and further cheapen an otherwise pretty good newspaper.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704
One can have hoped that the Journal might set aside just one day to lay off Democrats, but no, "Rules Eased on Bank Buyouts" is your day's lead story and headline--and not the passing of Senator Kennedy. The Journal must be the single newspaper in the country able to make this case. You have accomplished nothing by this, save to dishonor this man and, in so doing, embarrass and further cheapen an otherwise pretty good newspaper.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704
Letter to Taylor Batten--Editor--Charlotte Observer
Taylor--Should you be looking for material for your next op-ed piece, this would be a worthy one. Brother Fred has been pounding on this for a long time. He served as Dean of Admissions at Stanford U for many years and afterwards at Princeton until retirement a few years ago. (Both he and I served in the military long before entering college--in fact, that was the only way the two of us, like many thousands of others, were able to go to college (GI Bill)).The topic --universal military (or other kind of civic) service--only gets an occasional airing any more, and rarely by an newspaper's editor. Anyhow--for what it's worth. Regards, Bernie -----Original Message-----From: Fred Hargadon <hargadon@Princeton.EDU>To: Bernie Hargadon <bhargadon@aol.com>Sent: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 11:32 pmSubject: NYT op-ed: The Ultimate Burden
Bernie,That I couldn't agree more with this op-ed is obvious from my Letter to the Editor in the NYT four years ago.FredTo the Editor: Allowing college deferments during the Vietnam War and then subsequently doing away with the draft altogether was terrible public policy. The result has been not only to exacerbate the socioeconomic inequities of our society but also to render political decision-making about the uses of our military completely untethered from any broad national consensus on which objectives are worth our making what kinds of sacrifices - including, if necessary, our own lives or the lives of our children or fellow citizens. No law passed by Congress could more effectively democratize this nation of ours than one requiring some sort of universal military service. Fred Hargadon Princeton, N.J., Aug. 18, 2005 OPINION August 25, 2009 Op-Ed Columnist: The Ultimate Burden By BOB HERBERT If the war in Afghanistan is fundamental to our defense, as President Obama stated, then we shouldn't be leaving the entire monumental task to a tiny portion of the population.
Bernie,That I couldn't agree more with this op-ed is obvious from my Letter to the Editor in the NYT four years ago.FredTo the Editor: Allowing college deferments during the Vietnam War and then subsequently doing away with the draft altogether was terrible public policy. The result has been not only to exacerbate the socioeconomic inequities of our society but also to render political decision-making about the uses of our military completely untethered from any broad national consensus on which objectives are worth our making what kinds of sacrifices - including, if necessary, our own lives or the lives of our children or fellow citizens. No law passed by Congress could more effectively democratize this nation of ours than one requiring some sort of universal military service. Fred Hargadon Princeton, N.J., Aug. 18, 2005 OPINION August 25, 2009 Op-Ed Columnist: The Ultimate Burden By BOB HERBERT If the war in Afghanistan is fundamental to our defense, as President Obama stated, then we shouldn't be leaving the entire monumental task to a tiny portion of the population.
Letter to NYT--Obama and Michelle
To The Editor:
This "debate" about health care has gone on too long. Much as I think the world of President Obama, it seems clear now that he's just too nice a guy to be leading this charge.. We need to get this wrapped up--how about his turning the job over to Michelle for a few weeks?
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
This "debate" about health care has gone on too long. Much as I think the world of President Obama, it seems clear now that he's just too nice a guy to be leading this charge.. We need to get this wrapped up--how about his turning the job over to Michelle for a few weeks?
Yours truly,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Letter to Charlotte Observer--What Has Happened?
To The Editor:
This reader is in very bad humor and again anxious to try to find out just what in the world President Obama has done to the Charlotte Observer to deserve the harsh treatment, the terrible pounding he is subjected to several times every single week, when you feature, front and center, the writings of Charles Krauthammer and Cal Thomas--both of whom have a serious, if not pathological obsession about the President. They seem now incapable of producing a single column which in one form or another, does not deprecate, demonize and denigrate yours and my President. Does no one at the Observer ever read these columns? Is there anyone at the Observer able to successfully argue that there is any longer ANY redeeming value to be found in these columns? Yes, I think you owe your readers a full-fledged ecditorial, explaining why you continue to do this.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
This reader is in very bad humor and again anxious to try to find out just what in the world President Obama has done to the Charlotte Observer to deserve the harsh treatment, the terrible pounding he is subjected to several times every single week, when you feature, front and center, the writings of Charles Krauthammer and Cal Thomas--both of whom have a serious, if not pathological obsession about the President. They seem now incapable of producing a single column which in one form or another, does not deprecate, demonize and denigrate yours and my President. Does no one at the Observer ever read these columns? Is there anyone at the Observer able to successfully argue that there is any longer ANY redeeming value to be found in these columns? Yes, I think you owe your readers a full-fledged ecditorial, explaining why you continue to do this.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Letter to Charlotte Observer--Don't Fall for the Lies
To The Editor:
Your lead editorial today is a noble example of why responsible newspapers serve as the bedrock lifeline of civil societies. The editorial pulls no punches. With regard to the words and outrageous behavior of those who will stop at nothing to bring about defeat of efforts to cure our dismal, pathetic "health care" system, the editorial in effect says Enough! One wonders why, after all that we have allowed to happen to this great country these past eight years, why we continue to bring yet more shame on ourselves? Some of the photos from town hall meetings this past week in these United States of America, are nothing short of hideous.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Your lead editorial today is a noble example of why responsible newspapers serve as the bedrock lifeline of civil societies. The editorial pulls no punches. With regard to the words and outrageous behavior of those who will stop at nothing to bring about defeat of efforts to cure our dismal, pathetic "health care" system, the editorial in effect says Enough! One wonders why, after all that we have allowed to happen to this great country these past eight years, why we continue to bring yet more shame on ourselves? Some of the photos from town hall meetings this past week in these United States of America, are nothing short of hideous.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Letter to Charlotte Observer--Cal Thomas and Charles Krauthammer
To The Editor:
The decisions a newspaper makes regarding what op-ed columns to carry are, or should be, some of the most responsible ones editors are required to make each day. The very act of printing a given column invites the reader's attention, and awards the column at least some measure of worth.
Op-ed pieces which convey well- thought-out and various contrary views, add value, and help to inform the reading public. Columns which spew hatred, poison and falsehoods, have no business appearing in any responsible newspaper. The writings of Charles Krauthammer and Cal Thomas--those particularly of late and about health care issues--are just such op-ed pieces. These do not inform but rather infect the community,
The Charlotte Observer should not ask permission--it should simply notify the McClatchy organization that it will no longer publish either of these two columns. More than anything else, they bring disgrace to the newspaper, and to the newspaper's community..
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
The decisions a newspaper makes regarding what op-ed columns to carry are, or should be, some of the most responsible ones editors are required to make each day. The very act of printing a given column invites the reader's attention, and awards the column at least some measure of worth.
Op-ed pieces which convey well- thought-out and various contrary views, add value, and help to inform the reading public. Columns which spew hatred, poison and falsehoods, have no business appearing in any responsible newspaper. The writings of Charles Krauthammer and Cal Thomas--those particularly of late and about health care issues--are just such op-ed pieces. These do not inform but rather infect the community,
The Charlotte Observer should not ask permission--it should simply notify the McClatchy organization that it will no longer publish either of these two columns. More than anything else, they bring disgrace to the newspaper, and to the newspaper's community..
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Letter to NYTimes--GM Chairman Vows to Defend Market Share
To The Editor:What a difference in just a half-century: your story today took me back to 1956 when, as a representative of General Motors working their dealerships in the Delaware Valley Region of Philadelphia, I was called to a meeting in New York City to get the latest update on G.M. from an executive dispatched from its home office in Detroit. Along with other reps on the Eastern seaboard, the first words we heard were these: General Motors today enjoys a U.S.-auto market share of 52%, with Chevrolet alone accounting for 30%! The spokesman went on to say that while this was an enviable achievement, management had nonetheless decided that it should not take market share any higher!--so as not to (further) antagonize the anti-trust boys in Washington! It's not possible to read anything about the company's condition today and not reflect back to that meeting in New York City!Sincerely,Bernie Hargadon435 S. Tryon St. #606Charlotte, NC 28202704 377 5305
Letter to Charlotte Observer--Charles Krauthammer
To The Editor:
Chalk it up to being overly sensitive or protective if you will, but the two (not one, but two!) Krauthammer columns you carried in the past week had no place on your pages. Both were dripping with scorn, disdain and ridicule for President Obama and reached far beyond limits which a civil society would find acceptable. I found the columns to be an embarrassment, and a discredit to the newspaper as well as the community whose name appears in your masthead.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
Chalk it up to being overly sensitive or protective if you will, but the two (not one, but two!) Krauthammer columns you carried in the past week had no place on your pages. Both were dripping with scorn, disdain and ridicule for President Obama and reached far beyond limits which a civil society would find acceptable. I found the columns to be an embarrassment, and a discredit to the newspaper as well as the community whose name appears in your masthead.
Sincerely,
Bernie Hargadon
435 S. Tryon St. #606
Charlotte, NC 28202
704 377 5305
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