Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter in response to The Citizen’s recent decision to print a copy of an excerpt from one of Ann Coulter’s numerous and highly overrated, right-wing rants and ravings. During last week’s publication, Ms. Coulter’s piece on the creation and true meaning of Kwanzaa was reprinted in The Citizen. Throughout the piece, Ms. Coulter makes derogatory remarks about the celebration of Kwanzaa and its founder, Dr. Maulana Karenga. As a member of the Fayette community and a staunch supporter of the principles of Kwanzaa, I would like to offer the following retort.

First, in response to Ms. Coulter’s argument that Kwanzaa is a “made up holiday,” I offer the argument that all holidays are “made up” by some one and followed (sometimes absentmindedly) by groups of people that share common beliefs. Surely even Ms. Coulter knows that both Christmas and Hanukah have traceable origins that merely predate the creation of Kwanzaa.

Second, Ms. Coulter’s mindless drivel about Dr. Maulana Karenga’s alleged ties to the federal government makes her sound like those same conspiracy theorists that she so often demeans. And to think, the FBI is really behind the celebration of Kwanzaa?! Come on guys.

Finally, why should Ms. Coulter care anyway? Other than the fact that her book sales stand to get another boost, Ms. Coulter’s take on Kwanzaa merely serves as a mean-spirited rant. So what if President Bush recognized Kwanzaa in one of his speeches! It is the least he can do to try to make amends with the African-American community, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by publicly acknowledging a major African-American cultural celebration.

The Citizen has an unspoken reputation for being the news source of poorly educated, right-wing, back-wood hicks. Why live up to a reputation like that?

Appalled,
Anissa R. Patton

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