Letters to the Editor
larrfirr
Published Letters: 257 Editor's Choice: 33
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What if it was us?
[Read the article: The "hiding among civilians" myth]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In the late 19th century an Irish-American group called the Fenian brotherhood was formed, which today would be called "terrorist". These people made military raids on Canada in at least five instances. While there are many differences between this and what is happening in the Middle East, a few things are common. Many Americans supported their political goals (freeing Ireland from British domination) and many in the US government turned a blind eye to this group arming itself. If Canada had decided to retaliate against civilians the way Israel has, how would you feel?
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Fantasy and reality
[Read the article: I found my dad's gay porn]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First, I have to wonder about LW's age. If this is a teenager, it will be hard for him to just forget about it. But I don't think talking to his father -- "confronting him" -- is going to do anything more than create more problems.
I just wanted to say I enjoy some porn that is about things I would never want to do in real life, things that many people would find shocking if they took it seriously. But there is a big difference between fantasy and reality. Take it out of the sexual area and think about the things we read or watch for entertainment, and weather these depict things we actually want in our real lives. Now I know gay porn is more likely to indicate something he actually has a desire to do, but perhaps like many (slightly) bisexual men, he will leave it in the realm of fantasy.
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Joe's future
[Read the article: Sore losers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't know that Rove can or would offer Lieberman the republican nomination for senator. That's already been decided. But I wouldn't put it past the White House to give him a job. Weren't they talking about Secretary of Defense at one point? Or perhaps ambassador to a certain country he has close ties to?
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What does he get out of it
[Read the article: I really like gay men, but I'm not gay]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My experience is there is one big reason straight men like being with gay men, I mean if they truly are straight. Gay men give them a lot of attention, are willing to listen to their personal problems and offer support and encouragement. Haven't you guys ever seen Queer Eye For The Straight Guy?
Why do gay men do this? Perhaps they are not trying to seduce LW, but that is just the way they have learned to act with men they like.
This may shed light on LW's failures with women. He wants to be the one who is fauned over, doted on and pursued and when women don't give him that kind of attention things go awry.
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It's a private space
[Read the article: Right-wing reading in the corporate john]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Unless Cary was making an elaborate joke, my advice to him is "Get a grip!" Despite the fact that it is called a public men's room, this is a private space. This is not a ladies room, it is not a place for conversation or any human interaction, it is place to be alone with your bodily functions and whatever goes through your mind. Leaving things to read in the toilet stall is just plain sloppy. If you want to read you should take something in and take it out when you are finished. I don't like to tell people what to do, but in this case I'll make an exception. And if anyone ever says anything to me in the men's room besides "hello" they receive a grunt and a blank look.
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Brain chemistry
[Read the article: "This Is Your Brain on Music"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think it is kind of tacky to correct another letter writer but I have to say this. Brain chemistry does not mimic drugs. Drugs mimic brain chemistry. It is a very important distinction, the emotional states we get through endorphins, endocanniboids or whatever are natural and normal, and an essential part of being human.
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Oceans protect us
[Read the article: Our magnificent isolation]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is suprisingly similar to the situation of Russia. No one ever conquered it, it is just too big. But remember, Russia collapsed from within many times. That is what Lincoln saw happening and that is what could happen again.
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Demographic changes?
[Read the article: Is the homeland where America's heart is?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Has anyone thought about the possible demographic changes resulting from the rising price of petroleum? The cost of commuting from the exurbs or even living in 'wide open' areas could make urban life more attractive. I'll leave it to others to figure out how that will affect this issue.
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Prevention
[Read the article: Should abortion be prevented?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Depite this argument about the cost of contraception, I find it hard to believe that any woman getting an abortion wouldn't have preferred if she had not gotten pregnant in the first place. And I just don't believe that someone would feel a surgery like this is just a minor thing to do to their body.
Also I must disagree with the words my representative, Ms DeLauro used. I don't believe we should be encouraging women to carry pregnancies to term. That sounds awfully like a guilt thing, and I must say, we have plenty of babies in this world. What we need to do is make contraception a national priority.
Now in an ideal world, all females past puberty would have a surgically implanted birth control device (which would be totally safe) and when they wanted children they would have to go through an approval process to make sure they are able to raise the child well. Would this be a fascistic imposition on people's person freedom? You bet, but it would certainly solve our problem with abortion and give children a much better chance of having capable parents, not to mention keep down the population in a country that uses up such a disproportionate amount of the world's resources.