蘑菇视频

Feb 4, 2019 4 min read

I recently got an email from somebody named “Jacqueline” who was responding to my most recent column about Donald Trump’s shutdown.

She wanted to discuss the federal workers and their hardships after being out of work for a month.

“Many of these workers made good money but didn’t have much saved. I’ve been in their position (with crappy paychecks) but never did I live beyond my means – maybe this will be a wake-up call to over-extended consumers,” “Jacqueline” wrote.

I disagree.

According to some recent studies, as many as 85 percent of full-time workers live paycheck-to-paycheck. In fact, according to a study by CareerBuilder, 10 percent of people making $100,000 or more, say they “can’t make ends meet.”

While I disagree with the premise of Jacqueline’s email, I truly appreciate the fact that she took the time to make a specific point about my column, without attacking me.

It’s not usually like that.

Oh, I get some positive email: “Enjoyed your article in Monday’s paper. On the Left in the Herald Standard. A good read!!” wrote “Sandra” last August.

But when somebody wants to let me know they aren’t pleased, it’s hardly ever about anything I’ve written.

They just don’t like me.

I understand and can live with that.

I’ve made my feelings be known in public for the better part of 40 years.

I can take the positives and the negatives.

But I’m always amused when I open an email and discover stuff like this: “Brand new year, same old Al Owens liberal PUKE,” some guy named “Ronald” wrote me last January.

He could have simply wished me a “Happy New Year,” and that would have sufficed.

Last February, “Sue” sent me this doozy, “I’M AN OLD WOMAN WHO LOVES THE LORD BUT CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE YOUR — AND YOURS ALONE — OPINION OF OUR GREAT PRESIDENT — PRESIDENT TRUMP.” (Sue’s ALLCAPS, not mine)

I wonder why Sue only finds my opinions of the president intolerable?

I’m certain there are lots of other people out there who claim he’s self-centered, childish, ill-prepared to occupy the Oval Office, and without a moral center.

Last December, “Anita” confounded me with the following: “Can you not see this? For even in his name you can see: ‘Donald,’ meaning: “world leader” — spiritual connotation: “faithful” — ‘Trump,’ meaning: “to get the better of,” or “to outrank or defeat someone or something, often in a highly public way.”

That was just a part of a 1015-word email that had nothing to do with anything I’ve ever written. (I don’t think)

Here’s the latest email I received: “Quit spreading lies you Louis Farrakhan, Barack Obama Muslim disciple. Hell is waiting on you, burn baby burn??????????????, wrote somebody calling themselves “Joey V.”

First, why did he type 14 question marks at the end of that sentence (which wasn’t a question, by the way)??????????????

Or, do the words “burn baby burn” represent some form of a death threat?

Second, I don’t think I’ve ever used Louis Farrakhan’s name in one of the more than 1,000 political columns I’ve written for the Uniontown 蘑菇视频.

And I’m sure I didn’t refer to Barack Obama in my most recent column.

I do prefer that when people bother to write me, they’d attack what I write, instead of telling me they don’t like something, they give me examples of why they don’t like it.

“The Clinton’s ad (sic) Obama’s will go down eventually with the worst administrations ever,” wrote “Bob” last October.

I’m always satisfied when somebody reads, and even appreciates what I have to say.

“I loved today’s article in the Uniontown 蘑菇视频, too. I don’t think I realized before that you are from Uniontown, but I have always felt a kinship with you,” wrote “Debra” in October of 2017.

“Your journalistic efforts to put facts, truth, and verifiable sourcing in critical issue debates is an imperative. (In my opinion). You put civility and discernment on the page,” “Casey” told me in an email last October.

I am much appreciative for those kind sentiments.

Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter and anchor for Entertainment Tonight, and 20-year TV news veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.