Davenport piece prefers hyperbole to reflection
I’m happy Obama was elected but I’m disappointed with the opposing views that the News & Record has chosen to publish. As a longtime Greensboro resident, I have an interest in the quality of our newspaper and its survival. I deserve a better argument against diversity than Charles Davenport’s recent column (“Diversity doesn’t trump standards,” May 3).
As a reader, I want to be challenged with and convinced by argument, not exaggeration. For example, Davenport claimed a university professor advocates the elimination of test standards because she had said women didn’t pass tests at the same rate as males. I read and reread the passage and could find nothing the professor said that supported his contention. Typical Davenport porridge.
If I’m a Democrat, I’m also a citizen who wants the best policies, solutions and ways to make a better country. I’m counting on Republicans and independents to come up with alternate solutions and policies, because we all know (now) that good government is based on credible, opposing voices.
I want the paper to print great writing by local writers who are thinking about new solutions.
Is Mr. Davenport entitled to his uninteresting views? Yes. Does he deserve publication? No.
Andrew Young
Greensboro
Comments (7)
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No truer words were spoken. Davenport relies on half-truths, and emotional talking points. While he strikes me as being rather intelligent (there aren't many right-wing nut jobs who can intelligently articulate their message), his writings are full of cherry-picked soundbites, and I can say with almost certainty that he is far too smart to actually believe everything he writes. This is the epitome intellectual dishonesty.
Then again, without Davenport writing for the N & R, I would have very little to complain about.
Posted on May 8, 2009 6:44 AM
Charles Davenport is one of the few reason I suscribe to the N&R - I always find his observations thought provoking, interesting, and spot-on. High praise to Charles Davenport!
Posted on May 8, 2009 6:56 AM
Ah the tolerant left that supposedly celebrates diversity. Two letters today in which the writers disagree with 1) an opinion from Davenport and 2) a statement from Virginia Fox. Two letters in which the proposed remedy is identical: shut them down. Davenport doesn't deserve publication and Fox's political career should be ended.
Look what happened to Miss CA Carrie Prejean who made the dastardly statement that she, that she....gulp....believed marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Whatever happened to the concept of freedom of speech? Now it seems only only PC speech is allowed.
Posted on May 8, 2009 7:43 AM
"Now it seems only only PC speech is allowed."
Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Rush's Substitute criticized P.BO for ordering a cheeseburger with no catsup and (GASP!) Dijon mustard.
Talk about tolerance and diversity....
Posted on May 8, 2009 8:12 AM
I have no problem with Davenport’s pieces being published. He has an opposing point and he deserves to be heard. That being said, his modus operandi, like that of a lot of Republicans, is based a lot on the movie "Doubt." Republicans just have to put “doubt” out there. You can also call it innuendo. They even put “doubt” out there when John McCain was running against George Bush. They slimed the man. And in the last presidential contest, they loved him. I honestly believe that Republicans have a disconnect when it comes to reality. In their minds, during the eight years of President George W. Bush, the economy was peachy, the auto, banking and housing sectors were humming, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were being won handily and no deficit existed; then the colored guy comes along and like Rome, America starts its decline.
Posted on May 8, 2009 9:30 AM
"then the colored guy comes along and like Rome, America starts its decline. "
I agree with you on that, conundrum.
Posted on May 8, 2009 6:44 PM
"They even put “doubt” out there when John McCain was running against George Bush. They slimed the man. And in the last presidential contest, they loved him."
What planet have you been on conundrum? Many of us held our noses whilst voting for McCain.
Posted on May 8, 2009 10:06 PM