Right wing bloggers attack Stephen King

[SFG75]

Yep, some interesting hit pieces, and piling on following King's comments about the importance of literacy. A site defending King is also up and at 'em.

From King's site:

While serving as an ambassador for reading, I made a statement that was construed by certain right-wing bloggers and commentators as a knock on the US military. That wasn't my intention. I like the troops just fine, and respect the hell out of their brainpower. I know that most of them read, because I send them books when they ask, and a lot do. I will continue to provide this service. It's the war our politicians--many of whom have never heard a shot fired in anger--have sent them to fight that I have a problem with. But that is neither here nor there. What concerns me is how many high school students either read poorly or choose not to read at all, unless forced to do it. Part of the reason is cutbacks in educational money that the national government used to provide. Part of the reason has to do with mistaken initiatives like No Child Left Behind, which teaches kids to pass tests but not to think or to rejoice in the language arts. Most teachers loathe the No Child program, and I don't blame them. Kids who read poorly do poorly on their SATs and have bad or barely acceptable grade-point averages. Many will be faced with entry-level jobs like clerking and handing out burgers from the drive-thru window. The best option for many is the armed services, because they see a chance to continue their educations and/or learn a marketable skill. Many will wind up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some will die, because this is an entry-level position where kids wind up getting shot at. I love their courage, I wish they were there for a better reason, and most of all I hope that my remarks won't detract from the real problem: too many kids in America read for pleasure on the text-screens of their phones and hardly anywhere else."

 

[beer good]

Blogger Noel Sheppard hit the all-powerful one with a zinger worthy of David vs. Goliath, ''Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen."

Uh... for one thing, David vs Goliath wasn't decided by public debate, AFAIK. For another, I'm not sure repeating the same old "dissent is unpatriotic" party line qualifies as a "zinger."

 

[Champagne]

Well, when we're hearing about how desperate the Army is to find recruits and is lowering the standards required for entry, it's hardly surprising that some people will be pointing out that it's one of the last resorts for the under-educated.

And, yes, it's depressing to see the "dissent is unpatriotic" line being trotted out, especially by people who claim to be so repelled by dictatorships.