The Price of an Opinion by Patti Davis (President Reagan's daughter)

[JI7]

great article. she is very much like her brother Ron.


<Getting the news that I was canceled was one of those moments when one realizes that the personal really is political. I certainly support anyone’s prerogative to hire or not hire whomever they choose, and I definitely don’t want to work for someone who doesn’t want me. But when people aren't permitted to speak because their opinions are considered inappropriate, it's a sign that something is amiss beneath the surface. Particularly, as in this case, when those opinions have nothing to do with the job itself.

Coincidentally, I had already been thinking a great deal about the vitriol that has become so pervasive in this country. In years past, there used to be civilized discourse; there are probably children now who don’t even know what that is. Wasn’t that the practice of men in powdered wigs and wooden teeth? It seems a terribly antiquated notion. We are now a modern, progressive, impatient society; we seem to not have time for discourse, or even tolerance. We’d rather lash out harshly and dismiss those who disagree with us. It saves time and is easier on the brain.

Performers like Linda Ronstandt are fired from gigs because of an opinion expressed on the stage; people who are angry at Bruce Springsteen’s political views want to boycott his music. We all know what happened to the Dixie Chicks. What became of calm, civilized disagreements, acceptance of the fact that we don’t always agree with each other? When did things turn so ugly, and when did anger reach this kind of crescendo?

Even all the nastiness over John Kerry’s war record can be put into this messy category. Whatever you believe about what Kerry did or did not do in Vietnam, one thing is clear: the men who are denouncing his record, his wounds, his medals, are angry about the very public antiwar stance he took 33 years ago. It’s not just currently expressed opinions that can put you on the firing line; in this new climate of vengeance, there is no statute of limitations.

All of this skids across a thin ice surface, of course, because it brings us to the subject of free speech. If you look around, the cherished idea of free speech is starting to look a bit endangered—it's practically become a punishable offense. >

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0827-12.htm

[The Traveler]

1. Reagan's shade

had better be damn well be proud of his children. For all his faults, it is obvious he and Nancy did something right with them.

**oops ... fixed grammar error **

[Nambe]

2. I beg to differ about the reagans and parenthood.

I lived next door to Patti for 8 months in Portland, Or. I don't feel it is appropriate to divulge information from our relationship, but believe me, they were distant and demanding parents. I think it is public knowledge that ron would not speak to Ron for years, and never did reach out to him when he was coherent in a way that a supportive parent would. Patti struggles with depression and I came to see her as a very strong person in light of that.

[The Traveler]

4. I know about that

I remember Patti from the 80s (not personally) ... obviously a bright and independent woman and one with issues. But if Reagan had been a close, supportive parent, would his kids have turned out as independent minded and bright? Or would they have been conditioned into the RW mindset?

Or did the "something right" end with genetics? Perhaps I expressed myself poorly. Reagans children seem to be everything Reagan was not ... bright minds, with the ability to think critically.

[JI7]

5. how about their environment outside of the family?

the place they grew up and the times they grew up in ?

[Cleita]

6. That would be a very liberally slanted education system

in Southern California at the time. I think their teachers deserve the credit. I know mine deserve a lot of credit for turning me away from my Republican families beliefs.

[The Traveler]

10. I dunno.

But somewhere along the line, they learned to think for themselves and express themselves with great clarity. Teachers, extended family members, friends ... we grow up with so many influences. What we do with them is largely up to us.

[Kanary]

Yes, the offspring definitely have a lot going for them......

I strongly suspect that's *in spite* of their parents, not *because* of them.

Kanary

[The Traveler]

9. I pretty much agree with that. (n/t)

[merh]

3. Kick

[Eric J in MN]

7. The Linda Ronstadt controversy turned out to be bogus.

The original story was that a Linda Ronstadt audience was furious because she dedicated the song "Desparado" to Michael Moore, and she was thrown out of the hotel where she was staying and performing at.

The reality is that Linda Ronstadt didn't even know there was any issue until after she had checked out of the hotel.

And the fans were upset that she didn't perform her greatest-hits, not because of a song-dedication.

[daligirrl]

8. Right now. . .

Joe McCarthy is sleeping comfortably in his grave, while the Founding Fathers are having nightmares.