Reply #5: My LTTE....

[liberalitch]

I live in Norfolk, Va..... so this is to the pilot.

To the Editor,

Since the election of George W. Bush in 2000, which coincided with the election of George Allen to the Senate, I have been mortified by the homage that has been paid by the right to the decrease in the American intellect. I have friends who would rather their children be football stars than rocket scientists. I believe that these attitudes will hurt us on the world stage even more than the culturally ignorant policies of a government headed by the likes of Pres. Bush and Sen. Allen.

My beliefs have been reinforced by the Allen Campaign’s most recent attacks on books written by Jim Webb. While some of the sexual passages are shocking and brutish, they are written by someone who has actually SEEN the horrors of war. I am sure no experienced soldiers would disagree with me when I say that those who most frequently suffer those horrors are the civilian women.... and one of those horrors is rape. In addition, it is shameful but necessary to say that the sex trade does exist and thrive in war torn locations where the struggle has removed other options some women may have otherwise had.

Anyone who is offended by the sexual passages and the treatment of women in any of Jim Webb’s books should look into Sen. Allen’s treatment of women in his own family before election day. May I suggest that Allen voters read Jennifer Allen’s book, Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter . In closing allow me to say that I am hoping that Virginians would rather have more government officials who read and write books than use them as decorations or door stops.