REBUTTAL: Oh dear, John

It is difficult to know where to begin in addressing the myriad inaccuracies and contradictions in John Huizinga’s letter of April 20 (OPINIONS: Ignorance is a right). While it is true that the United States is not a true democracy neither are we a “representative republic,” a term which is basically two words which mean the same thing. We are a constitutional or constitution-based republic. As such, we rely on the Constitution as the basis of our laws, our procedures for filling constitutional offices and vacancies, and to define the roles and responsibilities of those positions (offices) articulated therein. As for “party rules” being a means by which we “choose people to represent us,” there is simply no constitutional basis for parties to exist, let alone to be determinative in how this nation’s citizens select their representatives.

As for the assertion that Mr. Harlocker (in his letter of April 15), “equated Walmart with a concentration camp,” this again is simply not true. Mr. Harlocker’s reference was to the paranoid delusions which gave rise to the “Jade Helm” military exercise conspiracy. A theory popular with some on the right wing of our political spectrum which asserted that the U.S. government was creating a network of Walmart stores, connected by underground tunnels, to be used as concentration camps following an imposition of martial law!

Now we come to my favorite part of Mr Huizinga’s letter. The contention that Mr. Harlocker has “never read the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights is unique in American history in that it is the only incident of a single document comprised of multiple constitutional amendments (10). Each of the other 17 amendments has been adopted individually. A reading of the Constitution inherently includes all of its amendments. Reading both documents would be an exercise in redundancy. So now I’m left wondering how it is that an uber-patriot such as Mr. Huizinga, who spends leisure time reading the Constitution AND the Bill of Rights, comes to publicly chastise a fellow citizen’s understanding of our Constitution by asserting that “they [sic] guarantee us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” This of course, is one of the most famous lines to be found in the Declaration of Independence!

I find it tragic that someone can feel such contempt for the positions of another that he would craft a Mad Libs version of American history to facilitate a public flogging of the object of his scorn. But then I’m reminded of Mr. Huizinga’s parting words. “Ignorance is not a crime, and I will defend your right to it with my life.” How noble.

CAROLE STRINGER

Hayden