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Letter: Russell is Neither Racist Nor Anti-Semitic

A Letter to the Editor from an Ossining resident in support of GOP Candidate Jim Russell.

To The Editor:

Joe Carvin’s vicious and unfounded personal attacks on his Republican primary opponent, Jim Russell, reveal more about Carvin’s character than they do about Russell. Russell is neither racist nor anti-Semitic. His writings reflect an in-depth, scholarly, and unapologetic advocacy of our great Western Civilization and its historical accomplishments. His impeccable academic credentials include Masters and Doctorate degrees from Fordham University in “The History of Christianity” and “Historical Theology.” He has also taught these subjects at St. Peter’s College. And the publisher of his book enjoys world-wide esteem in it’s field – namely The Oxford University Press. It’s not in the business of publishing street-corner bigots.

It is scandalous that certain opportunists would take a few words out of context, twist and expand on them just to serve their selfish, political purposes. Not only does this misconduct have a chilling effect on speech, but in the process defames and maligns a good and honest man.

As a Republican District Leader I am voting for Jim Russell on June 26th. And I urge all those thinking otherwise to recall that his opponent, Joe Carvin, is a Republican in name only who cast his vote in 2008 for Barack Obama.

Richard E. Henzel
Ossining

Conservative NYer June 20, 2012 at 06:58 pm
I echo those sentiments as well... When I found out that Mr. Carvin voted for Dear Leader Chairman MaoBama that convinced me NOT to vote for Mr. Carvin who dare calls himself a "Republican" more like a RINO!! He is also pro-UN as well. He incorporated Agenda 21 into the Town of Rye.... For those who are uneducated in Agenda 21 it's a UN initiative for "Sustainable Development". http://local2012.iclei.org/add-your-city/whos-already-in/?city=rye&country=United+States
FactFinder June 20, 2012 at 07:41 pm
Looks like Carvin doesn't like paying taxes either... story and legal docs posted at:
http://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2012/06/new-york-state-issues-tax-warrants-to-gop-congressional-candidate-carvinover-90k-in-liens-placed-against-property-from-2006.html
William F. B. O'Reilly June 20, 2012 at 07:46 pm
One would have to be blind not to recognize Mr. Russell's extremism. Readers can research themselves. Here's a starting point:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0910/Nita_Lowey_rival_wrote_antiintegration_racially_charged_essay_.html
William F. B. O'Reilly June 20, 2012 at 07:47 pm
And if you stand by Mr. Russell's writings, why don't you put your name down here?
William F. B. O'Reilly June 20, 2012 at 07:50 pm
Mr. Russell's strain of thought is what the modern conservative movement fought so hard to reject 50 years ago. It is not welcome here. That is why Mr. Russell has been categorically disavowed by Westchester and Rockland Republican and conservative leaders.
Conservative NYer June 20, 2012 at 07:54 pm
Wow, Politico is your source!! Shocker! That website comes from the same cloth loin of Dear Leader Chairman MaoBama... At least Russell did not vote for Dear Leader Chairman MaoBama as Mr. Carvin did in 2008!! RINO......
William F. B. O'Reilly June 20, 2012 at 08:00 pm
Jim's writings are enough for me. With tidbits like: "parents need to teach their kids appropriate ethnic boundaries for marriage and socializing," I don't really need to rely on third-party analyses. I think I can call this one for what it is. Have fun at your rallies.
They speak for themselves. Over and out.
HolyCr@p June 20, 2012 at 08:12 pm
Did Carvin really vote for Obama? I just saw the tax warrants sent to him by NYS for not paying taxes. What a joke! Lowey just stepped in it, again.
Conservative NYer June 20, 2012 at 08:20 pm
@HolyCr@p HE SURE DID and ADMITTED TO IT AS WELL! So he must be proud to be part of the Kool-Aid, limo liberals, progressives who were in a trance on 2008.. Here's the link: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-01/wall_street/31112566_1_trade-deficit-kirsten-gillibrand-town-supervisor#comments You can thank the Westchester GOP Doug Colety for Lowey's upcoming win!!
Stephen Dewey June 20, 2012 at 09:12 pm
Readers:
As the Chairman of the Ossining Republican Committee, I find no record of a Richard Henzel as a District Leader within our Committee, nor have I ever seen, heard, correspondeded with Mr. Henzel over my past years, as an active member, and now Chairman for over two years of the Comittee. When will we Republicans ever get behind an endorsed Candidate (like we have done for Jim in the past). The other parties defeat us, while we continue to defeat ourselves with this nonsensical in-fighting. You can only thank Russell for Lowey's win in 2010, because the voters said so. God Bless America Stephen P. Dewey Chairman Ossining Town Republican Committee
Don Sutherland June 20, 2012 at 10:45 pm
strongly agree with Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Russell's essay is available online (http://www.toqonline.com/archives/v1n2/TOQv1n2Russell.pdf). Mr. Russell, alone, bears responsibility for its content.
The positions Russell advocated in that essay are wholly inconsistent with the progress that has been achieved concerning individual freedom, basic liberties, and representative government in the Western experience. Western Civilization's advocates would do far better to articulate their positions from the strength of tolerance, not the weakness of appeals to ethnic boundaries.
HolyCr@p June 20, 2012 at 11:41 pm
The religious themes of medieval art and literature appear to have been complemented by the subliminal appeal of the racial features of the subjects portrayed. Persons of European descent, regardless of their religious orientation, are likely to find representations of religious figures appealing. The many excellent Madonnas painted during this period may also indicate a racially healthy celebration of fertility.
The Renaissance artists and sculptors, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, resurrected the Classical ideal of the human form and created works of incomparable beauty. The subject matter of art and sculpture began to once again include the Classical deities, royalty, and other members of the secular elite. In the Romantic period, positive portrayals of the common folk, as well as idealized and legendary depictions of the heritages of the European nations became popular in art and literature. The literature of this period likewise drew upon the West’s Classical heritage as well as European legends and history, as is evidenced by William Shakespeare’s choice of subjects for his plays exemplified by Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Henry IV.
Nancy Clarke June 21, 2012 at 05:47 pm
Mr. Henzel is District leader in the Town of New Castle, ED 2. He resides in Ossining. And where he resides is included in the Town of New Castle.
tedc June 21, 2012 at 07:06 pm
Mr. Dewey I’m not sure about the ‘who shot who here’ – but there is Carvin news out yesterday here in Rye. And it looks like the paper trail - as everything done by LausDeo10580 - is pretty transparent.
You’d think the GOP would have inoculated Mr. Carvin on this subject a long time ago. Especially with the winner of next week’s race here going up against that blowhard battleaxe buddy of Pelosi’s…. STATE ISSUES TAX WARRANTS FOR GOP'S CARVIN–OVER $90,000 IN LIENS PLACED AGAINST PROPERTY FOR FAILING TO PAY INCOME TAXES Read the full story and see the documentation here - http://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2012/06/new-york-state-issues-tax-warrants-to-gop-congressional-candidate-carvinover-90k-in-liens-placed-against-property-from-2006.html
Chris Clement June 21, 2012 at 07:58 pm
1) IMO Henzel's letter was right on target; 2) Carvin voted for Obama and that says it all for me; 3) Carvin owes $90K in property taxes, and that's unfair to other tax payers; 4) Jim Russell's entitled to his opinions, no matter what they are.
Do either the republicans or democrats know what they're doing with all their cross-endorsing? Let the "in-fighting" and out-fighting begin.
Watchdog June 21, 2012 at 08:16 pm
Being disavowed by Vinny P Coat Reda is a feather in anyone's cap.
Vin June 21, 2012 at 08:50 pm
BTW, Mr. Carvin's wife just recently (9/11) donated $1000 to the 2012 Obama re-election campaign.
Maggie Zachary June 21, 2012 at 10:46 pm
In a long essay, Mr. Russell admiringly cites T.S. Eliot: “Eliot described some conditions for an optimal society: ‘The population should be homogeneous. . . . What is still more important is unity of religious background; and reasons of race and culture combine to make any large number of free-thinking Jews undesirable. There must be a proper balance between urban and rural, industrial and agricultural development. And a spirit of excessive tolerance is to be deprecated.’”
William Boot June 22, 2012 at 01:06 am
Parts of New Castle have Ossining postal addresses, and Mr. Henzel is a district leader for the New Castle Republican Committee.
TeaParty June 22, 2012 at 12:13 pm
New video of Carvin admitting to NY1's Errol Louis that he voted for Obama, promises he won't vote for him again this time... http://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2012/06/video-carvin-admits-he-voted-for-obama-in-2008.html
Tea Leaves June 25, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Is the same William F.B. O'Reilly who is 'Blocking the Shot' as another Bill Oreilly might say in this video? Wow, ain't so good thinking on your feet. Even worse, you should have been prepared for questions like that. You look silly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tAXc917yRo
Barry Graubart June 25, 2012 at 11:42 pm
I have no "dog in this race" but am genuinely impressed by the courage displayed by those who spew hateful comments anonymously. True pillars of our democracy.
Watchdog June 26, 2012 at 12:11 am
Unable to answer a simple question like why he voted for OBAMA? And he wants to be my Congressman? What will happen when he gets questions about his failure to pay taxes and resultant tax liens? Or why he accepted the endorsement of Vinny Reda who was picked up for shoplifting and Frankie Sparaco, who has a challanged background and whose MIL wound up in the clink, being defended by of all people Joe Savino , collegue of Convicted theif Mangano, who himself was being investigated by the FBI. Will this clown jump in front of the moderator of a debate as well? This must be a joke. Maybe he feels like poor Joe is being bullied? This guy Carvin scares the he** out of me. The cast of characters is too important to overlook.
Jennie B. June 26, 2012 at 01:41 am
Mr. O - aren't you paid by Carvin to run his campaign? Technically, your comments do not count. If Mr. Russell is a racist so is Joe Carvin. Joe Carvin supported Bart Didden when he ran for Mayor of Port Chester last year. Didden mailed an anonymous racial appeal flyer against the Hispanic community and then had to admit it under oath. Joe Carvin is quoted in the Westmore News as saying that he did not think the flyer was racist and does not believe Bart is a bigot. For Joe Carvin to castigate Mr. Russel is hypocritical.
ClearDay June 26, 2012 at 03:39 am
I need to figure out whether I vote for Carvin or just stay home. He has something fishy going on with Rye Town Park . His Treasurer just took a seat on the rye council without running so Carvin has his people everywhere. To be honest I didn't even think about Rockland county so I can't comment on this guyFrankie sparaco but Carvin has mucho fishy connections in P. C. The park thing I can't figue=re out. Why does his treasurer go to the Rye council? He needs her vote there for what. His brother maybe. A lawsuit, who knows. If PC is involved theres a lawsuit or its real estate. Mark my words.
Rosenkr4nz July 8, 2012 at 04:10 am
Mr. Reilly, what do you think about the Jewish disdain for "intermarriage"? Or are you a double-sided hypocrite?
It's OK when Jewish people discourage intermarriage among Jews. Just ask Nita Lowey.
Rosenkr4nz July 8, 2012 at 04:14 am
Mr. Dewey, wait until you discover what we uncovered. The other chairman has had cozy relationships with some candidates. We are not reporting anything until next week. The entire Republican leadership in your area seem like stealth Democrats with their shenanigans.
Rosenkr4nz July 8, 2012 at 04:17 am
So what Mr. Sutherland. Many people cannot even understand the scholarly work. And please don't dictate ethnic boundaries to us! Or haven't you been to Israel. Why is it OK for Jewish people to discourage intermarriage? But "racist" if others discuss it? Go be dishonest somewhere else.
Rosenkr4nz July 8, 2012 at 04:20 am
Yeah? So what Ms. Zachary. Have you read the Talmud? And what it says about non-Jews? And Gentiles? I think T.S. Eliot is an excellent writer. But who agrees with everything by everybody?
Rosenkr4nz July 8, 2012 at 04:24 am
Oh would you like them if they are expressed under the rights of the First Amendment? And who determines what is hateful? You?

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McKey Rivers June 18, 2013 at 04:18 pm
I believe Mr. Wasserman retained an attorney after Mr. Maglietta used the platform of school boardRead More President to announce that Mr. Wasserman was disqualified from taking his place on the Board because he wrote a letter questioning a Board action. What kind of a message was that to send to employees and others who may think the Board has done something wrong? Think twice or the School Board President will berate you in public and on TV. Mr. Maglietta as Board President also declared Mr. Wasserman's letter would be posted on the district's web site, but that didn't happen either. Let's call Mrs Maglietta's letter for what it is: the spouse of the defeated candidate for school board who has twice been shown to be wrong on issues related to the letter making a public plea for the wrong doing to be swept to avoid her husband being found culpable for his actions after he leaves office.
Laura Maglietta June 18, 2013 at 04:20 pm
Mr. McKey Rivers- Yes, the PTA FOILED the 11 page letter from Mr. Wasserman. If you like, you canRead More FOIL the FOIL. The community should know that this 11 page letter exists; it should know that Mr. Wasserman contacted an attorney. So, according to you, Mr. Bear (your icon is humorous) , Mr. Wasserman should have been the one to decide what was proper and what wasn't proper. Please check your facts - the BOE did make cuts from the original budget. So you believe that the District should spend funds on responding to Mr. Wasserman's 11 page letter. Perhaps the other BOE members do not agree that a response is warranted and would be waste of taxpayer dollars. And, if you and Mr. Sharif, two fictitious people, wish to underwrite the legal fees associated with this, please do. Unfortunately, real people will actually have to pay for it.
Laura Maglietta June 18, 2013 at 04:38 pm
Mr. Rivers - Interesting Mr. Rivers that you know with certainty Mr. Wasserman's motives behindRead More contacting an attorney. Well, now the community can feel better that a fake person is making such definitive claims. So, accordingly to your thinking, the letter should NOT have been made public. Why? All potential legal matters are public information, e.g. the notice of claims on the fields. I have read many times your scathing remarks about this board's lack of transparency. It was appropriate for the community to know about its existence. The only "wrong" here is the bullying that went on by Mr. Wasserman , et al. I am happy that my husband did not resort to such disgusting and ugly campaign tactics . This is Mr. Wasserman and his supporters legacy to this election and what he brings to the district as a BOE trustee.
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 02:43 pm
What are folks hearing about tomorrow's vote? Will there be a good turnout at the polls?
Briarcliff PTA Executive Board June 18, 2013 at 10:02 am
We are hoping for a great turnout today. Briarcliff school district residents, please urge yourRead More neighbors and friends to get out and vote!
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 03:04 pm
Thanks Kathleen - important information about a significant part of the pet population!
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Thanks Kathleen! Important information about a nice way to connect senior pets with senior humans!
W Obermeyer June 11, 2013 at 02:29 pm
I am afraid we may be experiencing the calm before another storm. Most likely the aftermath of theRead More BOE budget hearing tonight will be more of a nightmare than a pleasant dream.
Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 02:36 pm
I am afraid that when people become civilized, they become silent.
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 11:42 am
Thanks for putting yourself out there, Lisa! I hope others can contribute meaningfully to anyRead More discussion of community issues brought forth by thoughtful readers like you.
Brandon June 12, 2013 at 09:36 am
This is brilliant!
Mae Isaac June 12, 2013 at 09:49 am
This would be wonderful - I dread trying to drive to any of the schools that way. What about a leftRead More turn lane on to Pleasantville Road from 100 for school days? It might help those of us who live so close and yet have to drive in the opposite directions to reach the schools!
Tim June 14, 2013 at 07:53 am
Great idea in the mean time while we wait another 10 years maybe drivers could keep to the left whenRead More turning left, instead of blocking peeps trying to turn right. Also drivers need to stop blocking the entrance to Dunkin donuts etc.
Mickey Rivers June 11, 2013 at 09:52 am
Mr. O'Reilly is asking good questions in his post. I respect him for his approach. These areRead More difficult questions and as school districts continue to be squeezed at both ends (spiraling cost of benefit and pension costs at one end and tax-cap compliance choking the revenue side at other end) they will all continue be faced with these difficult questions. If school districts wait too long to develop reasonable decision trees to solve these issues, then our meddling friends in Albany will feel compelled to swoop in and screw it up royally. It is in our collective best interests to begin work now to develop and apply a thought process and resolution matrix to this issue before Albany does it for us. That requires two things. First, communities must put aside their differences and work together in a "non-partisan" manner toward local solutions that work for their district. Next, districts must collaborate and share ideas in an effort to share their ideas and help each other. At the moment, no one has the answers to Mr. O'Reilly's questions. I respect him for asking these questions and not offering solutions or opinions in his post. I also respect him for not calling out any particular district as we all all know these are issues that all districts faced this year universally. This issue will begin to compound annually if we all don't find a way to pull together and work towards solutions.
Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 10:26 am
As a retired school teacher who is collecting a pension (to which I contributed for many years) andRead More is still using benefits (to which I contribute), let's remember that it is not only the teachers' pension and benefits that are squeezing the school budgets, but also, as the Briarcliff BOE pointed out, all those unfunded mandates. All of the BOEs have their hands tied regarding so many of their expenditures, that they will have to cut programs. Excellent questions, Mr. O'Reilly.
Mickey Rivers June 11, 2013 at 03:30 pm
Unfunded mandates are also a big issue for school districts. However, the teachers pensions andRead More benefits are a huge issue that must be addressed and recalibrated. It is time for teacher's pensions and benefits to be remodeled to look like those in the private sector. In the private sector, pensions are all but extinct - replaced largely by 401(k) plans (and in the case of teachers 403(b) plans where contributions are made by the employee. In terms of health benefits, in the private sector most companies pay a maximum of 60% of an employee's health care (and other benefits) premiums - not the 80% that is paid by school districts for teachers. This is financially unsustainable and needs to be addressed before it bankrupts school districts.
robin June 11, 2013 at 10:52 am
Mr. Borrel-Sorry if I came across as confrontational, that was not my intention. You should handleRead More your concerns as you think is best, however, I don't know what you will accomplish voicing your opinion in the Patch. It should also be noted, according to several high school teachers, that there are students who bring budget discussions into the classrooms.
Jay Borrel June 11, 2013 at 11:29 am
Thank you for your comments. I am sure that students do discuss, but the educator should addressRead More from a neutral stand point, just like an open discussion about religion or other politics.
Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 12:25 pm
As a former high school teacher, I was constantly fending off attempts by students to divert me fromRead More teaching, and current events, local or otherwise, were a popular means to this end. Having said that, I, too, have heard of teachers "pontificating" about the budget, which, of course, is totally inappropriate. Let's hope the teachers in Briarcliff do know better and that the administration keeps a watchful eye. On a totally different topic, I have to laugh, Robin, at you looking in the directory for Mr. Borrel. The directory is my first resource for all people Briarcliff, forgetting they might not have children in the schools.
JanFisher June 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm
This is truly progress. Will both of you be taking down your negative comments now to really andRead More meaningfully get the ball rolling and to move beyond mere words? It will be good work when it is backed by real actions. I have not posted anything negative this entire time so really nothing has been accomplished yet except promises to behave. But I am truly glad that both of you are now committed to a standard of decency in public exchanges. Have a great weekend!
Lisa Jenner June 8, 2013 at 11:41 pm
I have read and re-read Mr. O'Reilly's thoughts on the BOE meeting and I will try to be fair aboutRead More this. I will admit that Mr. O'Reilly used some choice adjectives (strange, mysterious, nefarious) and asked a couple of somewhat inflammatory rhetorical questions (Will Mr. Wasserman serve his BOE time on the baseball diamond?), but I would suggest that if you disregard the rhetoric, he has presented a fairly factual presentation of what transpired at the meeting. Do you disagree?
JanFisher June 9, 2013 at 05:54 am
Lisa - my decision to write at all was out of excitement about the opportunity to help infuseRead More decency into these public exchanges. I have had my say and it has been positive. Quite honestly, I think the community at-large and the Briarcliff community are really tired of all of the public infighting on the Patch. I am committed to our schools and children and I choose to use my very limited free time and energy to volunteer for the schools when I can. Again, I do have many opinions and would love to speak with you in person- maybe we can do some good together. My cell - 439-0203.