Letters to the Editor
DurianJoe
Published Letters: 1632 Editor's Choice: 70
-
A disingenuous attack on feminism.
[Read the article: Feminist hypocrisy on the hijab?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I do not believe for a second that the reader referred to in TC-F's commentary was acting in good faith. This person was merely using what he or she thought was a clever new avenue to attack feminism. This person opposes feminism, and in the end does not really care whether Western feminists support or ignore their fellow women in non-Western countries.
As evidence, one need only reflect on the scores of articles, speeches, and demonstrations by feminists attacking, for example, Islamic oppression of women. The reader conveniently overlooked all of this to make a specious argument. It is without merit.
I encounter this kind of nonsense in the course of my animal rights activism. Some people think they are being clever when they accuse me of not caring about people, or complain that the money going to help animals can help (inevitably) starving children in Africa. In fact, these people aren't much concerned about starving children in Africa, either. They're simply malcontents reaching for the flimsiest and most baseless of arguments. For what it's worth, some of the most dedicated human and civil rights activists I know are also animal rights activists.
As was once pointed out by another letter writer somewhere in Salon's past, people who work to help the world in one area are rarely jealous of people who work to help the world in another area. Conversely, the people who do nothing can often be counted on to point fingers and make insults.
Regarding the hijab, I'm in the camp that considers that and most other religious edicts aimed at women to be oppressive both in origin and nature.
-
@Anonymous Coward
[Read the article: Feminist hypocrisy on the hijab?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The name is DurianJoe, Try to get it right if you can. Your childish persistence in mangling other people's screen names only adds to your reputation as a troll.
Phyliis Chesler is a rightwing ideologue. Her opinions are completely in alignment with those of rightwing anti-feminists.
-
@Bobbyjoe and Avidfan
[Read the article: "I Am Legend"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Bobbyjoe, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Richard Matheson's handling of religion in his novel, "I am Legend." That book is a real treat.
Avidfan, "Last Man on Earth" and "The Omega Man" were both based on Matheson's "I am Legend." The former is a fairly faithful adaptation of the book. The latter ain't, but it's fun in a cheesy 70's way.
-
Not child porn, but not cool either.
[Read the article: Child porn or edgy art?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't really care what other societies do. These pictures sexualize a skinny young girl. To what end?
Spare me the "edgy" rationale. "Edgy" is as overused as "political correctness."
Kids should be allowed to be kids, not objects of sexual desire for adults.
-
Women, women, women.
[Read the article: Scientist: Women, stop destroying the planet!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"First we get the money, then we get the power, then we get the women."
I forget what movie that's from ("Scarface"?), but it seems to sum up the male worldview, at least among the less advanced among us men (not I, of course). It does take a certain amount of mental effort, derived from an open mind, good parenting, and other environmental factors, to move beyond our most base desires. Unfortunately, the lust for power, if not women, is rampant -- see Cheney, Dick: the man who would rape the world.
I submit that much of what's wrong with the world is the lust for power, and perhaps horniness, though I think moreso power. Ferraris are just signs of power, and babe magnets. That, or they're pretty cool cars for those who can afford them and care about such things.
Anyway, chicks who dig guys on bikes are way cooler, and probably much better in bed.
-
Why Iowa?
[Read the article: America's next top Democrat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why does this agriculture-based State have such a dominant position in American politics? No, Iowa is not the last word, but it certainly has the power to make or break candidacies, and that's nuts.
No offense to the good folk of Iowa, but it would be much more representative of America to have an urban-heavy, demographically diverse State like California or New York or even Illinois have first dibs at winnowing out the candidates.
Regardless, I'm voting for Kucinich in the primaries and whoever is the Democratic nominee in the general election. It's just too bad that as a Marylander, my primary vote means squat.
-
The fat drug-addled gasbag Limbaugh is criticizing others' looks?
[Read the article: Campaigning while female]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First the gelatinous blob Limbaugh made fun of Chelsea Clinton's looks, despite the fact that she was only a young girl at the time, and despite the fact the Limbaugh himself looked like Jabba the Hutt's fatter brother. Now El Blimpo is criticizing Hillary Clinton's looks? If that buffoon manages to survive to age 60, he's going to look like a pile of brie left too long in the sun.
Should Hillary Clinton become the Democratic nominee, watch as the lid is ripped off the id of the GOP's innate misogyny like a festering pimple which finally pops.
-
Socialism, Brightstar?
[Read the article: Campaigning while female]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The fascism part of your message, yes. But socialism? Look around you, man. We're privatizing every public service. We've even privatized the military, and now the wealthy in California are privatizing the firefighting services.
Your "socialism" looks a lot like rampant capitalism.
-
In a rational society birth control would be free.
[Read the article: Birth control costs spike off campus, too]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Shouldn't the goal be to prevent both unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases? I think so. Unfortunately, the lunatics in the White House and their ilk seem to want to prevent sex instead.
In a rational society, birth control would be free, but there would be a tax levied against people for every child they produce.
-
@psycprof
[Read the article: Birth control costs spike off campus, too]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I see media reports on obesity on almost a daily basis. I certainly see far more reports on that subject than anorexia.
Moreover, while obesity is certainly hazardous to one's health, obese people can live to a ripe old age. Anorexia is a deadlier disease, so if anything, it deserves far more attention that it gets, even if its sufferers tend to be white.
-
@Brightstar
[Read the article: Campaigning while female]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Privatized socialism is still socialism."
And silent noises are still noises.