Josh's turn to shine!

I'm so proud. Josh read an article online a couple weeks ago and knew he couldn't keep quiet about it. So he wrote a letter to the editor, which was published today. Here is a link to the original article, and here's a link to Josh's response, which I'll post here as well because I don't think the link will stay connected to his response.

Editor: I just finished reading Alan Caruba's article entitled "The War on American Lawns". Now please understand right off the bat, that I believe Greens represent possibly the most dangerous threat to humanity long-term. They hate humans fundamentally, and want us all to die so that the other wild beasts can roam the planet freely. However, the arguments that Alan uses in attacking them don't stand up to even a cursory examination of what the opposition is actually saying.The foundation of his argument is that SafeLawns Foundation wants you to have an ugly, weedy, unhealthy lawn, as opposed to a chemically-drenched, and thus pretty and "healthy", lawn. Simply going to www.safelawns.org presents a slideshow of gorgeous lawns that have been maintained without the use of chemicals. This completely obliterates the lion's share of the article, showing that he has set up a false dichotomy! His second basic point is embodied in the rhetorical question "Do you know anyone who has ever died from having a healthy, green lawn?" Again, if you actually listen to what that SafeLawns is saying, you will see that there is a growing body of scientific literature supporting the idea that yes, your "healthy, green lawn" can kill you, as well as harm you in many other ways. I'm just concerned that we in the conservative movement must maintain the strictest possible standards for truth, accuracy and integrity in our reporting on, and debating of, liberals. If we sink to their level, and do nothing but demagogue and rip straw men to shreds, it can only hurt our cause. Thank you for your time. God bless, Josh Virkler

Alan Caruba responds: Aside from distorting what I asserted in my commentary, this letter then repeats essentially what the Safe Lawns folks want people to believe concerning the use of any chemical utilized to maintain a healthy lawn. This kind of chemophobia is rampant thanks to an unrelenting propaganda campaign by various self-appointed environmental groups and those who prefer to believe that all lawn care chemicals, used according to the label and property applied, pose a hazard no matter what other benefits they may impart to our lives.