For some strange reason liberals are identifying all contrary opinions as hateful regardless of the words actually used. I'm always surprised when I hear from my Democrat sister in California that she thinks I should tone down the anger in my columns. I've reread my pieces and see only the explanations of my viewpoint. I do not name-call or use derogatory language yet she reacts as if I do. Is it possible to erroneously read emotions that simply aren't there if the reader is expecting them to be?
I found this same phenomenon when I received an e-mail from a New York literary agent commenting that he found my book proposal "a manifesto of innuendo, belief and hate for those you do not agree with." He then added, "There is the Rush way and then there is the George Will way."
After searching in vain for evidence of hate speech in my book proposal, I came to realize that the agent was projecting his own disdain for the "right wing" and assuming that I was therefore a Rush Limbaugh devotee. |