The Independent One-Way Street

To the Editor:

Po Murray’s letter to the editor [“Pay Attention To Party Platforms, September 28] makes it clear that she and presumably her group believe that everyone else must do as they request, but they are above such similar requests. Their view of Newtown — a one-way road for everyone else but them. I was seriously taken back by her “request” that only “those who write in favor of the Rosenthal administration … attribute their affiliation with the current administration.” Notice how she neglects to request that letter writers for her Independent Confederation identify their own associations, i.e., friends, school, sports, WeCAN members, neighbors, etc. More high hypocrisy from this “Independent” group. And, while we are on the subject, who exactly constitutes the Rosenthal administration? An elected official? The wife of a town public works employee? All Democrats? The aunt or grandparent of a nonelected official? Every relative of a firefighter and emergency medical service volunteer? How about for the Murray group? Friend? Relative of friend? Parent of a school child with whom your child goes to school? Family of a coach? Relative of a neighbor? Neighbor? All WeCAN? The nastiness of the suggestion is that it really all just falls under the continued conspiracy theories of the Independent Confederation.

The suggestion is that nobody supports anyone else because they truly believe it is the right thing. How sad. The twisted thinking is that everyone is biased and has ulterior motives. Personally, I believe most people are good, hardworking people, and I would like to hear the substance of what they have to say. I don’t care who knows who, who goes to what church or synagogue with whom, or who is related to whom. Moreover, this kind of thinking is dangerous as it breeds categorized prejudices…so and so supports so and so because they are Jewish, or Catholic, or Protestant, or young or old, or male or female, or white or African American or Hispanic, etc. This request for self cross-examination and categorization is not transparency; it is the stepping stone of prejudice. This is not Communist China, or North Korea, or Cuba where such suspicion and categorization occurs;, this is a democracy where pluralism and free speech abound. Such categorization should play no part in democratic politics. What matters are the content and the subject of the article!

Finally, as to the “transparency,” the Republicans and Democrats hold their meeting on public property at set times and dates. Anyone can identify the names, addresses, dates of party affiliation of every Republican and every Democrat at the Register of Voters. Transparency? Why doesn’t the Independent Confederation hold their meetings at set times and dates on public property, as well? Why don’t they provide anyone who asks the names and addresses of all “Independent” members and associates similar to what is available from the Democratic and Republican parties? Why does the Independent Confederation blast out e-mail to people, yet only a few select elite are not blocked from e-mailing back their concerns to the group who have been blasted? Transparency? No, just more hypocrisy.

John Torok, Jr

17 Old Hawleyville Road, Newtown                           October 3, 2007