This PISSES ME OFF!!!!

[ianuk]

Slate writen Hanna Rosin is a HACK! Please go read her crass treatment of Jan Berenstain here at slate.

Here is my letter to the editor...if you also agree write them at nyoffice@slate.com and dcoffice@slate.com.

To the Editors of Slate,

Most of the comments on the article say the gist of my opinion but I felt strongly enough about how horrid the article was by Hanna Rosin on the Death of Jan Berenstain, that I am writing you my opinion.

The article should be pulled. The books, while highly optimistic and sugar coated, really do teach children and adults of all ages some of the social graces we all could stand to uphold. I have bought quite a few for my family and have been comforted by their messages. My son is now 11 mos old and while he hasn't yet enjoyed the pages of the books I have picked up he soon will. My only annoyance has been that I can not buy the complete set of the books that have been published over the last 45 years in one package.

Ms. Rosin's "Good Riddance" to a lady who put her heart and soul into one of the largest single series of children's books was crass and uncalled for. Personally, Ms. Rosin should send a hand written condolence/apology to Mrs. Berenstain's family for her poor choice of words and actions on a very public forum.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Nelson Kemp
Mother to Benton Kemp

EDIT: 2/29/12
Looks like people at Slate listened.
Calling on the Why Oh-bitch-uaries

Then a pretty dumb "apology" from Hanna herself:

UPDATE, Feb. 28, 2012: I have been roundly (and deservedly) chastised in e-mails and elsewhere by Slate readers for my use of “good riddance” in connection with this kind woman’s death. I admit, I was not really thinking of her as a person with actual feelings and a family, just an abstraction who happened to write these books. Apologies. Next time I will be more humane. --Hanna


Lame but at least people noticed.

Comments

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Wow. Way for her to be classy, spitting on the grave of someone who spent her life trying to make people smile.

[fibergeek.livejournal.com]

Wow! Just wow! I can't imagine being that bitter toward a children's author. Especially one who spent that much time trying to teach manners. Obviously Ms. Rosin could have used a copy of the one on saying something nice.

[cowboy-r.livejournal.com]

I've always been a fan of the Bears.

[spunkybluegrl.livejournal.com]

Dang. She posted an 'update' stating this: UPDATE, Feb. 28, 2012: I have been roundly (and deservedly) chastised in e-mails and elsewhere by Slate readers for my use of “good riddance” in connection with this kind woman’s death. I admit, I was not really thinking of her as a person with actual feelings and a family, just an abstraction who happened to write these books. Apologies. Next time I will be more humane. --Hanna

Clearly this person never learned proper manners when dealing with the dead, much less dealing with people in general. An abstraction? Seriously?

[shade-scribbler.livejournal.com]

"Good Riddance" to anyone who has died should have been caught by the editor. How incredibly insensitive. Like the Berenstien Bears or not you don't say that.

AND - those books are sweet! I read one to my niece just a little while ago.