I think that he makes a good point on why sound bits are exactly what we
need on this issue. The media loves a catchy phrase. We need a little
more passion and heart and soul in life.
Where would we be if Patrick Henry and Thomas Pain had been less
passionate and more politiclly correct? Drinking tea with our crumpetes!
Yes Mr. Burrill, I don't like the son-of-a-bitch. I think he is a
disgrace to himself, his family and the entire United States if not the
human race as a whole.
The problem is nobody and I mean nobody has ever stood up to this guy
and called him what he is to his face.
Consider yourself fortuate that you have retired from the military. I'll
give you three guesses what this clowns' "leadership" has done for the
military. We court marshall officers for doing the samething our
Commander-in-heat does and wonder why we have a moral problem.
Maybe some plain jane, joe average is what more of our polititians need!
They seem to forget from where they come. And, the great American public
bitches among themselves but never evr to the root of the problem.
I for one still thick that a spade should be called a spade. Or to be
politically correct, a rose by any other name.....
Respectfully,
Gordon W. Bell.
James Burrill wrote:
> Gordon and List,
>
> We are all preachin' to the choir here.
>
> While I applaud Gordon actually DOING SOMETHING, I would like to
> put
> out a point to think about.
>
> In our world of "sound bytes" we have become conditioned to use
> certain words to quickly convey our message. I think this can be
> to
> our disadvantage if we get emmotional in our emails or letters to
>
> public officials. Point being, if we take them to task for
> "crusin'
> for chicks" or "Eroding the Constitution" they feel they have the
>
> flavor of your letter and quit reading it. You loose the chance
> to
> present your valid arguments.
>
> You may think the fellow you are writing to is a right bastard,
> but I
> don't think it really infuences him to our way of thinking if you
> call
> him a bastard to his face (in a letter or email).
>
> I think you get my drift......
>
> There are enough talk shows, papers, pundits, lobbyists and the
> like
> out there that if we start beating up the politicians as soon as
> they(or mor likely, their aids) open up our letters, they see it
> as
> simply more of the same from the "Opposition".
>
> Instead, try to come across as an average middle-class Joe who
> has
> suddenly come across the new prohibitions and is taken aback as
> 'this
> can't be right" "this doesn't make any sense'.
> Now, In calm words and without getting on a soap box, ask the
> politician if he is aware of the new law/policy/directive/etc and
>
> point out that this adversly affects your
> interests/hobby/business.
>
> Ask him to check into it and see if itis, in fact, true and ask
> for a
> copy of the details of the new law/policy/etc. The Senate and
> House
> reps all have staff that do this all the time anyway.
>
> This accomplishes at least three things:
> 1 Somebody there will read the whole thing and have to act on
> your
> request for a copy.
>
> 2 You (and the list) can share in the real word and not rumor
> picked
> up at the gun show.
>
> 3 When the politico asks his/her staff for the "pulse of the
> constituants" the aid who has had to act on sending copies will
> give
> them an input of "a bunch of concerned citizens have been asking
> about
> Bill number XXX and expressing negative comments on it".
>
> At least you effect the process rather than having your letter go
> in
> the circular file as "hate mail".
>
> When you think of all the different topics of a political nature
> out
> there, try to put it in the perspective of a busy (yeah, I know!)
>
> congressman, and the odds are, he isn't even aware of the anti-MV
>
> policy. If the first he hears of it is from a letter of the
> "hate-mail" type, you can guess what his first reaction will be!
> And
> it won't be good for the MV hobby!
>
> Instead, if we can make our point before he has "formed a
> position" we
> might get something done in our favor.
>
> As I said, we are preachin' to the choir when we talk to each
> other
> about our rights. We know we aren't going to take on the National
>
> Guard with a few Stuarts, Shermans or maybe even a T-72. Drug
> Lords
> and Gangbangers don't cruise Van Nyes Boulavard in Ferrits. We
> know we
> shouldn't have to justify why we feel we should be allowed to own
>
> something.
>
> But these kind of arguments smack of those sound bytes I
> mentioned and
> quickly get stuck into a "catagory".
>
> Better to ask the state reps office to have the politico come to
> a
> meeting of your local MV chapter, or better yet, invite him to
> ride in
> a veterans or 4th of July or some town parade. Then while you got
> him
> cornered <g>, try to show him, for real, that our hobby is not a
> threat.
>
> I hate to say it folks, but if you pull this off, try to keep the
>
> members quiet who would start ragging on him as "you worthless
> F###
> politicians are all alike!"
>
> We are trying to favourably influence the politician, not give
> him
> reason to hold a grudge against MV owners.
>
> If he really is a right bastard, then vote for the other guy next
>
> time.
>
> Ok, my 2 cents worth.
>
> Cheers
> Jim Burrill
> USN Retired
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