Letters to the Editor
Morris Sheppard
Published Letters: 76 Editor's Choice: 5
-
Pictures may tell a story
[Read the article: It's a McWorld after all]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I understand that a photograph is merely a frozen moment of time and may or may not represent any totality, yet there is always a certain non-verbal truth contained in images. Look at the expressions of the Melander family in their lovely home in front of those gleaming rows of packaged food, especially those of the kids which might be described as neutral at best and somewhat truculent at worst and those of the Ecuadorians in their much more humble surrounds, circled about their potatoes, plantains and sacks of grain beaming as if they just won the lottery. Now tell me who is the "richer."
Also, as pointed out, Sparky's "Deeply Dishonest" letter is itself either completely disingenuous or, to be kind, merely displays a profound ignorance of nutrition. It appears he would like to take others to task for having "an axe to grind" while merrily honing his own. According to him Italians enjoying pasta are indulging in foreign food, it having been invented in China. Please. Can you say "equivocation?" I knew you could.
-
Pure cowardice
[Read the article: Fear of spying]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]So-called Democratic "strategists" and "consultants" have one thing in common with people like letter writer Carl Strating. They are snivelling, cowardly, gutless, weak kneed milksops. No wonder why they lose. No wonder why they are afraid.
"I'd rather live with some of my civil liberties slightly curtailed than die with all of them intact" is not only craven, weak and and foolish it is deeply, profoundly wrong, both as philosophy and strategy. More importantly, it is deeply, profoundly un-American, and runs counter to the greatest tenets and most fundamental beliefs of our country.
"Is life so sweet or peace so dear as to be purchased at the cost of chains and slavery? I know not what others may choose, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death." - Patrick Henry.
"Those who would give up essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benj. Franklin
Now, THAT'S American!
-
Birds of a feather
[Read the article: Jon Stewart, John McCain and "Bullshit Town"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just as McCain, by pandering to the Falwell's of the world, sucking up to Bush and remaining silent when The President guts his pet law against torture with his signing statement makes his own best case against himself and exposes the hack he truly is, Manjoo, with his uncritical admiration of this duplicitous political climber and self revealed admiration for the "appearance" rather than the substance of the man makes the best case that he is a superficial and rather worthless political writer and analyst.
I see why Manjoo admires him.
-
A tragedy, or not
[Read the article: Real inconvenient truths]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'll keep this brief, as others have so ably deconstructed Paglia above.
A Paglia article in Salon - a sad waste of perfectly good electrons.
Paglia - a sad waste of perfectly good proteins.
-
And a good thing, too
[Read the article: We'll have what he's having]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is fitting that our Leader appears at prayer breakfasts. Or prayer luncheons, dinners, or even prayer midnight snacks. With the sheer number and enormity of all the crimes exposed in, and scandals now emanating from, his corrupt reign he's gonna need all the prayers he can get.
-
It never was a "surge"
[Read the article: "Why don't we just go?"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It always was an escalation. We are not leaving. Those in charge never intended for us to leave. Ever. This war has not been mishandled. Our situation is not the result of incompetence. Having troops in Iraq for the forseeable future, if not for ever, was always the goal. Since that goal would have been unacceptable to the American public, "incompetence" was the easiest way to get there.
-
The rationale? To control us.
[Read the article: What is the rationale behind the prescription drug laws?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The War on Drugs, like the War on Terror, is really the War on Civil Liberties.
Yes, it is that simple, and the reasons are manifold but mostly have to do with money, and control of the populace, so that money and power can be maintained and enhanced.
How likely is it that the insurance industry, even though it might not be technically allowed to, has access to these records when determining whom to cover with health insurance? Then there's this:
The more rules there are, the more fearful people become of violating the rules and suffering the consequences, the more fearful people become the weaker they become, the weaker they become, the easier it is to control them, the easier it is to control them the more one can lead them, the more one can lead them, the more one can both profit from them and remain immune for any transgressions on the part of the leaders.
It's a sweet deal.
-
The ace in the hole.
[Read the article: "All roads lead to the White House"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"The executive branch," Fein says, "has all the cards on its side."
Congress has the ultimate ace and trump card. Impeachment. The executive, whether it be Cheney, Bush or Gonalez, has no defense against it and can stonewall all it likes to no effect. In fact stonewalling just makes impeachment all the more necessary.
Let's start with Gonzo.
Impeachment. Because it's the right thing to do.
-
Who cares?
[Read the article: What does a girl have to do to get excommunicated?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is more than obvious that the Catholic religion, like so many others, is just a bizarre cult that has completely outlived its usefulness. It is astounding that in the 21st century otherwise intelligent people actually believe in it, or think that its weird rituals and silly rules have any relevance to either real spirituality or modern life.
I mean, people, even if you read and believe the bible you discover that the hero of this religion was all about tearing down institutions which claimed to have the inside track on God's word, not supporting them. Now, those who profess to follow him do just what he railed against and warned about.
It has always fascinated me that the deeply felt urge to gain spiritual understanding finds expression in religion which then becomes the biggest obstacle to gaining that understanding. Odd.
-
As Usual
[Read the article: Improvement in Iraq: Trust Joe Klein and his secret sources]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As usual, we are being bullshitted by the politicians and the Joe Kleins of the world. And, as usual, Glenn gets it exactly right.
What is General Betray-us going to say in September? I failed? The whole plan was a cock-up? Fat chance. This war will not end until Bush is out of office. Period. If we're lucky.