Re: Letter to the Editor: The day of truth for the West; November 13
Wednesday, November 14
I have read and re-read Mr. Asly’s “Letter to the Editor” in the Tuesday, November 13th edition of the Messenger (No. 217 (1484)), and am still unable to determine who Mr. Asly is writing on behalf of. He uses the pronouns "we" or "is" eleven times in his letter, but in closing, he only signs his name, along with his impressive list of positions or associations.
Your paper clearly states on page 2, “Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are the writers own, and should not be taken to represent, or bear the endorsement of the Messenger. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.”
If this is the case, then I must interpret Mr. Asly’s statements to represent only his thoughts and feelings, and not those of the various organizations listed under his name.
However, if he assumed that his stated position is one which other “Western” ex-patriots working and living in Georgia agree with, then I for one must take offense to his letter and his generalizations. He has every right to state what he believes and I applaud him for his effort, however, I must say that I disagree with a number of his positions, and if being in disagreement includes me into a group he refers to as “International Western Community,” then so be it.
Additionally, I am unable to see any parallel with the opposition's demands and a dictatorship, as he spells out in the second paragraph of his letter. Just to be sure, I checked a dictionary and found the following:
Dictatorship:
1: the office of dictator 2: autocratic rule, control, or leadership 3 a: form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique b: a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated c: a despotic state
Unless I am incorrect, I think that an individual or group needs to be in power or control before it can be referred to as a dictatorship—shouting threats does not constitute one.
I also think that a better example of what occurred in Georgia last week resembles Pakistan more than the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. It may be more pertinent to watch how events turn out in that other heavy recipient of Western assistance, but maybe the umbrella is already closed and put in the rack.
Jim O'Neill, Tbilisi
Your paper clearly states on page 2, “Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are the writers own, and should not be taken to represent, or bear the endorsement of the Messenger. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.”
If this is the case, then I must interpret Mr. Asly’s statements to represent only his thoughts and feelings, and not those of the various organizations listed under his name.
However, if he assumed that his stated position is one which other “Western” ex-patriots working and living in Georgia agree with, then I for one must take offense to his letter and his generalizations. He has every right to state what he believes and I applaud him for his effort, however, I must say that I disagree with a number of his positions, and if being in disagreement includes me into a group he refers to as “International Western Community,” then so be it.
Additionally, I am unable to see any parallel with the opposition's demands and a dictatorship, as he spells out in the second paragraph of his letter. Just to be sure, I checked a dictionary and found the following:
Dictatorship:
1: the office of dictator 2: autocratic rule, control, or leadership 3 a: form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique b: a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated c: a despotic state
Unless I am incorrect, I think that an individual or group needs to be in power or control before it can be referred to as a dictatorship—shouting threats does not constitute one.
I also think that a better example of what occurred in Georgia last week resembles Pakistan more than the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. It may be more pertinent to watch how events turn out in that other heavy recipient of Western assistance, but maybe the umbrella is already closed and put in the rack.
Jim O'Neill, Tbilisi