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Dear Editor:
Writing letters regarding the Heidcamp Report
and Ralph Bogert's Adventures of the Boat People is
exciting because you are always guaranteed a
response. It's like Pavlov's dog, just ring that
bell and they salivate. To me it's a feeling of
power, I feel like a puppeteer, just pulling the
strings. Thanks guys.
I have to plead guilty to pulling another
trick on George and Ralph. Have you noticed that
since we have two papers in town, people send their
pearls of wisdom to both papers, so we can enjoy
their opinions in stereo? Well, I've been sending
my letters to the Post Star only; George and Ralph
have been sending their letters to both papers. So,
if a poor soul is reading their responses to my
letters in the competitor's paper he must be asking
himself "Who is James Harris?" Thanks again
guys.
In the August 3rd letters section, Michael
Maclsaac printed a portion of an email sent to him
by Mr. Heidcamp. In part, the email read: "...you
have no idea what I am capable of, I will not go
away..." I'm not sure if I can accuse Mr. Heidcamp
of plagiarism, but that quote is eerily reminiscent
of the novel Misery by Stephen King.
There are some things that Mr. Heidcamp has
brought up that I am inclined to agree with, but I
vehemently denounce the manner in which he does it.
Let me cite one particularity. On Mr. Heidcamp's
website, there are pictures of the hotel rooms
where Mr. Richard Rhau has slept. At first I
thought that Mr. Heidcamp was providing a
historical service. Instead of pictures of "George
Washington slept here," we now have "Richard Rhau
slept here." Then I realized that George follows
Richard around and takes pictures of where Richard
sleeps. It makes me feel icky, like I have to wash
my hands.
The picture I have in my mind of George
Heidcamp not of a crusader against injustice and
tyranny, it is a picture of a religious zealot who
hits people over the head with his Bible (in this
case FOIL requests) and barks intimidating things
until they agree with him. It isn't a pretty
picture.
Heather Plonchak indicates she has taken a
lot of abuse for allowing the weekly fumigating of
the Heidcamp Report. In some respects, I think she
has given the bully pulpit to the town bully. Yet,
I applaud her for her desire to allow all parties
to express their views. I can honestly say that the
Post Star has printed each of my letters in their
entirety. She is fair. I just wish that more people
who disagree with Mr. Heidcamp would have the
courage to speak up.
I know there are some who are boycotting the
Post Star because of the Heidcamp Report, and that
is your right. Personally, I think your anger is
misdirected. Aside from the barrage of negativity
that exudes from page 3 each week, the Post Star is
a fine newspaper. I buy it every week. I encourage
anyone boycotting this paper to please come
back.
Here is how I am directing my personal
protest. Please note that my little protest is
directed at the bullying, intimidating tactics used
by Mr. Heidcamp. Mr. Heidcamp is the head of both
the Saugerties Policeman's Benevolent Association
and the Conservative Party. Since he represents
those organizations I can only assume they support
his methodology. For that reason, the next time the
PBA comes a callin', I won't be a donatin'. When
election time comes, I will not vote for any
candidates endorsed by the Conservative Party. But
hey, that's just me.
James Harris Sr.
August 24, 2006
Saugerties Post Star
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