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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Mike_in_NM
Published Letters: 266 Editor's Choice: 37
Sometimes I wonder why I read Cary's column before I read anything else on Salon.com. Then he says something like:
"But for a longtime resident of Barcelona, who has long been in the warm embrace of his family, for him to come to this splintered, fractious, ignorant and superstitious land of bounders, sales associates and itchy prophets of doom, to ask him to live among this restless, rootless, warlike people: It might all be a little much."
and I know why.
Are you kidding us? Did you really say: "He is also in favor of life." ?
One could also state that: "He is against abortions for poor people." (We all know the rich will travel to get abortions if they become illegal here.) Alternatively, how about: "He'd prefer the poor to get illegal abortions." Or maybe we could say: "He'd like to force his personal morality on the poor and powerless." I like the third option best.
Hastert is just another ethically-challenged right wing power-broker (i.e. DeLay, Frist). He certainly doesn't care about the real people that you write and speak so eloquently about. For example, he is currently figuring out what to do with the tens of thousands of dollars he got from Abramoff and his indian tribe clients. (Swindling indians? Haven't they suffered enough?) Let's hope he gets indicted too.
If weight is important in a leader's disposition and judgement, how do you explain Cheney?
Its time for a change in party and a breath of fresh air at the top. If you need a midwesterner to get behind, how about Barack Obama? He is smart, honest, well-spoken, and unencumbered by a lot of political baggage.
-Mike
The only reason to go college is intellectual curiosity. In my opinion, too much focus is put on the supposed economic benefits of a college education. Sometimes those benefits are real, sometimes not. For example, no one can argue that being a teacher or social worker, professions that both require at least a B.A. and increasingly a M.A., is a way to make a good living. You could do almost as well with some other job that does not require a college degree. However, no one would argue that being a teacher or social worker isn't noble and rewarding for many of those that are so inclined. Our society has simply become too materialistic. A satisfying, fulfilling, and useful life is what we all crave.
The letter writer should get her MFA, practicality be damned. Submit your portfolio to the school and see where that leads. You husband's signature is not required on your application.
The big secret that most single people don't know is that many, many loving couples don't actually sleep together. People snore, they steal the covers, they talk in their sleep. Getting a good night's sleep is very important for your health and well being. Separate beds in separate rooms are more common than you think.
You have a serious illness. Its similar to having cancer or some other life-threatening disease. So, deal with this like a serious illness. You need to find the best medical help you can. You need a doctor that will either find a way to cure your disease or at least reduce its symptoms so that life can be livable.
My advice is to find a good research hospital with psychiatric clinical staff. Go see someone who specializes in bipolar disorder. Dont go anywhere but a research hospital. All doctors are not equal and the best doctors practice at these hospitals. Psychiatrists are medical doctors that know about all of the medications and their side effects. They will try various medicines, adjusting doses, etc until they find something that works. Be patient. Stick with it. Don't give up.
Don't rely only on a psychologist or "therapist". They are not trained in any aspect of medicine. They do not understand the biological basis for your disease or how or why the medications do or don't work. Talk therapy has its place, but you need stronger medicine.
I grew up and lived in suburban Ohio for the first 25 years of my life. After grad. school, I moved to Boston for 2 1/2 years. It was a life-changing experience. Moving to the big city was expensive and difficult at first. But, eventually grew to love the city. I learned that I could cut it. I learned to take the T and where the best restaurants are. I learned to love Boston's gruff locals.
Since then, I've lived in increasingly rural locations. However, my time in Boston and the lessons I learned about myself will always be with me.
If the boy loves you, he will follow. After all, those who can't drive can do worse than live in a big city with public transportation. Live in the big city while you have the chance! You wont regret it.
People don't kill themselves because they are broke or physically sick. They kill themselves because they are mentally ill. 10% of clinically depressed people attempt suicide.
I am from a family with lots of mental illness and alcoholism. Unlike many children of troubled parents, you have made the important first step, realizing how profoundly your parent's problems have affected you. Of course, since they committed suicide, this is obvious to you. However, for many of us who sufferred trama at the hands of our parents that is just slightly less dramatic than suicide, it often takes many years of grief to arrive at this discovery.
The next step is to seek professional help. Find a person to listen to your story and to help you make sense of it. This seems like an approach that is too simple to help such a complex and difficult problem. However, in my case, and many others, it has made a world of difference.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
