Casey has no business writing opinion columns!
Girl driver on a motor mail truck, circa 1920 | Y.W.C.A | Wikimedia Commons
Your daily Letter to the Columnist — Jan. 31, 2013
You do have a talent for something.
Not sure yet what that might be but I, personally, have a talent for spotting someone who has no business extolling the virtues or sins of our public officials and people in the community who are trying (but failing) to add some culture to this beautiful city. (Taubman Museum?)
When did it happen that newsroom reporters, which, as you may have forgotten, you are, are paid to JUDGE the news rather than report same?
The only part of The Roanoke Times more irritating than your constant judgmental attitude is that thing called style something or other.
Who in their right mind gives a flying fig what some student in Blacksburg is wearing today. I and my peers would like more news, less judgment and far less meaningless photos of who wears what where.
(name withheld)
ROANOKE
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Response:
Ms. ———
Thank you for the email. I pay close attention to the feedback I get from readers of The Roanoke Times.
Fyi, I’m a columnist, not a newsroom reporter. Often part of my work requires traditional reporting by visiting places and events, and talking to people and gathering information. But as a columnist, I’m expected to write provocative things for the newspaper, including opinion. It’s part of my job description. Your argument seems to be with that, not with me.
I have written positively about the Taubman Museum. In fact, a couple of years ago I joined it and wrote a column urging others to do so as well, in order that it could be saved. Last summer, I wrote a column praising Heywood Fralin and his efforts to “right the ship” on UVa’s Board of Visitors.
It’s true I made fun of the museum takeover this past fall by Nick Taubman and Mr. Fralin. That was a reflection of an awful lot of talk that was in this community at the time. I got more positive feedback on that column than any I had written since April, when I decried the monkeying around that the state of Virginia was doing with teacher pensions.
Thank you for reading my columns, and for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
Dan Casey
The Roanoke Times
January 31, 2013 - 2:19 PM
Off topic:
It seems that we now have a shooting incident almost daily.
Is it
just me or have others noticed that the “daily shootouts”
occur overwhelmingly in gun free zones?
Am I the only one who sees there is a trend here?
When is the last time a shoot out occured at a gun store or
hunt club? Is there something to be learned here?
“Is it just me or have others noticed that the ‘daily shootouts occur overwhelmingly in gun free zones? Am I the only one who sees there is a trend here?”
–Comment by Rob Thommins.
Since when is Texas a gun-free zone?
Ya’ll better get on the stick and talk to Gov. Rick Perry about that!
Soory, Rob, but I’m guessing that the majority of shootings are NOT in gun-free zones — out on the street, in private homes and so on. But if you’re suggesting we should turn the whole country into the equivalent of a gun store, you’re nuts.
The fact that we have a shooting incident almost daily is the problem. The problem is not people who aren’t interested in carrying guns, or the location.
“Since when is Texas a gun-free zone”
I am not sure if Texas law allows firearms on Government Property
(Courthouse and parking area). In Virginia firearms are not
allowed in Courthouses.
This particular shooting appears to be a targeted incident
not just a random shoot-um up.
I do not feel this is a valid argument against armed security
in schools. The fact that homicides occur in other places is
no excuse to ignore the obvious: Schools full of defenceless
childern need security.
Columbine had an armed deputy on duty at the school…he shot and missed the assailants. Fourteen students and one teacher died that day. So how did that work out?
On topic to Ms. Whomever,
All major newspapers have style sections and some people enjoy the blog on here. If you don’t like it don’t look at it. I don’t care about sports and don’t read that section of the paper. There are 24 hour cable news channels and a multitude of online news sources. If Dan’s column and the Style are your biggest irritant, consider yourself blessed.
No kidding, Debbie. Good thing Ms Whatever doesn’t want the sports section removed. I’m not sure why anyone’s supposed to care what “I and my peers” are interested in.
From the letter: The only part of The Roanoke Times more irritating than your constant judgmental attitude is that thing called style something or other.
Gigglesnort.
This person must really hate FOX news. Not only do they judge everything but they also make half the stuff up!
I am willing to bet that the only kind of “constant judgmental attitude” Ms. Anonymous complainer objects to is the kind attached to a progressive or liberal.
Off topic
Hillary
There are school shootings that are stopped by resource officers.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/17/i-had-guardian-angel-me/
Roanoke County has had armed resource officers in the middle and high schools for years, I’m not sure about the elementary though.
Aw, Dan. We still love ya.
“Haaayyy dano, how did you like me an’ suzie’s letter we collaborated on? Bettcha didn’t guess it wuz us didye?” -Frank
Dan, I know a lot of folks that read your columns, some like it, some don’t but we always have something to talk about. Thanks for what you do.
Not sure if anyone here is familiar with a man by the name of Bill Cunningham who has a highly acclaimed weekly style piece in the NY Times called “On the Street”. He roams the streets of NYC looking for fashion and it’s not all high fashion. He’s a very interesting character and a movie has been done about him. The RT has “Style Street” ( and I would say they know of Bill Cunningham) and while it has no where near the depth of “On the Street” I like that it acknowledges that we here in SW Va. are not all a bunch of blue jean wearing rubes, such as myself. It’s ironic that this lady is a supporter of the Taubman for it’s cultural benefits but disses coverage of style as if style is not a reflection of our culture.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/bill_cunningham/index.html