Letters to the Editor
sabatia
Published Letters: 85 Editor's Choice: 3
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What about Barry Manilow?
[Read the article: A rock 'n' roll poll for Passover]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why isn't he an option on your list?
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Nuns and Priests
[Read the article: Naughty nuns excommunicated]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Cardinal Law did nothing about the pervasive sexual abuse of minors except transfer and protect the perps. Now he's been elevated in Rome. The Church will pay $600 million in damages in one diocese, $350 million in another, etc, etc, etc. All the higher up Cardinals, bishops, and archbishops who either covered up or actively participated are still in office. Orphanages in Ireland, Canada, England, US, etc. which were playpens for priestly pederasts. But no, instead of truly dealing with the crimes, sins, and damaged humans that the Church has caused, let's go after these nuns or homosexuals. This church has no credibility. It is a buffoonish and destructive, more concerned with protecting clerics, dressing in fancy vestments, than truly promoting the vision of Christ.
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Catechism and Theology
[Read the article: Naughty nuns excommunicated]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is catechism, theology, and canon law: Still, we now know that thousands of priests sexually abused minors and the Church heirarchy let it go on. This Church is men, not gods, not God, and certainly not of Christ. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves. All their catechisms and theology and they are still really just power and glory mongers, and criminals. It is just outrageous how they can wag their fingers at anybody else. These are men who do not have the least understanding of the spirit or the Lord.
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Ah Eric Clapton
[Read the article: Clapton is not God]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First of all, I am so impressed that Gary K. can listen to, think about, and write about rock and roll and one of its great guitar heros on top of his usually insightful social and political commentaries.
I remember when the first Cream album came out, sitting in the closet of my dorm room because I had the volume on the earphones so loud my roommates could not do their homework (I certainly didn't do mine!) Saw Cream several times live, the best being at Cafe Au Gogo, and awfully intimate setting for Ginger and his thunderous double drum set. It still amazes me today when I listen to Cream that so much sound, mood, interest could come out of a three piece band.
That peak period for Clapton was a peak period for many musicians, the late Sixties being an incredible time of creativity and energy. The death (Jimmie, Janice, Altamont), the fact that we could not stop the war, the co-option by corporate money and thinking: all too many great musicians, individual and bands alike, transitioned from artists plumbing our individual and collective souls and their own souls to entertainers. In this regard, Clapton is but one of many, including the Beatles, Stones, etc.
And forget about the blues for a second. Clapton was (is?) a rock and roller heavily influenced by the blues. At his best moments, which I think Gary has correctly indentified, he was AMONG the greatest rock and roll guitarists ever.
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Ah Eric PS
[Read the article: Clapton is not God]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Somehow the whole episode of Enoch Powell escaped me back then--maybe because we didn't have internet. Even if EC said this stuff while drunk a'la Mel Gibson, it diminishes him, much as his support for the Fascists diminished Ezra Pound. Though the political ultimately cannot take away from art. Important question: Did EC ever apologize for that episode?
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Mitt = Dogfood
[Read the article: Why is Mitt Romney like dog food?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While I don't like Rudy or Huck, Romney is such a lying empty suit who will say anything to promote himself. His money and his transparently self-serving issues "conversions"--marketing--have certainly convinced a few NH and IW voters. But are they really that stupid that they will be taken in by someone who really doesn't care a whit about people like them or the things they truly hold dear? Mitt only cares about one thing: Mitt. Oh ya, not that I'm opposed to wealth, but Mitt also cares about his wealthy friends.
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"Shtup-gate"
[Read the article: Don't ignore Shtup-gate!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Joan, Did you come up with this tag: "Shtup-gate"? I love it when a nice Irish girl uses a Jewish colloquial expression with panache and insight! Mazel tov!
But on more serious matters: Rudy is a dead man walking. Just too much sleeze in the last week for even Republican voters, and reinforcing their worst personal fears about the man--the whole thing about visiting mistress Judy on the tax-payer's dime, leaving aside the beaurucratic shell game with the costs.
Time to start focusing Salon's laser-like eyes on Mitt. So many people are dismissive of Mitt because he's such a shallow phony. But my guess is that he's the man, with Huckabee or someone like him at his side. He's got money. He's squeeky clean (Stepford Wives?). He's smart. He's someone the R establishment can easily get behind. Moderate business folks, who are now especially attracted to Obama, will return to the fold. The pandering and VP choice (not to mention David Keene's endorsement today) will also make him the best bet for the right. Be concerned!
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Judi Shtups Rudy/Rudy Shtups the Taxpayers
[Read the article: Don't ignore Shtup-gate!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It could be a movie!
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God Bless Larry Craig
[Read the article: More men claim sex with Craig]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]He has saved millions of us billions of dollars in Comedy Connction fees. He is the show that just keeps giving.
I love his "alibi": "I reached my hand under the partition of an occupied stall to pick up a piece of toilet paper." What kind of Senator, nay, what kind of man picks up little pieces of toilet paper from the floor of public restrooms?
And you, Mr. Elephant Man: Go back to your nasty Republican stable with all the nasty stinkin' muck: Abramoff, Ney, Gonzales, Cunningham, Foley, Vitter, Stevens,etc. etc. etc. You can make up all the transparent lies you want about Hillary: Your folks have the benefit of true "convictions." Ha.