I enjoyed this article for several reasons.First, she demonstrates how to carry on a conversation with those with whom one disagrees, an apparently lost art judging by the response letters.Second, her opinions as always, mix what seem to me to be sharp observations with some whacky perspectives, which is itself amusing and interesting to read. Third, in contrast to the views of some of the letter writers, I don't see her views as "talking points", but quite the opposite, actual views and ideas. Finally: folks, I know its been a maddening six plus years with Bush et al, but by the tone of these letters we liberals are are sounding way shrill and humorless.Breathe, y'all

All three countries united for peace and prosperity? We could do it better than the Europeans have,clean up our own act and be rich and happy! Sign me up!

I am a divorce lawyer and have handled several divorces in which successful, powerful women are getting rid of very servicable and supportive house husbands(or less demanding job husbands) because their power broker coworkers or magazines or someone have convinced them that their loving, supportive and not very ambitious husband is a loser who must be dumped. The men are sad to lose her but ok to go on, but the women in these divorces seem to be ruining their lives and sending away the person who can help them, mostly to satisfy some stereotype, or in pursuit of some power couple fantasy that they will never achieve.Social pressure seems to be ruining marriages here.

no

200 years from now, who will be remembered from this era as great or world changing? Ventner is fascinating to me despite his unattractive aspects because he is probably that man.

It seems strange that Zen meditation work or zazen, should be dismissed in this article as an antique method, irrelevant to this inquiry.Even a poor practitioner of the art(like me)has had the experience of observing the streams of ordinary thought from some point of consciousness apart from those thoughts: it is the most mundane form of that experience; How can this possibly even be in serious question?

The hope that drives the votes for Obama is that we can somehow transform the political life of our country from the dispiriting mess it's in. His blackness is one big part of that: his election will certainly be a change under any definition. The winning candidates so far,even on the Republican side, seem to be those who offer the most hope for change. The voter's choice so far appears to be for the most change from the recent past we can get- across the board. Can you blame us?

I see the bald assertion of race baiting by Obama but on what evidence again? No specifics and no substance to this argument.

Gary Null, Wayne Dyer etc, etc, for reasons I cannot fathom public television has taken to fund raising by running shows by the most lame fads and fakes for the last few years. Their own fund raising appears to be the strongest possible argument against their continued existence.

No disrespect to the fine cartoon character, and I did not think of it myself, but ever since I saw the comparison somewhere on line I can't get it out of my mind.

Isn't it it kind of obvious that our consumer choices are a statement, or a kind of artistic expression of how we view ourselves or wish to be viewed? And isn't it also obvious that we can enjoy or master this process or be confused or controlled by it? What kind of dolts, or much more likely, charlatans, believe or pretend to believe that they only choose rationally ? Does anybody fall for that? Do they? This all seems like everyday common sense to me, not a real intellectual problem.

Thank you for pointing out that which should be obvious. John McCain is an eccentric, vainglorious character who is erratic in his views,impulsive and ill advised in his decision making,has questionable control of his temper and is given to meanness and personal attacks on those who oppose him. As such he represents a much larger risk to the country as President that the emotionally balanced, fair minded and intellectually brilliant Barack Obama. Why can't this case be made by Democrats?