University of Virginia Library

Being late reading the July
11th CD, I've only just
discovered that we are not to
be deprived of the continued
profundities of the superior,
broadminded, humble, and
assuredly upper class Mr. Teri
Towe. How reassuring to know
that he is still here to serve as
our visual (a new facet of his
versatile personality), as well as
aural, self-appointed mentor of
that which is culturally suitable
for us lesser folk.

We can all sleep more
soundly at night knowing that
he is here to guard us and that
we may continue to rely on his
predictable evaluation and
treatment of those who dare
disagree and take issue with
him. I thought we'd lost him –
that he'd graduated and
returned home as saviour of
the benighted masses in his
own area, leaving us to sink
back into our slough of
mediocrity.

I really don't take issue
with all of his conclusions.
Some of them have much
merit, in my opinion. I do,
however, question his verbal
browbeating and sweeping
statements about so many
things, among them censors.
Many censors are probably
quite as well educated and
intelligent as he – improbable
and incomprehensible as such a
possibility may seem to him. I
doubt if he's had enough
experience to evaluate them.

Rather my displeasure is
based on the overbearing,
arrogant manner in which he
hands down his edicts about
anyone with whom and
anything with which he
disagrees. Fighting with reason
and logic are methods Mr.
Jefferson would indubitably
understand and sanction. I
doubt that Mr. Jefferson would
feel slurring remarks based on a
man's pronunciation of words
had anything to do with reason
and logic.

There is more than one type
of small-mindedness, as Mr.
Towe's pronouncements over
the years on WTJU and now in
the CD continue to remind us
– the types being equally
unpalatable. Verbosity proves
nothing but possession of an
ample vocabulary. Pomposity
proves even less – or more,
depending on one's
interpretation and point of
view.

Mr. Towe elevates the blood
pressure and makes achieving
the tolerance he advocates, or
tolerance of his approach at
least, extremely challenging.
He quite effectively defeats his
own purpose.

May I suggest to him that
he re-read Mme. Roland's
guillotine (sic) message in a
new light, that of his own
exercise of his rights as assured
by the First Amendment: "Ah,
Liberty! What crimes are
committed in thy name!"

Quite so! What a boor!