Not condescending

Stephen Miller's articles usually irritate me, but I let it go. However, his column Wednesday was even more painful that the usual literary kick to the groin he delivers ("Welcome to the Durham Petting Zoo," April 5). A few points: First, Miller comments on how we needn't be grateful to our campus staff because we're providing them with jobs. That's really one of the most spoiled-sounding, uppity things you can say, especially about people that are cleaning up after you. Second, it's never condescending to give somebody a birthday card, jackass. It's a decent thing to do, and a way to show your good wishes. I honestly think he writes a lot of the things he does, in the way that he does, simply to stir up feelings on campus and get people upset with him.

He's not representing the right, academic freedom or pragmatism. He's not a clear-sighted political rebel on a degenerate liberal campus; he's part of the reason why conservatism gets such a bad rap. His is not necessarily a bad political agenda-that is, until he takes it to a distasteful extreme. What's worse is that The Chronicle keeps letting him do it.

Joseph Hormes

Trinity '06