Now, I've sent several contributions to Webb. Given Allen's recent statements, past associations, etc. I have no trouble accepting the fact that he has a lot of questions to answer honestly and fully before anyone should even think of voting for him for anything.

But, I live in rural Alabama and we have a lot of deer on the farm. We don't hunt & don't allow it on our property, but you still see plenty of dead animals in yards, side of the road, etc.

And I have to ask: Just how big WAS this mailbox if a deer head would fit inside it?

That just doesn't make sense. And I don't want to defend Allen in the least, but this story doesn't ring true as it's written. Maybe there's more info available?

I'm so used to the good ole boys being after trophy bucks that I forgot we do have "doe days" on the schedule.

It would make sense that a doe's head wouldn't be valuable at all - unless as (ick!) a dog toy. So why not shove it in a mailbox?

!

Minor correction your list of Democrats. Senator Lieberman, having lost his place on the Democratic ticket in the August primary, is now running as the candidate of the "Connecticut for Lieberman" party. This one-candidate party is not affiliated with the Democratic party in any way.

Please, especially after his torture vote, we Democrats have no desire to claim Lieberman.

...who has never written or spoken "the N word." Does it matter than I'm white? It shouldn't, but I'll throw that in.

Although I heard it often enough - many times from family members. But one of my earliest memories is of my mother telling me it was the worst, ugliest word in the world and if she ever heard me use it, she would - and I quote -

Beat you until you die.

Since I can't remember ever being spanked, much less beaten, that was quite an effective threat. I have "issues" with my mother (like everyone), but she was great politically and ethically.

But sure, I'd have to say it's part of my "reading" vocabulary, but not "speaking" vocabulary since I have read it before but never plan to say it aloud.

Never know when Mommy might be eavesdropping. Not to mention the NSA...

At least that's what my Alabama grandmother taught all us grandkids.

I see many letters here that term friendliness and politness as "scary" and "phony" and other unpleasant adjectives. One letter writer even indicates that he prefers a "fuck you" in New York more than a "hi hon!" in the South. That's deemed "more honest."

It's also damn rude and usually completely unnecessary. It's offensive and shows a complete lack of regard for not only the person you're addressing but also the people standing around who have to hear it.

And people wonder why Southerners are wary of outsiders?

I'll tell you why. Because too many arrive here in Alabama (or Alanta or Jacksonville) completely and smugly convinced of their own ethical and educational superiority. A friend who moved here from Detroit several years ago actually - and with a straight face - invited my husband and me to meet their visiting relatives.

Sounds friendly, right? Only until he explained that he wanted his mother-in-law to understand that "a few people in this place aren't idiots!" Ahem. Forgive me for not being flattered.

Yes, we're polite and helpful to strangers, but we aren't interested in listening politely as you give us chapter and verse about what's wrong with our educational system, economy, political viewpoints, and religion.

I'm a Jewish liberal Democrat who's an Alabama native. I don't need to be told what's wrong because I've worked for decades to try to fix it. If you're only coming here to criticize and exhibit your own moral superiority, then let me pretend to be a New Yorker - just for a second:

"Shut the hell up!"

From what I've seen in my own congregation, many older Jews (age 60 and up) define their Jewish identity totally in relation to the Shoah and Israel. And I can understand that, although I don't think it's really healthy.

For many of them, Israel is always right and even the mildest criticism should be stifled immediately. Even if it comes from people in their own congregation who, one would expect, aren't in any way anti-Semitic. (Those people aren't likely to join Jewish congregations.)

So there's a conspiracy of silence in many communities. While the older generation talks endlessly about "poor Israel" and wrings their hands and raises money on the issue, the younger people are more interested in what's happening to Jewish life in their own community and what's happening to civil liberties and freedom in the United States. But if we say that, the condemnation is immediate and there's an uproar.

I agree that many younger Jews (fortyish and under) will be thrilled if this new organization gets off the ground. I'll join and I'll send money.

AIPAC isn't just hurting Israel, they're hurting the United States too. If this new group can bring some balance to the debate, it's a reason to celebrate.

Is it not possible to agree that nobody involved in this conflict, be it Muslims, Jews, British, Saudis, Palestinians, Americans, etc. - have completely clean hands?

Everybody has committed bad acts and everybody has much to apologize for.

So admit it and let's move on and try to figure out a solution. This endless squabbling about who did what to whom in the 8th century, in 1919, in 1967, or even in 2005 isn't productive.

What matters is how we act NOW and cooperate to create a viable future for the people in this region. I'm sick of the victim mentality on both sides and the blame game. It's getting us nowhere. Fast.