And more

Got another scathing email from Becky O'Malley, the Berkeley Daily Planet editor-in-chief.

Here is the original text of the email I'd written to her -- keep in mind, by the way, that I wrote this as a letter to the editor, a place where readers are supposedly free to criticize as they see fit:

"Editor, Daily Planet:

This is with regard to Becky O'Malley's opinion piece ("Bashing the Poor is Back in Style", 9/28/07).

Becky, you'll forgive me, but what the hell are you getting at? Let's break down your column:

- You watch the birds. Hummingbirds. Chickadees too. Pretty, pretty birds.

- You read the New Yorker. You're not pleased with the hoity-toity nature of both writing and subject.

- You turn back to the Stellar's jays.

- You attempt an epiphany: "And there's a political lesson to be learned too. Solutions to perceived problems, come in cycles just as hemlines do."

- You insert some cynical pap about what will and will not be done about the city's homeless.

- You conclude with a giant sigh.

This column was disorganized and cryptic. What is it you're trying to tell us, and can you just distill it down? If not, please just occupy yourself with watching the birds.

Allison Landa

2214 1/2 Grant Street

Berkeley, CA 94703

(510) 654-6512"

Here is (hopefully) the last exchange. This is a liberal hippie grandmother? Someone who absolutely cannot tolerate dissent -- to the point where she has to go on the attack when she gets critiqued? No wonder I fucking hate Berkeley sometimes.

----- Original Message -----

From: Allison Landa

To: letters and commentary Opinion

Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 1:19 PM

Subject: Re: Letter to the editor

Okay, I'm going to ignore that. What the hell does it matter where I got my masters degree?

One would think a professional organization that accepts (welcomes?) letters to the editor would not take such offense. Sorry that's not the case with my hometown newspaper.

Case closed.

----- Original Message -----

From: letters and commentary Opinion

To: Allison Landa

Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 1:12 PM

Subject: Re: Letter to the editor

Googled you up, saw the MFA in Creative Writing from St. Mary's--that explains it all. Not your fault. The poor old Christian Brothers never could teach writing, though they did used to be able to teach manners. Are there any of them left there any more? You should have gone to USF-- whatever the Jesuits did in the bedroom, they turned out decent writers.