I love it when people try to put words in my mouth.
I say one thing, and it becomes another statement in its entirety.
That's fine, it comes with the job. I've grown quite used to being attributed to statements I never said.
Last week I cautiously applauded the apparent end of hostilities and the success of our military. I stated that the critics, appeasers and pessimists were wrong.
Before I even awoke Monday, I started receiving accusations on how I was insulting the pessimists who were wrong. I reviewed my column to find I had used the very insulting word "wrong." I guess it is now against the rules to call someone who forecasted 500,000 Iraqi civilian deaths as "wrong." I'm still working on a word.
Then I received criticism as having been "too celebratory" in our victory. Of course, the fact my column was based around the fear that we may be becoming an empire and overstepping our bounds never occurred to people. Their hatred for me, conservatism and people of opposite beliefs moved them to conclusion before thinking.
Then I received criticism on my "ogling over how great" I think my "side" is. This is the best criticism I have gotten yet. I love it. People actually think I am some kind of mind-numbed robot who receives orders via satellite-guided dispatch from the Republican National Committee.
But seriously folks, I want to take this space to make a simple point: As this year draws to a close, it has been one heck of a ride. I've written for the Daily News for more than a year now and loved every minute of it.
I get my share of people who are so intolerant of my views that they threaten me, my family or my personal property with violence. I get my share of those who take issue with one argument or another. And then I get the vast majority of you who appreciate this column and my ideas. It is for those people that I write.
I don't know if I'll be writing for the Daily News next year. I would like to, but details are still up in the air. Even if I no longer write for this newspaper, I will seek other venues of expression, including a possible Conservative newsletter on campus and online.
In all my dealings because of this column, I continue to respect the opinions of others. It is the coherent and respectable political debate that makes this country the great nation that it is. It is my opinion, and hopefully always will be, that Conservatism creates the most optimistic opportunities for America's future. I believe (based on election 2002) that many Americans share a similar belief.
Over the summer, I will be continuing to update the Web site and write Web exclusives. I hope to do so every couple of weeks to keep up with the political landscape.
Next year, I will possibly serve as an SGA senator (if I ever get around to filling out an application) despite my feelings about SGA's usefulness. I'm hoping to make a difference.
But isn't that what all of us really desire to do? Make a difference for others? At least I do.
See you all next year.
Write to Russell at
rlg@temporalfront.com
Visit http://www.temporalfront.com
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