Be it known that Gary Snyder's articles on his website are best described as a political agenda, not factual news. While all factual news contains biases, intentional or unintentional, Gary's main purpose is to persuade the reader to think or vote a certain way. Therefore, unlike what Gary would have you believe, this is not news, or even cogent political commentary; it is a political advertisement. This is further evidenced in that serious comments that challenge his article's credibility are censored.
Nothing is more important to maintaining our democratic society than the First Amendment right to freedom of the press: It allows us to speak against tyranny and oppression. However, the leading contributor to this website has subverted this guarantee to his own ends. The dialog on this website is described as —at best— uncivil; at worst, it is hostile to the point that it threatens the ethical fiber of the free society it imagines to protect.
Those who post are not held accountable for what they say. They do not have to sign their name or provide a valid email address. Since there is no accountability, one can post comments on his site that:
• Are disparaging or dishonest, without fear of repercussion for their words.
• Appear under different names and email addresses in an attempt to make statements appear valid under the guise that it has been reported multiple times.
• Disparage their own candidate with the signature of an opponent to create deceit.
• Demean the family and friends of candidates through suggestions about sexual preferences and lifestyles. These and other remarks have promoted the atmosphere of intolerance, oppression, and hatred for one’s fellow man.
Over an extended period of time, such comments on this site have bred an afflictive atmosphere of intolerance, coercion, and hatred. One must therefore come to terms with the most difficult proposition of all: One cannot help others who refuse assistance.
When a loved one suffers from an addiction and refuses to get help, friends and family are counseled to practice tough love: If they can’t help the person kick the addiction, at least they can refuse to enable it. In the same way, many have pleaded with Gary to change his format and the atmosphere of his site.
At this point, we cannot liberate anyone who chooses to be imprisoned by their need for contempt and incivility. We can only point that out to those who might visit; refuse to sponsor those captivated by hate, and do our part somewhere else to create a brighter future.
Those who post are not held accountable for what they say. They do not have to sign their name or provide a valid email address. Since there is no accountability, one can post comments on his site that:
• Are disparaging or dishonest, without fear of repercussion for their words.
• Appear under different names and email addresses in an attempt to make statements appear valid under the guise that it has been reported multiple times.
• Disparage their own candidate with the signature of an opponent to create deceit.
• Demean the family and friends of candidates through suggestions about sexual preferences and lifestyles. These and other remarks have promoted the atmosphere of intolerance, oppression, and hatred for one’s fellow man.
Over an extended period of time, such comments on this site have bred an afflictive atmosphere of intolerance, coercion, and hatred. One must therefore come to terms with the most difficult proposition of all: One cannot help others who refuse assistance.
When a loved one suffers from an addiction and refuses to get help, friends and family are counseled to practice tough love: If they can’t help the person kick the addiction, at least they can refuse to enable it. In the same way, many have pleaded with Gary to change his format and the atmosphere of his site.
At this point, we cannot liberate anyone who chooses to be imprisoned by their need for contempt and incivility. We can only point that out to those who might visit; refuse to sponsor those captivated by hate, and do our part somewhere else to create a brighter future.
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