Editor, The Transcript:
I viewed with sadness the broken storefront windows at the Democratic Party office last Sunday. So often we hear about political violence occurring in other countries or in other states, but find it difficult to imagine in Norman.
The action in the early hours of Sunday morning was not a random act. The police responded immediately to the first wave of bricks thrown through one window section. After the police left, another series of bricks were thrown at another window section with such force that they gouged the wall on the opposite side of the glass window. They could easily have killed the people remaining in the building. Most symbolic of all, this act desecrated the American flag that was in the front room.
This resort to overt acts of destruction indicates to me that for some people the system that society has set up for the honest expression of opinion has failed. Both Republicans and Democrats have the opportunity to debate in candidates forums and air opinions in newspapers, radio, the internet, and other forms of electronic media. In the end, we show support or dislike of a candidate or an issue by our vote.
For many years, I taught United States history and government in high schools in Norman, Moore, and Oklahoma City. My colleagues and I emphasized the value of participation in the political process to the students. The students debated, they studied issues, and in the end they participated in mock elections. Sunday's violent action is contrary to every principal we taught.
One last note. I fear that this action last Sunday is an example of our gradual descent into political chaos. I looked in vain for editorial condemnation for this act, but never found it. I expected letters of outrage in the Letters to the Editor section this week. Nothing.
BARBARA SCHINDLER
Norman
Letters
Descent into political chaos
- Letters
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Sykes trying to secure seat
Editor, The Transcript: By the time this reaches you, the issues surrounding HB 2440 may have been laid to rest. Based on your article of this date, let me make these observations....
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Corporate deception rules
Editor, The Transcript: Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase’s chief executive, said he does not know how the bank lost $3 billion (originally estimated at $2 billion) in a trading scheme. He called the trades “sloppy” and “stupid” but could not ...
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Bike racks should be available
Editor, The Transcript: Biking to shop doesn’t need to be difficult, either. Yet so many merchants fail to provide bicycle racks and water fountains. And a bench to repack your purchases so you can carry them easily on your bike would be ...
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Bold reform needed in DHS
Editor, The Transcript: Serenity Deal, a five-year-old girl, was brutally beaten and died at the hands of her father while in the custody of DHS. Serenity is only one of the nearly 50 children who have died while in foster care over the ...
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Milbank’s partisan attack
Editor, The Transcript: The column on your editorial page on Monday, May 14, by Dana Milbank of the Washington Post Writers Group calling Mitt Romney “the cowardly candidate” must be answered....
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Biking to work doesn’t need to be difficult
Editor, The Transcript: I am disappointed that the Norman Transcript chose to focus on an extreme for the Bike to Work article. While I don’t discredit Stephen Swanson and his cycle commute, I feel that highlighting a 22-mile bike commute ...
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Life as a paranoid schizophrenic
Editor, The Transcript The Rheudasil family would like to respond to some of the negative comments made about Barry Rheudasil in the three-hour stand-off that took place on March 29, 2012. Here are some facts about Barry that people might ...
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Simplifying taxes
Editors, The Transcript: As I do my Oklahoma taxes on Turbo Tax, I stare blankly at the entry asking for the sum of internet purchases that I owe State taxes on. I don’t mind paying this tax, I just I don’t know how. Is my kindle download ...
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Rolling Thunder: a force worth joining
Editor, The Transcript: Since 1988, a group called Rolling Thunder has been involved in a demonstration through the streets of our nation’s capitol. This year is no different. On the Sunday before Memorial Day, hundreds of thousands of ...
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Cleveland County needs another judge
Editor, Norman Transcript, Pease let me be heard briefly as a 68-year resident of Cleveland County; I’m a 16 plus year servant on the Bench, a 12- year member of the District Attorney’s staff, a practicing lawyer and proud parent....
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Sykes trying to secure seat
