Hate Letter

December 16, 2019

I guess I am a little surprised that it took this long, but I finally received my first hate letter based on a piece published as a letter to the editor in the Springfield Republican and picked up by MassLive, I think. Coincidentally, the hate letter came on the heels of a recent post titled “Hate,” a piece reflecting on Nancy Pelosi’s assertion that she does not hate anyone, as she was taught as a practicing Catholic. The “letter” was written in almost illegible cursive on a piece of yellow-lined note paper, and came in an envelope with a return address that said “*RNC 2020.” It was signed “John Long, Naples,” and post marked Ft. Myers,” which tells me he really doesn’t live in Naples. I am flattered my writing is traveling.

In well-crafted prose and a coherent rebuttal of fifty words, he said I was, and I quote, a total idiot (not just partial,) uninformed, stupid, ignorant, and a dummy. In my defense, I really have no idea which letter he is referring to. This type of response is a total (not partial) non-sequitor to my last published letter. Non-sequitor is a Latin phrase like quid pro quo. He included local letters to a Naples newspaper rebutting a letter or op-ed that has nothing to do with me. I am guessing he has me confused with someone else.

I can understand his confusion, because, I am surmising, he is an old, angry, white, male, Trump supporter living in a wealthy, gated enclave in Naples, FL. I am guessing he probably spends his days playing golf, making plans for the early bird special, and complaining about “those” people, who are ruining everything. You got the tax cut that your grand children will have to pay for, your healthcare won’t be taken away, and you will not be around when the ocean swallows up your home. Now who is the idiot?