Angry Man
Last month the man I quote below sent me an angry letter denouncing me for writing a column about the TV show “Mad Men” when the real mad men were threatening our very existence. If the paper paid more attention to them and less to silly people like me the world would be a far safer place, he said - then went on to lay out his theory about how the attacks of September 11th were an inside job.My family always tells me to ignore all letters like this but I could no more do that than I could pass someone on the street who has spoken to me; just pass him by as if he were some piece of street furniture like a fire hydrant or a mailbox.... So I waited ‘til I had caught up on most of the other letters awaiting replies and then answered him Friday. apologizing for the delay and thanking him for taking the trouble to write.And now today, here came his response, posted on my “This Week's Column” page. You can read the whole thing by clicking here and scrolling down or you can just believe me when I tell you that it restores my faith in humanity. “Thank you for that wonderful note” it begins. “I apologize for my tirade and want you to know that though you weren't the first to receive it, no one has ever responded before…”He goes on with the 9/11 talk but without the same rancor this time. And this time I could detect underneath his words a strong sense of justice."If you know of anyone interested in looking at his extensive and scattered) files, or listening to a 15-minute lecture, I would be glad to meet with them. And thank you again for responding to a desperate old man who has not been committed yet." To which I for one say Thank God for that and for the First Amendment that makes it so.
