George Mason's Response to the commenters

Dear Joe,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer the assumptions and perhaps we could say misunderstandings of some of those who have commented on yours and my back and forth about my answer to the Daily Times question, “What does the Hobby Lobby ruling mean?”

To be fair to commenting bloggers and to you, Joe, they should probably know that when you made your original comments you did not know my 250 word answer was not a letter to the editor but an answer to the question which was answered by seven people. They also may not be aware that you, the same as many readers of this site, no longer subscribe to nor read the Daily Times. The only reason you were aware of my answer was a reader sent it to you and didn’t clarify the facts.

Some complainers said I previously wrote too many words for them to read. Some used the term windbag in referring to me. Warning: this is longer. The good thing is this is not school and this is not required reading so skip it if you are not interested or it is too long for you to read.

Some folks are upset because my answers to Joe did not deal with the Hobby Lobby case. The reason they did not is my answers dealt with Joe’s assumptions and comments. He was more interested in why the answer did not name SBY News, why I sent it to the paper instead of to him, why I didn’t know that every day he prints material he does not agree with, and that the quote in question was submitted by a woman. Therefore it was these issues I addressed.

As to the Hobby Lobby case itself, while I stand behind what I wrote in my answer, the case is complicated and debate would run into tens of thousands of words on both sides. They have already debated this in court and a decision was made. I have no interest in debating each nuance nor do I have any interest in trying to convince others they are wrong. Each of us is allowed to believe what we think is right about the case based on the facts as we see them.

There are some who question who I am. This seems to be the first question that often comes up on a blog that specializes in anonymity where “you don’t know me but I have a right to know you mentality” seems to rule. I don’t intend to tell those who don’t know me, any more than they know now. There are unspoken friends and acquaintances on here. We know each other in the real world. We may not always agree on the issues but I believe we respect each other. The assumption I am the George Mason who taught school in Wicomico County is wrong. Although I have met him twice he is not a relative or friend. I never thought of him as a liberal as one person here believed him to be in the 1970’s. I have not spoken to him for many years and while I believe he is still living he must be a very old man now.

I have spoken to Laura Mitchell once as any citizen might and I don’t know Josh Hastings or Chuck Cook.

Anonymous makes fun of the writing contest I mentioned. I am sure for some people it is more than a contest. They have an interest in convincing others of their point of view just as many of you anonymous people here. Years ago, I did write and I got paid for it. But I enjoy writing, the same as some others enjoy crossword puzzles, word finds, and other similar activities. I find puzzles extremely boring but good for those who enjoy them. I don’t need to be paid for my writing and apparently neither do any of you.

To call the Daily Times a liberal rag and insist that they only print the liberal view is popular among some people. But it is a myth. I would classify the Hobby Lobby answers on Delmarvanow as two liberal, three conservative and two in the middle. One of each got printed in the paper. There were five question answers this past Sunday: one liberal, three conservative, and one in the middle. Two conservatives and mine, the only opposing view, got published this past Sunday. The local column was conservative this Sunday. I liked the column writer’s ending, not because I agreed but because it was well done. Ben Carson appears every Sunday too. He’s another know-it-all maybe like me.

Anonymous complains, if you read the Times you see the same faces over and over. This is because these are the local people willing to write and willing to expose themselves to public scrutiny. The editor is always looking for other writers. Anonymous, you will have to use your real name.

There was a complaint about when I said, “You put too much importance on you and your blog” to Joe. It was snarky they said. But it is true when read in context. Joe never talked about Hobby Lobby just about the quote and the blog. When I described anonymous internet trolls it was not snarky or uncivil. I was speaking the truth. If you write here and are civil in the way you do it then you are not a troll.

Anonymous says, “Mr. Mason puts too much importance on the Daily Times.” I enjoy The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal more. But I recognize the Daily Times is our local community daily paper. It is a shadow of its former self, but better today than a few months ago in the amount of content. It continues to carry the most local news and stories. Joe’s SBY News has something to offer too and I find myself reading both.

Thank you to all the civil people who have sincerely called my writing on here a class act. You all are valuable people in our community no matter what your political persuasions. I cannot say enough about your fair mindedness. For the others you should know I have not written comments on blogs like this one for about eight years. Blogging became meaningless to me. I did not write any one of the 64 comments that were here when I wrote this response and you can be sure I will not write a comment in the future.

I do want to speak to a late comment that came on the first thread although I am not sure how it applies to me. I am sorry for the medical- health-insurance-situation you apparently find yourself in. You sound desperate. I have no more power to change the world than you. Your concern appears to be about how Obama care has messed with your ability to get certain drugs. I have read that for some people Obama care is a life saver and for others no help, but instead one that reduces coverage and increases cost.

I have my own insurance issues. Unfortunately employers, insurance and drug availability is not the same for all Americans even with Obama care. But there was never any reason to think Obama care would be good for all.

Again, as one human to another, I am sorry for whatever difficulty you find yourself in and hope you the very best.

Joe, I am a small fish in a small pond that got thrown from my usual pond into your pond. But thank you again for allowing me to address your followers online. Only by communication will we come to know and understand each other better.

Sincerely yours,

George T. Mason