Jackson Free Press

Miss Doodle Mae: "Good morning, Jojo's Discount Dollar Store staff! Jojo asked me to conduct a special staff meeting in response to the Shirley Sherrod controversy. Most of you witnessed a hasty decision—caused by a manipulative individual—to terminate a sincere and diligent employee. Jojo was very suspicious about what happened to Ms. Sherrod after he viewed her entire speech on the Internet.

"This incident of intimidation through audio and visual manipulation reminded Jojo of the time he quit working for Mr. Meen O. Whitman's Grocery Store to start up his own discount dollar store. Jojo did all the necessary things to obtain a small business loan. But when Jojo was about to sign the loan papers, the loan officer had to share a ‘letter of concern' from Mr. Meen O. Whitman. It read:

Dear Mr. Loan Officer:
I sent you this personal letter to suggest that Jojo not receive a loan from your bank. Even though he faithfully worked 10 years for me, I strongly feel he is just not ready to manage his own store. Warning! Jojo is destined for failure and will default on his loan.
Sincerely,
Meen O. Whitman

"Thanks to the critically thinking and fair loan officer, Jojo has a successful business and paid back his loan.

"The morals of these teachable moments are: Everyone is not like Meen O. Whitman. And don't get fooled by angry, manipulative political bloggers.

"Staff meeting is dismissed. Be careful out there!"