Letters to the Editor

• Mr. Tennis

  [Read the article: I'm a suburban husband in my 40s and I think I'm getting depressed]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  Thank-you for your insightful letter. I think you couldn't be more right about anonymity and power. So much in our culture is artificial we don't think of the people who make and who do and who write and who exist beneath the work. I think many anonymous people feel powerless (invisible laborers in a capitalist system) so maybe their only way of feeling powerful is to lash out.

  I just want to say that I personally didn't know that you read all the letters people write here. I can't remember if I've written something her before, but I hope I wasn't mean or sarcastic. The truth is that I always read your column. Every column you write. I wouldn't read what you write if I didn't find some blessing in it--even when I disagree with your advice, giving advice is a kind of magical job and I am a helpless audience....I love to watch the magic happening.

  I have occasionally e-mailed your column to friends or family. The column you wrote about where home is--you know what your real home is because it chooses you is truly one of the most beautiful pieces of journalism I've come across. A friend of mine had moved across the country and shortly after she did a family member had a mental breakdown and attempted suicide and she said that reading that column helped her to cope with the new set of responsibilities she felt, and questions of where she was and why. The article that you published this week that began with the F. Scott Fitzgerald quote I mulled over today during my ride to work. Reaching out to people and helping them is a human responsibility of all of us, and your column helps to demonstrate a compassion that some of us worry doesn't exist enough in the world at large.

  In other words, I guess I'm saying thank-you for the reminder that there are people behind every aspect of our artificial lives--people in India doing outsourcing work for our banks and law offices--people hustling to make our food at McDonalds--flesh and blood people running for political office--and, yes, human beings writing advice columns. I'm grateful for the kindness, intelligence and wisdom that you bring to my life. Please don't allow a few hastily written comments by unhappy invisible feeling people to take any of that away.

  I'll sign this with my name,

  Laura Simmons

  Permalink Thursday, January 10, 2008 07:15 PM

• to Anonymous

  [Read the article: Clinton has "Girlfriend posse" to thank?]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  I don't think people go to these message boards to change their minds, so I'm only explaining my view point, not trying to get you to change yours.

  It bothers me as a feminist that Senator Clinton has falsely mischaracterized Senator Obama's position on choice as being somehow less than her own. The facts have not held up. This was a campaign smear, and if anyone believes it, it has been a successful campaign smear. Here is more about it if you care to learn more about Senator's Obama's stand on the issues or Senator Clinton's distorted campaign against him:

  http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080112/cm_huffpost/081184

  http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/hillary_campaign_acknowledges_that_hillary_backer_passed_along_obama_madrassa_email.php

  I think feminists can fairly be divided on this issue. To say that endorsing Obama is somehow "easier" than endorsing Clinton has not been the case for me. I have had feminists with knee-flex responses that seem like I am not supporting women.

  However, Obama's position is closer to mine on the war in Iraq. He has also made a campaign in Washington to create more transparency in government. No more corporate jet rides paid for by lobbyists for Congressmen. I think he's committed to a bigger-picture change in Washington than just a lot of "presents" given to the various special interest groups, with the same-old, same-old in greed and war-mongering.

  Claire McCaskill of Missouri endorsed Obama recently, and did so as a feminist. I can understand why you would be suspicious of a "man" representing female interests better than a woman. But don't forget that we've never had a black person as a president before either. And Clinton is not the only woman who has a chance of being president. I believe I will see a woman president in my lifetime (I'm 35). I don't know at this point whether it will be Clinton or not.

  But Clinton's kind of race-baiting attacks on Obama recently with her comments on MLK and then her comments about how Obama supporters are somehow to blame (her interview with Russert) are the latest reason I don't trust her to represent my interests as a feminist. I want someone who is honest and tells the truth to get herself into office. Not another person making attacks on the other side while claiming that she is under attack.

  I think we can agree to disagree. Some of the level of vitriol in the discourse turns my stomach at times. I support Obama because looking closely at his campaign I have found the deepest commitment to progressive ideals and integrity of vision. If you have found the same in Clinton, then peace. I hope everyone follows his or her conscience to the voting booths.

  Permalink Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:19 PM