Letters to the Editor
larrfirr
Published Letters: 214 Editor's Choice: 27
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Jolting Joe
[Read the article: Jolting Joe]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First, I want to say I live in New Haven, Connecticut, that's the same city as Lieberman. I don't need to say I want to see someone else representing my state in the Senate, that has been said by others, and I want to add my problems with him originated long before the Iraq war. There are many good reasons to get rid of him.
But, what alternatives would be acceptable? Lowell Weicker, as an independant, is a good alternative, but remember he is 75 years old. What would people think about a liberal republican alternative like Chris Shays? Neither would count towards a Democratic majority. How important is the party itself, as opposed to the individual senator?
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Brainwashed?
[Read the article: The real war on Christmas]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]To attribute someone's, albeit fanatical, opinions to some subtle brainwashing by Bill O'Reilly and his ilk is no way to bring about peace. You owe it, especially to people you love, to understand why they feel the way they do, whether you think it is justified or not. Dividing the world into "good" and "evil" is how we got into the political mess we are in now, and it is time we all start listening to each other.
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Book of Daniel
[Read the article: Sinfully bad TV]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think the review of this show is kind of harsh considering we've only seen the pilot. Yes, the writers jumped in with both feet, and in two hours established enough issues to last several seasons. But my guess is in the future all these issues will be played out on various episodes.
I think what needs to be made clear to the protestors is that the Jesus is not meant to be the real Jesus, but Webster's idea of him. Don't a lot of Christians imagine what Jesus would do or say when they have a difficult decision to make?
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A few points
[Read the article: Rotten judgment in the state of Denmark]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I want to point out a few things.
1. Just because you have the legal right to do something, that doesn't give you the moral right to do it.
2. Censorship is when the goverment restricts free speech, not when a newspaper makes an editorial decision not to publish something.
3. Exactly how many Muslims actually want to commit violent acts regarding this is not clear. What I see is that it is another issue demogogues in the Muslim world use to excite people. My guess is most Muslims are offended but don't want to kill the Danes.
4. It is interesting that a recent TV show I really liked, The Book of Daniel, was cancelled after two episodes because it depicted Jesus espousing liberal ideas (and ones many reasonable Christians would agree with). I also remember in the 60s when John Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus the extreme reaction many had boycotting the Beatles and publicly destroying their records.
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Not very funny
[Read the article: Exclusive: Alexander Hamilton commits suicide]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First of all, political satire has to make a good point. Cheney shot someone, Burr shot someone, there the relevance ends. And anything that equates George Bush with Thomas Jefferson is just plain wrong.
Now a funnier article might compare Bush's right to do domestic wiretaps to Cheney's right to shoot people, including citing this historical example.
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Colonoscopy
[Read the article: I'm going in for a colonoscopy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I had one done a few years ago. I just want to add a different experience than some of the people who have written. I was awake and aware during the whole procedure. I found it fascinating to see my colon on the monitor. They never show you the colonoscope but I think it is a rather small diameter. I did have some internal pain during the procedure, but nothing like having a dentist work on your teeth. I found it much more fascinating than painful. And when you are in recovery, you can fart all you want, in fact they encourage it. That's something you don't get to experience every day!
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Discrete?
[Read the article: Forget the leakers, let's crack down on the gays]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First, let me say I have some experience in this matter. Many years ago I applied for a job with a government contractor that required a security clearance and was administered a polygraph test where the "homosexual experiences" question came up. And indeed I hadn't had any homosexual contact at that time, but of course the needle practically flew off the machine. The next week I got a letter stating that they the job was no longer available. I just wanted to share that.
Now, as many have pointed out, being a closeted gay, especially a married man makes you vulnerable to blackmail, however there was the case many years ago of Frank Kameny, a man was totally out of the closet and hiding it from no one, yet was denied the clearance. And what further makes me wonder if this blackmail issue is the real issue was the words stated in the new policy saying what would help someone get the clearance is if they are "strictly private, consensual and discreet". Now in the gay world, and I thought to everyone else, discreet is a code word for "in the closet", used frequently by married men. Add to this the military's don't-ask-don't-tell policy and it calls into question this issue of being vulnerable to blackmail. What the goverment fears is not people who are vulnerable to blackmail, but people, who by their very nature are subversive to the world view of the people in power.