The Evil That Men Do

"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."

Antony buried Caesar with these words.  The evil that men do.  Shakespeare had the right of it.  Evil has been done to me – and, like Antony I can but speak of it; alert you to its existence.  I am helpless to do anything more. 

Several months ago I noticed a great deal of traffic from site called Aztlan.  It was all attached to an article I wrote called “The Problem With Lou Dobbs”  This had created a mini firestorm when I posted it at DKos and Booman – mostly from people who were strong Dobbs supporters.  I intended it to be a dissection of Dobbs attitude toward immigration; but whatever the content was intended to be – the article got picked up by Aztlan and presented as proof positive of Dobbs’s bias and bigotry.  That would be bad enough – if it was all; but the editors of Aztlan included my post in a series of anti-Semitic rants that left me breathless with their hatred and viciousness. 

I didn’t know what to do.  I was afraid of capturing even more notice from these people – so I consulted The Dark Wraith.  His experience in dealing with undesirables online is well known.  I hoped he could advise me on how to disentangle my article from Aztlan’s clutches. He pointed out their unsavory connections and advised I wait and see.  If the situation got worse he would step in and take charge.  Well – it’s gotten worse.  Someone from a blog called The Amboy Times picked it up and featured my article about Dobbs alongside information about Aztlan and its anti-Semitic, anti Israeli, anti-Zionist leanings; leaving the distinct impression that I was part of this horror show.  I pleaded with the publisher of this misinformation, someone named Kevin, to please not include my site in his article.  Here is what I wrote:

Please, please, PLEASE do not include my hi-jacked post in your article!  Aztlan latched onto my attempt at a thoughtful dissection of Lou Dobbs confusing statements and altered it; posting it on their horrible, anti-Semitic site.  I have been trying - with absolutely no success - to have them remove my post COMPLETELY.  I have so far been met with total indifference. I’m afraid I don’t know what to do about this.  I’m angry, upset.  Please don’t suggest that I sue – I haven’t the funds to challenge these awful people in court. But for the love of god do not include me in the same breath as them.  I think I may have been targeted due to a series I wrote on anti-Semitism.  Several hate mongers targeted my site; and shortly after that I found my post appearing on Atzlan.  I believe this hi-jacking of my work is some kind of pay-back.  Aztlan promotes hate – and I am terrifically distressed that I am being included against my will.

Thank you for your attention to this.

I then contacted The Dark Wraith to beg for his help once again.  He too left a scathing comment on The Amboy Times – only to find that both his and my comments were summarily erased.  It seems I was not to be allowed defend myself.  I did, however put in an addendum to my article on Dobbs – for all the good it will do:

If you have come here from Aztlan let me inform you that I do not subscribe to Aztlan's ideas or beliefs.  In point of fact - I find them reprehensible.  This article is intended as a dissection of Lou Dobbs's opinions on Immigration.  To label it anything else is just plain wrong.

I am terrifically upset about all of this.  It has even made me question whether to continue blogging.  My reputation is at stake here – and more even than that, I’m thinking.  The Dark Wraith has offered to do battle on my behalf – something for which I am grateful.  I know these things can and do happen.  But of all the things – to be sullied by this awful, hateful site!  It has fair done me in.  Anyway – I wanted to say something about this.  Hopefully, the situation can be dealt with.  I don’t want these horrible people to get away clean.  And I especially wanted to say thank you to The Dark Wraith; a thank you from the very bottom of my heart. 

Addendum: The editor of The Amboy Times has removed the link to my post on Lou Dobbs. My comment has not been restored - something the editor explains in one of his comments attached to this article.

Comments

[kevin]

FL,
I Have removed the link to your post . Although it appears we are on opposite sides of the political fence, I'm glad we can agree about Aztlan's anti-semitism. For that reason I can understand your concern about being linked with Aztlan.net. Please try to understand that I had no idea that Aztlan linked you despite your
protests. In regards to your comment, I tend to delete a lot of spam and at quick glance didn't understand what you were going on about. I have been spamed by irrelevent commenters in the past and no longer argue with them. But I noticed you had returned to my blog and eventually found this article. Having given your complaint the proper consideration, I have removed the aforementioned link. I hope this remedies your concern regarding my the amboy times, and good luck getting through to aztlan.net
kevin

[Susie from Philly]

Well, I'd delete the original post, and then I'd append it to a different permalink. That way, regular readers get to see it, but other people find a dead link.

[Kevin Wolf]

I wish I had some tips to offer. What a mess!

[kevin]

At the risk of being redundant, there is no link to this blog from my post. I removed it last night. I think it would be fair to remove my blog name from a post entitled "The Evil Men Do" considering the fact that your complaint has been fullfilled.

[TB]

Well, based on the comments, I'm hoping that at least the Amboy portion of this mess has been resolved. I like Susie's suggestion a lot though.

Good luck. This kind of thing always makes me more hesitant to put myself out there.

[The Heretik]

Oy.

[oldwhitelady]

Aargh! How annoying! It sounds like you've managed to resolve some of it. Good luck on the rest.

[divajood]

The good, and bad, of the "internets" is that anything posted is accessible by anyone with a computer. People without conscience can, and will, misuse others comments and postings. Don't let it get you down, and continue to fight the good fight. Truth will find its way.

[sumo]

Look out or you'll be needing a Cheney pacemaker! At least this K guy did the right thing. Thank goodness he went ahead and read your plea again and took action. It's a terrible thing to be ignored. Those that matter probably already know that the Aztlan people are not worthy...and you are certainly not an advocate of their views. Maybe you could place a disclaimer somewhere on you page that stays there and denounces them...just a thought. You have my sincere sympathy...I'm sure you feel very used. I remember that post very well btw.

[Lily]

Here's hoping that people with common sense already know what kind of people they are dealing with over there-and those that dont probably dont have the attention span to remember in a day or two!

Sounds like this Kevin tried to do what he could from his end, there's probably not much else that can be done where he is concerned.

Divajood is right- and there is very little that people can do about it. People online can be malicious. I myself have been accused of some of the silliest stuff I've ever seen! Like the spy stuff! And by people who you would think would know better than to slam somebody with no evidence or substantiation. Its bullying, in the sense that the victim is helpless to a total lack of control. Frustrating. You sure dont need this crap!

It is so hard and I sure dont mean to minimize your grief over all this BUT...BUT!
Sweetie don't let the assholes drive you away. Don't let them silence you. Of course you care about your name, reputation. People that support you know better.
Wish there was something I could do. If DW has any ideas, let us know ok? Hang in there.

[The Fat Lady Sings]

This whole thing has been most distressing. I'm afraid our country is in even worse circumstances than I realized. These hate groups have flourished under Bush administration control. I know I have made the comparison before - but this is so Germany in 1939. Bush hasn't proved to be the uniter Hitler was (thank god!) - but the traces are there for the right person to pick up and run with. All that would have to happen is for all these hate groups to band together in common cause. Anti-Semitism isn’t it. Perhaps the liberal bugaboo with take the place of the Jewish menace this time around. And I fear there isn't enough opposition to withstand that kind of onslaught. As in 1939, a tsunami of hate would sweep across America, making Kristallnacht seem quaint by comparison.

Ah well. Let us hope my fears turn out to be nothing but hyperbole.

[Edward Mitchell]

I wish I could help. don't know what t0 do.I don't write much only what i have to. my trying to write something that might help could make it worse good luck in getting that ASSHOLE off you

[Shula]

Blog on, baby. Don't let the bastards get you down.

[blondesense]

Anyone who would peruse this blog would know that you are not the kind of person who spews hatred. Lord knows that there is enough of it going around. Your situation highlights the great divide in this country, doesn't it though? oy.

[roger]

anyone who actually reads your stuff knows your viewpoint. of course it is alarming to be misused, and we're all, well, i am anyway, wary of the tendency of the jerks on the intertubes to claim support for their position when just the opposite is intended, and actually spelled out in clear language.

we know you by your posts and as well by your comments elsewhere. claims that you support aztlan's position are laughable. their claim otherwise makes them look stupid.

roger