The Friday edition of this paper contained a Letter to the Editor from Steven P. Servis who, to put it mildly, expressed some concerns about the Ole Seagull’s writings regarding illegal aliens and other things. To keep things in perspective it should be pointed out that Servis graduated from MSU in 2009 with a bachelor degree in creative writing and, in the opinion of an Ole Seagull, is in the process of trying to build up a freelance writing & marketing business of some sort.
The statements after the word Servis below are direct quotes from his letter followed by the Ole Seagulls comments.
1. Servis: Lately, your newspaper, the Branson Daily Independent has been quite embarrassing to me as a Branson local. It’s not simply that there are spelling and grammatical errors in every issue…
The Ole Seagull: From the Ole Seagull’s perspective this paper, as well as this column, are put out by human beings who do their best, but will occasionally fall short. Interestingly, even as Servis expresses his embarrassment at the spelling and grammatical errors of others he forgets the old adage, “When you point your finger at someone else you have three pointing back at yourself.” In just the first paragraph of his letter there appears to be a minimum of three grammatical or spelling errors e.g., use of the word “laborous” instead “laborious.”
2. Servis: … but more so that you allow “The Old Seagull” to publish racist rants…
The Ole Seagull: A common definition of “racist” would be “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” or “racial prejudice or discrimination.” The Ole Seagull’s columns are all posted on WWW.TheOleSeagull.Com. This column will have links to the other three columns the Ole Seagull has written and they speak for themselves as to whether or not their author is a “racist.” Servis’ letter does however, give the Ole Seagull pause to wonder if it isn’t a Freudian slip as to his own potential racist tendencies.
3. Servis: Such a view doesn’t represents Branson which is made up heavily of illegal immigrant workers, and with out such workers, Branson would not have the workforce necessary for laborous jobs such as washing dishes, busing tables, cleaning pools, mowing lawns, and cooking.
The Ole Seagull: An Ole Seagull would suggest that Branson is made up most heavily of hard working American citizens and people in this country legally, many of whom, as do the people of the state of Arizona and other states, have some of the same concerns about illegal aliens that are expressed in the Ole Seagull’s columns. The allegation that Branson “ is made up heavily of illegal immigrant workers, and with out such workers, Branson would not have the workforce necessary for laborous jobs such as washing dishes, busing tables, cleaning pools, mowing lawns, and cooking” is, to say the least, disconcerting, indicates probable criminal violations of both state and federal laws and could prove damaging to Branson’s All American family image if in fact the statement is true.
4. Servis: And you’re probably thinking that I merely have a counter opinion, and that “the Old Seagull” is not in fact a racist. However, it is the man who thinks he’s not a racist (the one who thinks he can say anything to anyone) that is in fact a racist; the same way the crazy people are the ones who think they are sane.
The Ole Seagull: What kind of sick logic is that? By that logic, anyone can call anyone else whatever they want to. The Ole Seagull could say, “And you’re probably thinking that I merely have a counter opinion, and that ‘Servis’ is not in fact a clown. However, it is the man who thinks he’s not a clown (the one who thinks he can say anything to anyone) that is in fact a clown; the same way the crazy people are the ones who think they are sane.” Would it make him anymore a clown than his statements make anyone a racist?
5. Servis: Such a view doesn’t represents Branson… please refrain from suggesting that the Old Seagull is some kind of opinion leader in Branson. He is not. He’s an embarrassment and an example of a stereotype that should not be perpetuated in Branson.
The Ole Seagull: His columns, as is the case of the vast majority of columns written by opinion columnists, are what they are, simply the opinion of the columnist. The Ole Seagull knows his place within the leadership of Branson, opinion or otherwise. He is, but “a lowly seagull walking along after the horse in the parade picking at the droppings.”
In terms of being an embarrassment, what he has written and how he has written it, an Ole Seagull finds comfort in the words of Abraham Lincoln who said, “If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Related opinions by the Ole Seagull:
By not reversing and stemming the invasion of illegal aliens is America committing suicide?
Illegal aliens should either be in jail or deported, but certainly not rewarded