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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Another Library Vote? Good grief!
Editor, The Transcript A new library on the west side? With hardly any books? With a dumb name above the entry as shown in your rendering? Infoplace? The library bureaucracy must think Norman voters just fell off the turnip truck....
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Eliminating state taxes places burden on poor
Editor, The Transcript: Your editorial on Feb. 8th that expressed your pleasure that the bill by Jim Wilson that would have removed the sales tax exemptions from newspapers was killed in committee was disconcerting. I can agree that the ...
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Not time to experiment with state taxes
Editor, The Transcript Governor Fallin proposed more cuts to the state income tax in her State of the State speech Feb. 6. This comes on the heels of a House Tax Reform Task Force that also proposed phasing out the state income tax over a ...
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Local investment is better for Norman
Editor, The Transcript Americans from all walks of life and political ideologies are asserting their voice to tell Wall Street “Enough is enough!” Occupy Norman members spoke at the Dec. 13 Norman City Council meeting, urging the city to ...
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Decline in unions harmful to economy
Editor, The Transcript Remember sometimes you get what your ask for? Let’s see, what could that be? I know, destroy those evil unions which are compromised of the middle class....
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Independent group needed
Editor, The Transcript: I wanted to write a letter a long time ago, but Ms. Rogers’ letter claiming that “Chromium levels in the water shouldn’t cause alarm” pushed me over the edge. As an environmental professional in Oklahoma, I have ...
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Obamacare is socialist nightmare
Editor, The Transcript: And now for the rest of the story… “Obamacare, Another Entitlement Nightmare.” The recent St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial reprint illustrates the sophistry that characterizes the liberal mindset now grasping the ...
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Pipeline not really that great
Editor, The Transcript: This responds to the letter from Bruce Kessler, which was printed in The Norman Transcript on Monday, Jan. 30. The letter makes plain that Bruce Kessler opposes President Barack Obama’s decision to block the ...
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Not economic suicide for all
Editor, The Transcript: The commentary “Avoiding a catastrophic war with Iran” published in the Norman Transcript on Jan. 21 made a worrisome observation: “Another war would destroy America’s painful recovery from the indebtedness of two ...
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Support helps provide safety
Editor, The Transcript: On behalf of Food and Shelter, I want to thank our community and the city of Norman for continually supporting the homeless and less fortunate. Your support for homeless services helps provide a place of safety and ...
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Another Library Vote? Good grief!
