Dear Mr. Erickson:
I will start this letter by first stating that I rarely watch “reality” television. I much prefer to watch what I consider, at least in my opinion, more worthwhile programs. I would have never heard of you had it not been for a headline on Yahoo, claiming that you were the worst husband ever. Out of curiosity I clicked the link and then read of your behavior on ‘Wife Swap.’ As stated previously, I do not watch reality television so therefore I have never viewed a single episode of ‘Wife Swap’ but after reading about your rude and hateful behavior towards Gayla, I made it a point to watch this particular episode.
It is here that I would like to tell you that I’m a Missouri resident. I also will tell you that I’m educated. I have two Bachelors degrees, one Masters degree, and am currently working on a Ph.D. I have a BMI of 20 and I take good care of my body. I also endorse environmental awareness and I live as ‘green’ as I can. I also take an interest in other cultures and make it a point to stay current on global issues. In short, I am everything a Missouri resident, a Midwesterner, should not be according to your highly prejudiced, myopic viewpoint.
I took what I saw on ‘Wife Swap’ with an ample grain of salt as “reality” as portrayed on reality television may be a rather dubious representation of real life. With that said, I was nonetheless horrified and appalled at what I can only describe as vicious, callous, spiteful, arrogant, hateful, if not downright pathological behavior on your part. In fact, I am very confused as to why anyone with your so called intelligence and education can act, and treat others, like you did.
It is therefore my opinion that you, sir, are a fraud. It is my contention that you learned very little during your education. If you had, you would have discovered how interconnected we are with others as a species. You would have noted from your history lessons how elitists have abused the individuals they considered beneath them, as well as how kindly history now remembers those elitists. You might have gained some perspective on how utterly insignificant we are when compared to the vastness of the universe. You also might have learned humility and gratitude when you reflected on how very unlikely it is that we are even here. Finally, if you would have been paying attention at University, you would have felt a sense of responsibility to serve humankind as well as the environment.
The individuals you scorn have as much right to dignity as you, yet you completely demoralised that woman as well as the rest of the people captured by your wide brush strokes of generalisation. You apparently believe that people who do not live up to your standards are subhuman. That attitude, sir, is a very dangerous one to have as we have seen what happens when one group of people dehumanise another group.
I am further saddened to see you teach your children the same bigoted ideals. You are preparing them to carry on your legacy of arrogance and pompousness. This is doing a disservice to them as they will be handicapped in socialisation skills with their fellow humans as well as healthy emotional development. I hope that these apples will fall far, far from your tree.
I care not that you insulted my country as becoming an American was simply an accident of my birth. I care not that you insulted my entire state as becoming a resident of Missouri was again, simply an accident of birth. My skin is thick enough to dismiss your venom as the ideals of a bigot.
I do not forgive you your horrendous behavior or your equally sickening morality.
Although there is probably very little hope for you at this point, I recommend that now become a student of humanity. Perhaps then you will learn what it means to be human.
