Looking at the 2008 election in “Two Weeks in
the West,” Jonathan Thompson appropriately pointed out the
condescending nature of the New York Post’s headline about a
New Mexican politician tossing his “sombrero” into the
presidential ring. He then went on in the same paragraph to use the
same inappropriate style by including the religious preference
(Mormon) of a Massachusetts politician also joining the
presidential race. There were no religious preferences given for
the other politicians he listed.
As a Presbyterian, I
want to note that this type of selective labeling is not a concern
because of its religious nature — it is always inappropriate.
If it is condescending for New Yorkers to refer to a presidential
candidate from New Mexico by his hat preference, it is equally
inappropriate for Paonians to refer to a Massachusetts presidential
candidate by his religious preference.
Bill
Hainer
Roy, Washington
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Labels are for pickle jars.
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