A few days ago, I posted a copy of a letter I had sent to a friend who had become a freeper over the years. You can see that
thread here. You should check that post out for the back-story.
Today I finally got the reply. As some had predicted, hitting him with this at an emotionally charged time may not have been the best move in terms of etiquette or tactics. I also see in his reply that he saw my response only as a political attack and felt none of the emotion behind it. This is the reply I sent.
>On Monday, June 28, 2004, at 06:58 PM, <*********@********.com> wrote:
>Sandy, I'm apalled. You and I have had our differences, but your situation reminded >me of the situation with my own parents, which is why I wrote to you. In response, >you use that as an opening for a political attack.
>You've gone over the edge, pal. You can't see people as human beings any more. >They're just political actors to you. I can't think of a reason I'd ever want to speak >another word to you.
My Response:
I just wanted to let you know the emotional impact of the things you've been saying on those around you. Not to mention the direct impact our healthcare system has had on my father's life. For several days before you wrote us, your blog posts had been a topic of discussion around our house. I'd even written a letter to you and a blog post of my own but decided against sending them.
We found it bewildering. Can he really believe those things? Does he actually think of us as spouse abusers for being liberals and patriots? Does he ever post anything political we haven't seen on Newsmax? When did he become such a drone to the right wing?
If you have managed to somehow separate the things you say from their impact on those around you, then your beliefs and opinions are supported more by your distance from their consequences than anything else.
I know you didn't always hold the views you do. You once berated Crissy for playing golf because it was ecologically unsound. At that point, you were far to the left of us. I can't imagine you holding that opinion now. I just wanted to let you know how shocked we've been. In several years, your blog has been all we've seen. That's really all we've had to shape our opinion of you.
I've always admired you. I've hired you twice. I've recommended websites and things you've written to others. I put you up first in line when I declined the Mac Demystified rewrite.
If you think my concern was false or this was just a cheap shot to score political points, then you are mistaken. Someone like ***** ****, I would have ignored. A friend deserves my honesty.
-Sandy
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