G'Day to you Mr. BenDedek.
I saw the article on your King's Calendar website saying that you were looking for contributions to your site and to the newspaper in Maine, and I thought I might like to have a crack at it.
I've been reading a lot of articles at Magic City to get a feel for what you are looking for, and I see why you need some help. You have a lot of names listed but few people writing. Why is that?
Since you have given the green light for people to write in, I'm going to start sending you some things, but I thought I had better introduce myself first.
My name is John J. Walsh, originally from Ireland, but after my family emigrated, I did high school and university in Melbourne. Some years later I was sent to work in one of our offices in the united States, where I met my wife, and settled down. I currently live in the North of the Midwest but don't want to say where in case I upset some people and they send a lynch mob out after me hide. Those protestants are a hot blooded lot!
I grew up in a Catholic society, and life seemed pretty normal until I went to Australia, where I discovered the other side of the religious coin. But that didn't prepare me for the bible thumpers in the USA. After hearing a lot of protestant preaching, I began to study religion, and even did a stint in a theological college studying evangelical theology.
I think it is fair to say that while I am Catholic and always will be, my horizons have been broadened, and I understand where a lot of those Bible thumpers come from. I say this because I note that a number of your writers are religious folk.
Even if he never mentioned it, I could tell that Doug Wren is a real 'paddy' by the way he writes. He reminds me of an uncle or two, including uncle Mike who was a Priest. The Irish do love their words, and I did enjoy reading one of Mr. Wren's pieces where he was ripping that Swank fellow to shreds. [Footnote]
Most of that guys writing is short and to the point, and I'm guessing that he has a lot of followers, but he does raise the ire at times if you know what I mean. He'd make a fine preacher in the north of Ireland, except his sermons are too short.
I like the photos of the day and looking up the stories that they are linked to, but the one you put up today about being mentally unbalanced, (appreciated by the Irish for sure), probably won't sit well with many of the conservative folk here. That's just me talking and I don't mean to tell you how to do your business.
I hope to hear from you soon, and then start sending you some things to publish. I'm not saying that I will write everyday or even every week, but these days I have a lot of time on my hands and would like the opportunity to see some of my musings in print.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year.
John Walsh.
P.s. In case you do publish some of my letters, I would prefer that my email address is not made public. Thank You.
Thanks for your letter John (or is it 'Jack' to your friends?). You are most certainly welcome to submit your letters / articles / commentaries for publication. I only wish more people would avail themselves of the opportunity. I look forward to reading your first article. R.P. BenDedek (filling in for the Editor Ken Anderson)
Addendum Footnote: This is the article referred to in relation to Doug Wrenn and J. Grant Swank Jr.
