LikeTheDew.com

The biggest airline in the world, Atlanta’s own Delta Airlines, is in serious trouble: a $125 million hit this quarter, reduction of system capacity by ten per cent this year, and the loss of 8,000 jobs in the past 12 months. But I know how to fix all this and, at the same time, advance western civilization: bring back the stewardesses and impose on them an upper age limit of 30.

One of the most bizarre marketing ploys in history was when the airlines dropped “stewardess” and picked up “flight attendant.” It seems that “stewardess” was demeaning and that “flight attendant”  more professional.  The job did not change, only the attitude. Think nose dive. And by the way,  how do you attend a flight?

Stewardesses were attractive women in their twenties. Many were from small towns and believed that flying was the greatest job imaginable. They could sashay up an aisle in their high heels and tight skirts and the men onboard wouldn’t have noticed if the pilot performed three loops, two snap rolls, and a hammerhead stall. Stewardesses brought sparkle and joie de vivre to their work. They laughed and joked with passengers and did not take themselves too seriously.  The job made it all worthwhile and they usually were married and gone before they were 30.

Stewardesses were trained in emergency procedures but had enough sense to know they could fly for years and never use the training;  they were airborne waitresses and their job was to be bright and perky and to take the passengers’ minds off flying. That was okay. They loved their work.
They loved their work.

Then they became flight attendants. The twenty-somethings became waspish grandmothers more concerned with where they are going to shop when the plane lands rather than with service to passengers. They go into the galley and read  newspapers and chit-chat with each other. And the real reason there are fewer flight attendants than there were stewardesses is not because airlines are downsizing crews, but because today’s flight attendants usually are big ole girls and a jet aircraft can carry only so much weight.

In recent years my work has necessitated extensive air travel and I have learned a little about flight attendants. First, I don’t know about all airlines, but on Thai Airways, British Airways and Lufthansa, I saw no vinegary flight attendants, I saw stewardesses.

Second, if you fly to a relatively exotic location, say Hawaii or Bangkok, you can be assured that the most senior flight attendants (read, the oldest, the most burned out, the most burned out) will be aboard. Nine hours-plus in the air does not improve their dispositions.

Three, if you are in an aisle seat, the closer you sit to the front of the aircraft, the greater the danger of being maimed by a flight attendant. These dreadnoughts come up the aisle like a battleship pushing through the Panama Canal. By the time they reach the front of the cabin they have worked up a full head of steam, and in their wake, shoulders, elbows, arms, and knees are knocked aside like rowboats.

A moment before impact there is a half-second warning that sounds  like an intermittent chain saw. This is the rasping sound of oversized thighs packed into too-small pantyhose. If you don’t move quickly, a hip the size of Rhode Island will do the moving for you.

Today’s flight attendants have forgotten how to smile. But wait! Maybe this is because they trowel on so much makeup that they are unable to smile.
They complain about the rudeness of passengers yet they think serving food or drink is beneath them, something to do in a hurried fashion so they can rush back to the galley and talk about the merits of Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. The dark mood of the flight attendants, like their Wal-Mart perfume, settles over passenger cabins like a miasma of gloom. It is little wonder that passengers are so ill-tempered. Being cooped up inside a confined space with these harridans would curdle milk.

Stewardesses were sexy. Very few flight attendants have enough sex appeal to budge a hermit off a rock ledge.

Flight attendants may work themselves into a lather over such an assessment. They want you to believe they are highly trained personnel ever alert for nuclear weapons or laser beams from outer space; that their medical skills enable them to cope with everything from tennis elbow to a prolapsed uterus; maybe even brain surgery.

Right. In the meantime, could you please bring me a drink without spilling it?

Bringing back the stewardesses will do nothing about crowded flights, diminished service, late arrivals, and heightened security. But it will make all those more palatable to business travelers, many of whom are men, and who are the largest single revenue source for the airlines.

Let it not come as a surprise that for middle-aged businessmen, being waited on by a young woman is preferable to being waited on by the wicked witch of the west. Thus, contrary to what you have been thinking, my suggestions about stewardesses are not sexist drivel. I’m talking good business practices.

Air travel will never again be the great adventure it once was. But stewardesses can make us feel better about it. Young, blonde, smiling stewardesses will make air travel more endurable.

Hey, Delta, are you listening? Bring back the stewardesses.

1. sara says:

   June 17, 2009 at 1:51 am

   You’re an idiot…”bless your heart!”
2. Traytable says:

   June 17, 2009 at 2:05 am

   I’ll be a “stewardess” if all you passengers agree to behave like people did on airplanes in the 20’s and 30’s… i.e. civilised!

   PS I am neither 40 years old nor fat, so don’t even go there!
3. Deborah says:

   June 17, 2009 at 2:13 am

   Uh, yeah. Women business travelers – I was one of them, moms with young children, I am that too – don’t want young, blondes sashaying down the aisles. We just want courteous, attentive women and men to attend to our needs. Do you require your waitress at (insert restaurant) to fit your sexist description too? Oh, I guess you do if you eat at Hooters.
4. Shelby says:

   June 17, 2009 at 2:30 am

   Mr. Coram, Are you listening? What are you 120 years old yourself? 1st off we are not on the aircraft to “Wait” on you, Do you speak to Mrs Coram this way? Does she wait on you.. OR did you trade her in, when she got a little grey in her hair?? I bet living with you is NO JOY!, I hope I never see your old crabby butt on any of my flights!! We are there for your safety, we are tested yearly, If we meet this compliance we fly… Crabby people like you around.. We have paid our dues, Give it a break, you old crabby fart!
5. Mikie says:

   June 17, 2009 at 5:59 am

   This guy is exactly the kind of passenger noboday wants on a plane. I have had more of these losers sitting next to me the last five years than I care to remember. The world revolves around them and they want to purchase a discount ticket and receive all the perks. Probably the same idiot that recently grabbed a Flight Attendant and twisted her arm because she sent him back to coach to use the bathrooms there. Really, where do these idiots come from?
6. Businessman says:

   June 17, 2009 at 6:05 am

   This old gezzer is wanting only girls in their 20’s working on planes??? Sounds like he has his little bow tie in a knot and needs a reality check. You look waaay older than the Flight Attendant’s you are criticizing bub! Perhaps you should take a really good look in the mirror?
7. Maynard says:

   June 17, 2009 at 7:28 am

   I agree wholeheartedly!! I dated several and married two stewardess’–all of whom were sexy, smart and well traveled. Flight attendants are flawed and a detriment to the airline industry.
8. sara says:

   June 17, 2009 at 8:14 am

   Well, Maynard…you’re an “old” idiot too: )
9. Flight Attendants's Mom says:

   June 17, 2009 at 8:17 am

   You are one “Dirty Old Man,” Mr. Coram. Do you have daughters, oh, wait you are old enough to have great granddaughters, by the “looks” of you, since we are judging people on their “looks.” How would you like someone like you judging them on solely on their looks. I don’t believe for one minute your suggestion is not sexist driven. You, dear sir, are the epitome of the neanderthal man this world will be well rid of eventually. Get with the times, do really want to be judged on your age or your need for viagra? When will men stop thinking with the brain between their legs? Try it, you may get just a tad more respect, I know men like you…you are totally unaware that people think you are an idiot!
10. Lindy Lou says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:07 am

    Oh my god! As I read this, my mouth dropped open. I can’t believe this was published in the Dew. You sir, are a sexist pig. Perhaps you didn’t notice (or care) that in the recent US Air miracle (when Captain “Sully” and his crew landed in the Hudson) the flight-attendents were all seasoned professionals of 50+. All reports of the incident have said that their experience and calm were a huge contribution to the overall results—-every person on the plane survived. Please give me 40+ men and women flight attendents on an airplane. They have been around long enough to know that flight attending means much more than serving old goats like you their scotch & water—-it can mean saving lives!!!!!
11. Patrick Allen says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:17 am

    I can’t figure out if this is merely a modest proposal or if the writer is really this retrograde. Is this LikeTheDew’s cornball attempt at humor? If so, it’s embarrassing and offensive. I don’t think I’m interested in reading further.
12. Jen says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:32 am

    Mr. Coram, while I do actually agree with you on a point or two (many flight attendants could be nicer and should absolutely lose the power trip), unfortunately your strong points are lost amid the huge pile of crap you surrounded them with. If you want to see beautiful girls in their 20’s, buy a Playboy; airlines are not there for you to have something pretty to look at. Please do us all a favor – think long and hard before your next publication, because this one really lacks substance, merit and class.
13. Chris Wohlwend says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Corum strikes again. Reminds me of the time in Houston when a savvy Southwest Airlines stewardess took one look at me and my friend as we staggered on board a flight to Dallas and attached “Unaccompanied Child” tags to our shirts.
14. Rumi Bodenheimer says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Well isn’t this expected from such a publication…. “A Journal of Southern Culture and Politics”? I’ve lived and traveled all over the world, the daughter of a decorated military veteran from the mountains of Virginia. My father is the exception of typical old Southern thinking which is that woman are only good to look at and serve. An antiquated vision and offensive thought. Eight years with a national airline flying some times undercover, I had fantastic experiences with 9 out of 10 flight attendants. Always smiling, personable and helpful. Age was never an indication of the level of service I would receive flying stand-by as an employee or as a paying passenger. Maybe you should re-consider the hateful and degrading tone of your article and the impact it will have on the fellow passengers that will have to endure a flight beside you. I might be the one boarding behind you next time.
15. susong says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:45 am

    It’s always a jolt when cavemen like Coram share their innermost thoughts! As a former journalist myself, I can only hope that this piece was his weak attempt at tongue-in-cheek humor writing. If so, it’s way off the mark. If not, he should be ashamed of himself. Let’s just hope no one else gives him a platform for his dated diatribe. Also very disappointed in the Dew — maybe the editor was on summer vacation and it slipped through somehow!
16. Billy Howard says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:00 am

    While I can’t defend Robert on this cringe inducing article and fear for his safety on his next flight, it is interesting that he has accrued in the matter of one morning more comments for this misfire than for either of his previous stories, both of which are southern classics in the greatest story telling tradition. I guess it is the nature of readers to respond more quickly to something that offends than to writing that lifts them and gives insights into the human condition. Before the execution, I would suggest a reading of Robert’s first two posts in the Dew and placing those in evidence as mitigating the circumstances. Perhaps parole is in order.
17. Tim Oliver says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Hmmmm, well, as business goes, maybe it’s like a situation the late, great Warren Zevon once had. When he asked a tour manager where all the roadies went who wore nothing but black tee shirts, were bearded, biker-looking, and built like gorillas ( as opposed to the cleancut, collegiate types, in shorts ), he was told “Oh, they’re still around. They just cost a LOT more !” I’m betting you’d bitch about the extra cost, Mr. Flightasaurus.
18. Carol Carter says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:21 am

    Mr. Coram,
    Quick. Back to your cave. Don’t venture out again, please.
19. sara says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Billy…the large response is because I mentioned him on twitter to all my FA/airline/travel friends: ) Love them!
20. Mary Lee (aka Bootsie Lucas) says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Is this a joke? Caveman Coram should do the Letterman-like thing and apologize to all flight attendants. Make that all women. Make that men and women and the entire US of A.
21. Lindy Lou says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Billy, perhaps you would not be so forgiving of this insulting diatribe if your entire sex had just been reduced to a snarky culural sterotype. This was not just insulting to flight attendants but to any woman over 40 (or under). Imagine if this same type of crap was written about an African-American? There is not one man I know who would not be horrified and sputtering indiganace (as they should). However, if it’s about “us girls” it’s no biggie and we should forgive the author because he’s such a good writer. PLEASE!!! Women have written because it was unbelievably offensive to us—and it’s a shame it appeared in this publication. I don’t care if Mr. Coram wrote five Pulitzer-prize winning novels (which he didn’t) if this is the way his mind works, he is no one I would read.
22. sara says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Lindy Lou, Amen…well said…sister!!
23. Jen says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:39 am

    Lindy Lou you are RIGHT ON! Perfectly said! and thanks to Sara at theflyingpinto.com for bringing this oldster’s view to our attention.
24. Robert Coram says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Ladies . . . please. Some of you are generating more indignation than you can properly contain. Specifically, leave Billy Howard out of this. He is a kind and compassionate man who was simply trying to lower the volume on what has become a rather shrill debate. While your comments about him prove my point about over-active bile ducts, this sort of collateral damage is unnecessary. What say we set a precedent and impose a modicum of rational thought here.
25. Lindy Lou says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    Mr. Coram, I had hoped men who think like you do were uneducated slobs who knew no better. How sad that you were a teacher at Emory (I pity your women students, or as you would call them “your lady students”) and a published author.
    What exactly is your idea of rational thought Mr. Coram? The thoughts presented by you in this story are not of the mind, but of another organ in your lower region. It seems that the voices of women who think what you wrote was offensive are “shrill” (a term rarely used for the voice of a man). Once again, this shrill voice thinks that your piece was neither funny, thought-provoking or even interesting, but demeaning and pathetic. As the mother of two sons, it is something that I would show them as an example of the neanderthal thinking of the past and I know they would read it with an incredulity equal to mine.
26. sara says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Hi Lindy Lou, Thank you for your words you speak for all of us and for raising a new generation of men! Kudos to you!!
27. Alice Murray says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    Yes, Robert. And we should also bring back the days that women were the property of their fathers or their husbands, were not allowed to vote, and were only in the workplace when they were hired for their looks or for their willingness to work at exceptionally low wages. While you have a point that airline employees should maintain a pleasant atmosphere and consider customer service as a large part of their job, your attempt at humor fell way short. Let’s see, you offended with both sexism and ageism. All you missed was racism and homophobia. But wait, those pretty little stewardesses were white. Right?
28. Flight Attendants's Mom says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    Once again you put your hoof foot in your mouth. If anyone has “over-active bile ducts,” baby it is you. You give the mature adult a bad name. You give men a bad name. You give the human race a bad name. Shame on you. Why are you trying to turn this into something about Mr Howard …he is not the one talking down to women, you are. You are also a coward it seems, as well…trying to divert the issue to him. How is it possible to impose anything sane when you are the one so irrational?
29. Flight Attendants's Mom says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    And by the way, have you written to our President about you idea on how to save the “airlines?”
    Bring back the Stewardesses Mr. President! The will save the airline industry, what would you do to save the car industry, carhops?
30. Chaz says:

    June 17, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    I don’t really care what they look like, but flight attendants really need to get over the power trip thing and the bitchiness. Seems to be getting worse and worse.
31. Lindy Lou says:

    June 17, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    One more thing directly to Billy Howard (who I agree is such a kind compassionate person that he even tried to defend Mr. Coram). I am was in no way insulting Billy, but taking issue with his attempt to find redemption for Mr. Corum because he is a writer of beautiful literature (so we’re told). That’s like saying we should excuse a man who is a racist because he is a good plumber. One’s profession, no matter how brilliantly executed from a technical standpoint, does not give you a free ride to spread stereotypical , insulting prejudices about a whole segment of society. Racism, homophobia and yes, sexism Mr. Corum should be called out for what they are—-with no excuses.
32. Dennis9295 says:

    June 17, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    This guy is a real ass. Get with the times old man!!
33. Billy Howard says:

    June 17, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    No insulting old men, please. We, like flight attendants, are a maligned group. Power to the people.
34. Flight Attendants's Mom says:

    June 17, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Oh, Billy old white men have been on their way out since the 70’s…they are just taking longer than we expected! (I can say that cause I’m a not quite over the hill old white woman…that hill just keeps getting higher and higher!) Mr. Corum and his ideas need to go out to pasture, fast!
35. Southern Man says:

    June 17, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    Hmmmm it seems like Robert is just auditioning for Andy Rooney’s spot on 60 minutes, you know the one, the crusty old curmudgeon, or wait, maybe he is actually audtioning to replace David Letterman? One that you couldn’t trust your daughter or nieces around.

    After reading this, one can only await the next essay wherein Robert pines for his “good ‘ol days”. You all know the ones he enjoyed, segregated lunch counters and buses, where everyone knew their place.
36. Jake says:

    June 17, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    Hey, Babes, don’t get your panties all in a twist! I’m sorry but ask any man….which would he rather have, a hot young thing or an old bag serving him.
    Get real!
37. Billy Howard says:

    June 17, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    In reference to Jake: Good Grief! Talk about stereotypes! I actually think most men, and by that I mean educated, interested, thoughtful and thinking men, would prefer the waitress whose spirit, friendliness, service, humor and decency was superior. Typically this ain’t going to be a kid. And all the notions of what defines beauty are out of date. As for the pasture, I seem to be heading in that direction.
38. Cindy says:

    June 17, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    An old story..couple was moving, stopped at a gas station in the new town and asked what were the people like. The attendant said, What were they like where you moved from? Couple replied, “Rude, unkind, selfish, obnoxious.” The attendant said, “They’re the same here.” Another couple pulls in and asks the same question. When asked, they responded, “The folks in our old town were so kind, caring and considerate. We hated to leave.” The attendant responded, “They’re the same here.” Take a look in the mirror…my guess is you are treated exactly like you treat everyone else. What a miserable life you must lead….
39. BethanyinFL says:

    June 17, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    This is insulting to women and flight attendants on so many levels that I’m unable to count them all. As a PROFESSIONAL flight attendant who has not spilled a drink on a passenger but has done CPR on one, I am really offended by your article. You should be ashamed of yourself.
40. Suz Korbel says:

    June 17, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Either Mr. Coram’s blither was meant to juice up the readership, or the editors have decided to take this mag to a darker place. If the former, you accomplished your task. Now fire Mr. Coram. If the later, rename yourselves Like the Ratshit and take my name off your list.
41. Billy Howard says:

    June 17, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    The beauty of the Dew is that content is generated by anyone willing to do so, an all volunteer army. You can’t fire someone you don’t hire. Another beauty is the ability to immediately respond to stories, either to laud them for their greatness or lambast their ideas. Lambasting is much more fun. So, stories are posted but do not remain in a vacuum, they transform as readers add their comments. In that way, Robert has presented a service to readers who have coalesced around an idea and in no uncertain terms made their feelings known, in the Dew. Not running articles that go contrary to our opinions should be a last resort for this type of publication. Since readers have the ability and right to respond forcefully, it seems best to be open to all ideas and let the chips fall. So, I personally hope to read much more Robert Coram on the Dew. I suspect he has found a new respect for his subject matter. A publication that is to free to censure will surely be easier to digest, but will also have a harder time inspiring. The overwhelming response to this article is one measure of the Dew’s success.
42. KT says:

    June 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    I feel sorry for his daughters——going after young women——as if any would be interested in an over-weight , over-bearing, over-age old man——–he just never knew what the “young” , “sexy” flight att’s were saying about men like that in the “galley” AFTER they swished down the aisle!!!!! They weren’t looking at him for sure!! I bet he is a problem in the nursing home!! Why don’t you charter your flights and call Playboy for your F/A’s? or stay home!
43. Blondie says:

    June 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Bless your ignorant heart…
44. GimliGlider says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    First thing first: Mr Corum, sir I totally agree with you. Filling up aircraft with old, stinky grumpy old useless furloughed and airlines-rejected women like Shelby, who think they are better than paying passengers because they *train* yearly to re-instated back to the job, has played a big role in today’s sad state of commercial aviation.

    I tell you what: My father is a chief purser of an international airlines, has traveled to more than 25 countries of the world numerous times, handled many small, medium and big emergencies and went to the national newspapers’ front pages several times. He taught me one thing: Never disrespect the people, who pay for your bread, for any reason whatsoever. Respect is everything in life. Value and honor their opinions and do everything in your order to please them and never talk crap about them.

    And that’s probably why he’s not been furloughed yet. As a matter of fact our airlines is doing extremely fine and never had to let go of any of its employees. No wonder why Shelby was furloughed. Her ignorance, audacity, ungratefulness and ugliness have shown. Shame on her.

    Look! As long as I’m paying, I believe I deserve to be served aboard by good-looking young woman in their mid-twenties. Reason #1: I’m not gay 2 ) I adore beautiful women just as much as a beautiful woman adores a beautiful man 3) It’s human being’s natural instinct to desire the beautiful and sexiest. There’s even a scientific documentary made by BBC on this!

    It’s not like being fat, ugly and old is a bad thing. If you’re fat, ugly and old, then flight attendant’s job is not for you. Take up some other profession somewhere else but not in the airlines. Period. Men by nature would always lust after and respect a sexy woman and prefer to be accompanied by her, not some old grumpy stinky rough-skinned whiner like most of the retards in here who have commented in here so far. I don’t go to a strip club to greeted by uglies. I’m paying cash and the service better be up to my satisfaction.
45. Southern Man says:

    June 17, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    Gimli,
    Are you sure you’re not gay? I mean seriously, do you expect the same out of anyone in the service industry? If they drop the soap in prison do you complain or just take it like you like it? You, chump (sir would be a disgrace to all who are deserving) are an embarassment to all decent men. It’s your level of entitlement, condesencion and mysoginism that gives the rest of us something to be disgusted with.

    Keep your well worn and dirty dollars that you think are doing some good at your cheap strip clubs and instead spend them on some plastic lover because obviously that’s the only service you dream about, well that and your hand. ED must be a tough thing to have on your consience at night when your sad and lonely.
46. Flight Attendant says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    Hey, I agree with you, but first you have to pay for our pension and health care, then we are out of there. Just kidding about the former, serious about the latter.

    PS. Dude, you are too old to be writing this nonsense, but it has been fun knocking you with our hips. Now that you are on our radar, I wouldn’t book an aisle seat.
47. Laurie says:

    June 17, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Thank goodness most people are not like Mr. Coram. Obviously he is a bitter, nasty passenger who hates women..Instead of complaining about the people who are trained to save his life he should be thankful we are all on board with him fat and ugly as we are. In the rare case of an emergency we do not have the luxury to pick and choose who we save or he would be in trouble. He obviously would rather think with a different part of his body and not his brain. It is sad that the only value he has is below the belt….from fat, old, tired and ugly…..but a very well trained professional flight attendant.
48. Lindy Lou says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    I am disappointed to hear Billy Howard’s stated position that Like The Dew should publish anything and everything it gets for free to in order to provide a diversity of opinions. He states “Robert has presented a service to readers who have coalesced around an idea and in no uncertain terms made their feelings known, in the Dew. ”
    Billy, would you call a humerous piece promoting racism an idea that The Dew should explore?. Would you want someone to write about why we should bring back segregation? Again, you don’t seem to understand that what he wrote as a “point of view” is as offensive to women as it would be offensive for The Dew to publish an article lamenting the fact that African-Americans are no longer relegated to service of the white man as maids and janitors. I only hope that the readers who came here for the first time today will come back to see that this is not a typical piece. And no, I will never read anything by Robert Coram again, which is the only service he could ever provide this reader.
49. chrys says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    I wasn’t going to respond to this ridiculous piece by this obviously sexist human being, but … as a former flight attendant for over 30 years and the wife of one of the founders of Likethedew, I feel that I must. First I have to say that I abhor sexism, racism, bigotry and inequality on all levels, but I believe in free speech. Likethedew was founded as an open outlet for Southern voices, not just the ones that have some merit or those with which I might agree (this piece has neither). It is meant to be a site that can open dialogue on the thoughts and problems that we as Southerners face everyday. I hate that many people have come to this site for the first time and will never come again because of this absurd posting. Likethedew is much more than one person’s personal biases or shortcomings. It offers a forum to many excellent and not so excellent writers to tell their story and to report on happenings in the South. I hope that those of you that have followed likethedew from the onset and those of you that have come to this site today for the first time will see the value of freedom of speech and continue to see the importance of letting each person, right or wrong, have a voice. I also think that it’s not just the stories that appear on the site, but the comments that further the dialogue that likethedew is trying to encourage.
50. Billy Howard says:

    June 17, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    I would find an article promoting racism unacceptable, I would make that fact known in my comments. If it was posted in the Dew, I would have to struggle with my own feelings about free speech and hate speach and would make my thoughts known in the comments. That said, I think free speech trumps and the ability to comment not only dampens any ideology that I disagree with, but a landslide of like minded comments in a democratic publication, defeats the offending ideology. That seems to be the case in this instance. My senior project in college in 1977 was on Simone de Beauvoir and I have always aligned myself with women’s rights issues. But, above that, I believe that if all ideas are given a forum, the best ideas will triumph. If only ideas we agreed with are allowed into print, then our own ideas are protected from confrontation and thus do not have the power of conviction. All of these truths, as has been said in other, more significant documents, should be self evident by the combination of eloquence, raw emotion, reason and passion posted in the comments.