Indulge me, this is just a nice note from a fairly representative NRO reader, I’m proud to say:
Jonah,
That is one of the more eloquent as well as poignant things you have
written in the Corner. It was probably just tapped out without too much
thought, but nevertheless it really spoke to me and I think it really
reaches the heart of the this matter. Class division is pure poison, so
it’s best to avoid at all costs. It’s funny. I support my family of six
in rural Oklahoma on just over $40K a year. To the class strategists out
there, I would seem a natural to register Democrat. But if I were king
for a day, I would eliminate all business taxes, the tax on capital
gains, the estate tax, etc. I’m a huge fan of Microsoft AND Wal-Mart
(meaning I admire the level of their game — they are the best at what
they do, therefore subject to scurrilous attack). Liberals just don’t
get it. I want less government, not more. I don’t want the government
choosing winners/losers or deciding who should officially be recognized
for victim status. The way I live is by choice. My wife could make more
than me if she were to return to the work force as a speech pathologist.
But we have chosen the path of homeschooling our four children. I don’t
deserve pity or acclaim. It’s just our decision. I have tried to
inculcate into my children a sense of independence and hard work.
Through their hard work if they ever get ahead and are successful by
worldly standards, then I don’t want them to be seen as evil. Success is
not evil. It’s what you choose to do with it. I’m not trying to convince
you since I’m sure that we are on the same page. It just helps to put
this in writing I guess. The ironic part is that I married a Cherokee,
so my kids really are already official members of the victim community!
:o) It’s a fine line. I want them to be proud of their heritage and to
learn about it. But I don’t want them swallowing any of the Socialist
propaganda that comes out of the Nation. I mean Cherokee Nation. I just
realized how saying “Socialist propaganda that comes out of the Nation”
to a NR writer would mean “The Nation” magazine. They’re both Socialist
I guess!
Anyway, I’m not sure why I wrote other than I truly identified with what
you were trying to say. Especially the “What’s the metric for measuring
this sort of suffering? What about the small businessman who worked his
entire life to build something he’s proud of?”. I’m not a small
businessman, but with my family I have built something I’m very proud
of. I’m sure you are just as proud of Jessica and Lucy. And Cosmo. :o)
Don….