From: nate@psygate.psych.indiana.edu (Nathan Engle)
Subject: Re: Dan Quayle My Hero !!!!!!!!!!
Organization: Psych Department, Indiana University
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 21:22:22 GMT

dan@ektools.kodak.com (Daniel P. Schaertel) writes:
>nate@psygate.psych.indiana.edu (Nathan Engle) writes:
>>enor@woods.ulowell.edu writes:
>>>   To the cultural elite: Whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Quayle's
>>>stands on the issues you must admit that through the great personal tragedy 
>>>Dan suffered at your hands, he has stood up for his beliefs.

>>    To which great personal tragedy are you alluding? Did he loose any 
>>close relatives? Did he loose his job or his home? I know that he's been 
>>the butt of a great many jokes, but I would hardly call that a personal 
>>tragedy. Just think of Dan's future on the lecture circuit: he can hold up 
>>a flash card with the 'e' in potatoe scratched out and have the audience 
>>rolling in the aisles. I admire Dan Quayle for standing by his beliefs, but 
>>he neither deserves nor receives my sympathy or my pity.

>It is sad that you have such a limited view of tragedy.

    It's true, my view is limited.

>  You see a persons reputation is important.

    Yes, and I'm not aware that Dan Quayle's reputation has been seriously 
impugned. Dan has been the butt of many jokes, and I regret to say that his 
future as a judge at spelling contests is bleak indeed. However, as a 
consolation prize Dan has a comfortable pension and excellent prospects to 
become govenor of Indiana when Evan Bayh leaves in '96. He has his family 
and his health. Hardly what I would call an outcast.

>There are people that would rather die than live a life with a defiled 
>reputation.

    Yes, but fortunately Dan is not one of those people; at least if he's 
shown any suicidal tendencies so far I have never noticed them.

>To say that taking the abuse that he has had to take is not hardship only 
>shows your lack of understanding about values and what is important in 
>life.

    I didn't say that it wasn't a hardship. We all have our crosses to bear, 
and Dan's no different than anyone else. I *did* say that his treatment in 
the press was not a tragedy; I would even go further and note that Dan's 
life has not been ruined by it. His prospects are excellent, and I envy him 
his vice-presidential pension.

>But then you say your a democrat and all is clear.

    Yes, being a Democrat is like that.

>I guess the newly elected president doesn't have to worry about 
>reputation.  He was elected inspite of his.  But remember he is the least 
>popular president ever elected.  Only 43% of Americans wanted him.  That 
>is sad too.

    Whatever. I wasn't trying to start a Billy Clinton Fan Club. Just trying 
to add a little perspective to just exactly where Dan Quayle's "hardships"
have gotten him. If that's hardship then lead me to it.

>P.S.  Just think how you would feel if everybody on the net started
>calling you names, not taking what you say seriously, but rather taking
>it out of context and making fun of it constantly.  And lets say that
>your employer reads alot of the false postings about you.  Maybe he
>would start to question your intelligence, and your ability to do a good
>job at anything.  And lets say this has an impact on future job
>considerations for you.  But then remember, it's not a tragedy.  You
>didn't lose a loved one.  Your just not loved by anyone.  No big deal,
>right?

    I can hear the swelling violin strings now. Wait till '96 and tell me 
then whose job prospects have been ruined. Wait till Dan's inevitable book 
hits the shelves and then tell me about the tragedy of Dan Quayle. For 
crying out loud, you'd think we're throwing the guy's kids into an Iraqi  
torture chamber or something the way you're carrying on.

--
Nathan Engle                        Software Juggler
Psychology Department               Indiana University
nate@psygate.psych.indiana.edu      nengle@copper.ucs.indiana.edu
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