Spring Break
Letters To The Editor
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Commentary
Both Parties Use California Fires
For Political Gain
It is perhaps ironic that in his column ("California Fires Show Dems' True Colors", Oct. 30), Aaron Igdalsky condemned the Democratic Party for "pouncing" on the California wildfires to "promote their liberal agenda." That is, it is ironic insofar as Igdalsky himself pounced upon these tragic circumstances, seizing the opportunity to deride the Democrats and praise the Republicans.
As Igdalsky put it while he sat in relative safety in Storrs, "last week was rough one for Californians." Indeed, the citizens California watched helplessly as over 475,000 acres of land were immolated in less than one week, as 900,000 friends, family and neighbors were forced to flee their homes as a dense cloud of acrid smoke drenched San Diego in choking fumes and raining ash. "Rough" is hardly the word I'd use to describe the situation. "Nightmare" seems more apt.
Nevertheless, San Diegans were not cut off from the outside world like those trapped in New Orleans in 2005. There was enough outside connection to hear Glenn Beck say we deserved to see our houses burn because we "hate America" - ironic considering San Diego's conservatism. We saw FOX News' pathetic attempt to spread paranoia as they claimed al Qaeda was responsible for the fires - and yes, we saw Dick Cheney express his concern for our well-being by falling asleep at Bush's emergency cabinet meeting. We also saw so-called liberals proclaim the fires as justice, as the wealthy were finally getting a taste of what New Orleans went through.
The bottom line is this: a tragedy like the 2007 wildfires brings all the termites out of the woodwork, liberal as well as conservative. San Diego is the second largest city in California and is split down the middle in terms of voter registration. It should therefore come as no surprise that politicians have descended upon the city, glad-handing citizens who lost their homes and visiting evacuation centers, especially when one considers the proximity of the next election. To assert that Democrats are spouting off for political gain alone while the Republicans are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts is beyond na've.
In choosing not to present the full scope of the political maelstrom surrounding the California wildfires, Igdalsky proves himself to be every bit as opportunistic as those he derided in his piece. In ignoring well-publicized instances of conservative indifference - and some instances of outright hostility - to the suffering of San Diego, coupled with his broad and groundless generalizations of liberals and Democrats, Igdalsky makes it obvious that the fires are nothing more to him than a vector by which to convey his partisan sympathies.
- Rob Schiering
2005 UConn Alumnus
Former Daily Campus Columnist
San Diego, California.
For Political Gain
It is perhaps ironic that in his column ("California Fires Show Dems' True Colors", Oct. 30), Aaron Igdalsky condemned the Democratic Party for "pouncing" on the California wildfires to "promote their liberal agenda." That is, it is ironic insofar as Igdalsky himself pounced upon these tragic circumstances, seizing the opportunity to deride the Democrats and praise the Republicans.
As Igdalsky put it while he sat in relative safety in Storrs, "last week was rough one for Californians." Indeed, the citizens California watched helplessly as over 475,000 acres of land were immolated in less than one week, as 900,000 friends, family and neighbors were forced to flee their homes as a dense cloud of acrid smoke drenched San Diego in choking fumes and raining ash. "Rough" is hardly the word I'd use to describe the situation. "Nightmare" seems more apt.
Nevertheless, San Diegans were not cut off from the outside world like those trapped in New Orleans in 2005. There was enough outside connection to hear Glenn Beck say we deserved to see our houses burn because we "hate America" - ironic considering San Diego's conservatism. We saw FOX News' pathetic attempt to spread paranoia as they claimed al Qaeda was responsible for the fires - and yes, we saw Dick Cheney express his concern for our well-being by falling asleep at Bush's emergency cabinet meeting. We also saw so-called liberals proclaim the fires as justice, as the wealthy were finally getting a taste of what New Orleans went through.
The bottom line is this: a tragedy like the 2007 wildfires brings all the termites out of the woodwork, liberal as well as conservative. San Diego is the second largest city in California and is split down the middle in terms of voter registration. It should therefore come as no surprise that politicians have descended upon the city, glad-handing citizens who lost their homes and visiting evacuation centers, especially when one considers the proximity of the next election. To assert that Democrats are spouting off for political gain alone while the Republicans are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts is beyond na've.
In choosing not to present the full scope of the political maelstrom surrounding the California wildfires, Igdalsky proves himself to be every bit as opportunistic as those he derided in his piece. In ignoring well-publicized instances of conservative indifference - and some instances of outright hostility - to the suffering of San Diego, coupled with his broad and groundless generalizations of liberals and Democrats, Igdalsky makes it obvious that the fires are nothing more to him than a vector by which to convey his partisan sympathies.
- Rob Schiering
2005 UConn Alumnus
Former Daily Campus Columnist
San Diego, California.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
jeff
posted 11/02/07 @ 8:58 AM EST
Wow...the writer of the article must feel like a moron now.
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