You really can't make this stuff up!

Early Monday morning, NewsBusters informed readers about a truly disgraceful comment [0] made last month by famed horror author Stephen King concerning people that can't read having to enter the Army (video embedded right).

Hours later, I mentioned [0] in the comments section that I was receiving a lot of strange e-mail messages.

Well, it turns out King wrote [1] about my piece at his website, and instructed readers to "find Sheppard on the internet [1]" -- please notice the embedded link goes to my NewsBusters blog! -- and write me with text that included "Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree":

A message from Stephen

That a right-wing-blog would impugn my patriotism because I said children should learn to read, and could get better jobs by doing so, is beneath contempt. Noel Sheppard says, “Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen.” I guess he feels ignorance and illiteracy are OK when the country needs cannon-fodder. I guess he also feels that the war in Iraq has nationwide approval. Well, it doesn’t have mine. It is a waste of national resources. . . and that includes the youth and blood of the 4,000 American troops who have lost their lives there and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded. I live in a national guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career—military or otherwise. If you agree, find Sheppard on the internet [1], and send him an email:

“Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree.”

Steve

Posted 5 May 200 [sic]

Aside from getting the year wrong, it's some of his best writing in a long time, wouldn't you agree?