Serious Times Call for Serious Comments
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In her June 17 column, Deborah Salomon said: “I’m not here for political commentary. There’s enough hot air floating around.” I can agree that there is a lot of hot air floating around in our national debate.
As a recent arrival to Pinehurst, I have no preconceived notions of Salomon’s political point of view. I was disappointed, therefore, at what I perceive as misrepresentation of what was said at the Republican presidential candidates’ debate last Monday.
I watched the debate. Admittedly I do not have a transcript, but I do not believe Michele Bachmann cited the color of her teeth as a credential in the context of her newly announced candidacy for president of the United States. Salomon included this comment as though it were in fact what Bachmann said in quotes. She also commented that Bachmann needs Sarah Palin’s hairdresser — perhaps in jest. But that is not a comment worthy of the subject.
Salomon is correct in observing that any political candidate in a crowded field will have his/her challenges in making an impression in a debate format — not the least of which includes the silly questions John King asked of the candidates regarding whether they preferred Coke over Pepsi, or thin- or thick-crust pizza.
Salomon concludes her column with: “These are serious times. The United States has serious problems.” I agree with her. I look forward to future articles by Salomon where the words and the music fit together, and the substance she may wish to impart does not get diminished by the personal attacks and snarky tone of her column.
Mary Woodford
Pinehurst
Editor’s note: Salomon’s column was satirical in nature, and the supposed Bachmann quote was not intended to be taken seriously.
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Comments
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
"The Devil, the proud spirit, cannot endure to be mocked"-St Thomas More
What this country needs is some laughter. Lighten up, Francis.
Yukonjohn 1 year, 11 months ago
Hey Dusty, You say that America needs more laughter.....check out the story on one of the comments in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, it is probably one of the funniest things l have ever read!! This poor guy was obviously a candidate for the darwin awards:
http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/14428797/article-Dangerous-device?instance=letters_to_ed
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
That is hilarious. I love how the guy's so earnest about "don't taze yourself" as if any sane person would.
Bflat 1 year, 11 months ago
She used one of your words, snarky, in the letter. :))
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
Why don't you give it a try, mauiman?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
Yeah, I'm sure that's it.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
You first.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
Good letter Ms Woodford. I have not read any columns of Deborah Salomon, but will now keep my eyes open for them. If the current norm happens concerning Pilot columns concerning anything to do with Sara Palin or Michelle Bachmann; my bet is that you have not seen anything yet. Get ready for that snarky tone. If the tone or personal attack does not come from the column writer themself....you will see it boldly presented in replies to that column....Welcome to Pinehurst.....Mike
Arestorer 1 year, 11 months ago
Mike; keep your eyes open and check out some of Deb's columns..Think you will enjoy most. She's smart,and alot nicer than most of the contributors.
honesty2 1 year, 11 months ago
Just curious...why would the editor feel a comment was necessary here when plenty of other more pointed letters in response to columns did not warrant one?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
I'm continuously amused by the people writing in whose complaint is not that a satirical column isn't funny; their complaint is that it's not serious enough.
debsalomon 1 year, 11 months ago
When Dusty Rhodes comes to my defense, I know I'm doing something right.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
:-) I got your back.
teufelhunden 1 year, 11 months ago
All's fair in love and war...and politics!
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
Here's something to glance over Ms Woodford. Since your new in town it might give you another perspective on satirical in nature columns in Pinehurst. Apparently according to your letter and the added editors note.... made up ficticious quotes are not intended to be taken seriously and should be ignored. Try quoting a staff member here inaccurately in public and see how that works out.
This article is by the guy in this thread who is continuously amused by the people writing in whose complaint is not that a satirical column isn't funny; their complaint is that it's not serious enough and 'Has the back' of that writer who hurls ficticious words around and places them in someone's mouth, by name....but we are not to take that seriously :) Most of these columns and letters run the course of about a week allowing our comments. This particular column was pulled lock, stock and barrel in about a day and a half. You be the judge on whether it is funny satire, personal agenda or something else. The pilot link is below....Mike
GOP Show Wasn't That Hard to Steal
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
Thanks for the shout out, MikeNC! It's people like you who make it all worthwhile.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
Now that right there is Funny...Thanks for the snicker Dusty....Mike
Arestorer 1 year, 11 months ago
So anyway,,,,, Where is Mary's serious comments??
debsalomon 1 year, 11 months ago
All of the above illustrates the truism: There's no such thing as bad publicity. We've learned that not many respondants watch Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, David Letterman or Jay Leno. Does anybody really think that Sarah Palin uttered the words mouthed by Tina Fey? Would anybody doubt the entertainment potential of a political debate or that the best-coached, most articulate participant .who makes the best appearance...will probably generate the most interest? If you want to hear real, sharp, biting satire watch the monologs/roasts at the White House press dinner. Even the president -- all of them -- gets off a few shots. In laughter is truth, and sometimes healing.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
Your right Debsalmon...there is some real sharp biting satire to be witnessed at the WH press dinners. Some of it can be very funny and entertaining....some of it not funny at all. The call for civility came out loud and clear in this administration and it seems that those who call for it the loudest are in fact the biggest and most outrageous violators. For instance....the 2009 WH press dinner with keynote speaker and 'comedian' Wanda Sykes. Here's a chance to be witty, humorous, sharp and engage in biting (Humorous) satire in front of the entire world. In my opinion at least, something very different was delivered. Do you think many of her comments were meant to be funny? Or were they meant strictly as to take cheap political and vicious personal shots at WH adversaries? While watching I felt sorry for our President. He was kind of boxed into a situation where you are suppose to laugh at every joke the keynote speaker delivers as the tradition is that it is all in fun and humerous satire. As the camera panned around the audience you could see expressions on may faces that some comments were way over the line and many of these people did not even crack a smile; let alone laugh. Many of course did laugh....To include President Obama. In your opinion, was that line of 'satire' acceptable? Was it actually satire or something else? Was it laughable? And was that laughter from our president over such matters healing? Mike
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
Maybe whoever books the comics for the WHCD need to actually see some of their work first. Wanda Sykes did her usual act, which can be biting, to say the very least. Cheap shots? Personal? Man, that's what comedians like her DO. It's like they hired Don Rickles and complained he was mean to people.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
We are talking about a dinner that has extreme press coverage to every corner of the world and reflects directly upon our President. This dinner exists to highlight and roast the President of the United States of America and others in a humurous way. If that is what comedians like her do and that was her normal routine, she had no business being at that dinner. To compare her humor to Don Rickles is a very long stretch DR.
You are right in saying "Maybe whoever books the comics for the WHCD need to actually see some of their work first." Mike
honesty2 1 year, 11 months ago
Still wondering why this called for an editor's note....anyone?
FaithinUSA 1 year, 11 months ago
Who's Tina Fey?
debsalomon 1 year, 11 months ago
I'm not sure your question is in good faith...or satire. Either way, Tina Fey is the brilliant comedienne/impersonator (and Palin lookalike) who won many awards for her skits on SNL (Saturday Night Live). The satire was biting, of course....yet Palin herself agreed to appear on the show with Fey, perhaps to ....well, I'm not sure. Political satirists were alive and well in ancient Greece and Rome. It's part of the package...which, thank goodness, includes free speech. As far as the WH press dinners...let the buyer beware. Now here's a puzzling thought: Several weeks ago, I wrote a column about Michelle Obama's gaffes during her visit to the UK...just a few good-natured jabs echoing the national press. It was in the Scene section. Not a murmur, nobody objected to this lighthearted satire. Hmmmmm...
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
Of course no one objected. They only get their rage on when it's one of their cult leaders that gets the treatment.
mcg2010 1 year, 11 months ago
Case in point: http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/6069282-452/president-obama-impersonator-pleases-then-upsets-gop.html
debsalomon 1 year, 11 months ago
I thought maybe it meant that satire is permitted in the features section, but not on Op-Ed. Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but after a quarter century in journalism writing everything from food to sports, I seem to remember that the Op in Op-Ed stands for Opinion. But let me be clear to the person who referred to my "politics": I was not expressing a POLITICAL opinion....not allowed; Lordy, I have enough trouble defending my alma mater, Duke. This was just a few swipes at a nationally televised event...from a ditzy granny. Could've been the Academy Awards, except the clothes weren't as gorgeous One other question: Do you guys have an beep on your computer so when I thread is posted, you know immediately? Responses are so fast...... I'm done.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
I know you got that handy dandy little pre-fabricated rule list or whatever you call it that you resort to in times like this. No good answer, so you throw out rule 13, paragraph 10 subsection A about when, where, how and why wingnuts get their rage on. You just forgot to mention the rule number this time....Mike
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
So Debsalomon...You must have missed my questions concerning the WHCD and Wanda Sykes. Would you like for me to list the several questions again? I think since this original article specifically concerns this type of humorous satire along with all that laughter being truth, and sometimes healing...Your answers, as a satirist, should be enlightening for all...Mike
dustyrhoades 1 year, 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
Some of you pretend to have all the answers; that is until some questions are asked...and then it seems to be mums the word. It must be psychologically very difficult living blind loyalty to a political party and an ideolgy; which always results in the bulk of the American people (All classes, races, ethnicities, etc) short changed....Mike
debsalomon 1 year, 11 months ago
Nothing is wholly good or wholly bad, wholly true or wholly false. That musn't keep people from venturing. Of course some satire goes too far but why should that silence all satire? Again, I refer you to the First Amendment and ask if you think we'd be better off without it...perhaps with censorship of any opinions that don't agree with our own? Any jokes at our expense? What about political cartoons? Brilliant columnists like Maureen Dowd and the late Mike Royko? I respect your opinions....even on a relatively innocuous subject like satire.
MikeNC 1 year, 11 months ago
At least you answered Deb and that's a start. I believe in all of our ammendments and without them our nation would fail. There are inherant and common sense limitations to most everything to include the first ammendment; such as yelling out "FIRE" in a crowded theatre, etc, etc, etc. I never mentioned anything about silencing satire, please make no attempt to put words into my mouth or make a statement that insinuates the same. BTW....I happen to like good satire.
Yes, there are in fact limits (in my opinion) that should be placed upon such things as jokes at our expense and political cartoons. These jokes and cartoons might be legally acceptable at times, but do you support racial jokes, do you support some high school 'jokes' and pranks that have led impressionable kids to commmit suicide, do you support inflammatory cartoons such as the one concerning Muhammad that led to overseas rioting and murder? So I do believe that some common sense self imposed restrictions should be in place in our daily lives. I believe that Sykes style of humor belongs in an appropriate night club or bar where patrons have paid to listen to such venom; not in the White House alongside our President...any president. Her style does not create that laughter which is truthful or healing that you spoke of, in contrast it generates hate and anger. Happy venturing.....Mike
debsalomon 1 year, 10 months ago
Like I said, nothing is all good or all bad. The important thing is NOT to have censorship as is practiced elsewhere. The court of public opinion usually takes care of that. Of course, no reasonable person supports dangerous, inflammatory statements like "Fire" in a crowded theater, racial slurs or bullying patter. But you've drifted afar from the humor/satire of stand-up comics and mild-mannered journalists. At least I've succeeded in energizing a discussion, although it wandered far, far afield from both my satirical column which made a harmless joke about the ends candidates go to present a glitzy appearance -- and Ms. Woodford's thoughtful letter. We hear constantly that men with good hair get elected. That's an exaggeration, of course, but take a look ....now and in the past. The danger is when we don't look BEYOND the whitened teeth, designer clothes, and great hair (John Edwards, to wit). Perhaps by satirizing their importance people will be more likely to do this.
Courseaire 1 year, 10 months ago
Sykes was not the problem at the WHCD, her humor & style was well known. The problem was with those that brought her to the event. She just like Kathy Griffin have been very consistent in their style of humor, so if you book them you know what you'll get. I too love good satire, poking fun of myself as well as others. At times, have I ever gone too far, sure and immediately realized it. When you are talking off the cuff, you'll say things, though not intended, that will come out wrong or be taken wrong. If you do this at the wrong time and wrong place, you'll pay the price. One of the inherent problems with humor or satire is when it's not taken as such. So debsalomon, keep it up.
MikeNC 1 year, 10 months ago
Thanks for your honest replies Debsalomon. Discussion didn't wander too far afield according to Pilot online discussion SOP; based upon 'discussion' of other topics in the past and one way politicized streets some take. I and others may drift afar from the humor/satire of stand-up comics and mild-mannered journalists; mostly because that brand of journalism is a bit difficult to find nowadays. Most of us would love to see it. As mentioned by Arestorer above I will keep an eye out for your next article....Mike
debsalomon 1 year, 10 months ago
Thanks, Mike, but most of my stories in The Pilot and PineStraw are more quirky and informative than satiric. I like to tackle off-beat subjects. I have a reasonable nature and well-developed powers of observation. But allow me this prediction: Before it's over, Bachmann and Palin will put on quite a frenzied dance. The competition will, inevitably, be branded a catfight but never by me because that is a sexist appellation. Also, I predict that if Chris Christie runs, the comics will have a field day with his size. Christie has already answered "none of your business" to a woman who asked why his childlren go to private schools. Boehner said essestially the same when pressed on his smoking habit. Maybe they will shut down satire that way. Who knows? This is going to be a long, hot summer politically, followed by a never-ending year.