To the editor:

On Saturday, March 15, 2008, the Laurel Leader-Call published a $582.45 advertisement, “Promoting Pride & Progress in the City of Laurel” on page C7 of that edition.

Objectionably, the one-half page ad, paid for by the “Office of the Mayor” and the “City Council Office,” listed: “Willie Lavonne Evans Ward 1, Tony Wheat Ward 2, Tony Thaxton Ward 3, George Carmichael (Council President) Ward 4, Manuel L. Jones Ward 5, Felecia Mann Breland Ward 7.”

Ostensibly, this ad is subtle, albeit obvious to some readers, a jab at Councilman Johnnie Magee, Ward 6. It is a blatant message of ostracism. Where is Ward 6’s and Magee’s $83.20 worth? Who, within our universe of discourse, mathematically, sequentially, serially, rationally and ethically counts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-7? Only in those esoteric arrangements for special effect!

Now, this type of number manipulation occurred in George Orwell’s “Nineteen-Eighty-Four,” whereby, the “Party,” using the device “Newspeak” to control its members, two plus two became five. The process, using concepts like “vaporization” and “the mutability of the past” alters facts, reality and the past to suit its current situation. This is exactly what is taking place in the $582.45 Mayor-Council ad that enumerates: “1,2,3,4,5-7.”

This glaring omission is designed to “whip” and “condition” Magee into lockstep,” i.e., if he is weak and cannot sustain his “individuality.” The advertisement is a method of shunning Magee who does not mindlessly adhere to the mode of the majority “Party,” as was the case in the society of Oceania in “1984.” Therefore, as the methods of advertising work well for commercial and propagandistic ends, are they, as well, in Laurel, working for political ends? “1,2,3,4,5-7” is indicative!

— Harvey Warren

Laurel