Letters to the Editor
Ben Sen
Published Letters: 541 Editor's Choice: 98
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The Counsel of Moderation and Tolerance
[Read the article: The modern Muslim]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is good work. A fine, well prepared interview and the kind of dialogue that moves the discussion forward. I found it astonishing how reasonable Ramadan was.
I assume no death threat has been issued against him, or it would have been mentioned. That alone is a mark of progress.
I now realize it is too much to ask someone in his position to even respond to the question of literalism vs. the metaphorical interpretation of the texts. He skirted the issue well. Clearly, the wrong answer could haunt him, and he seems to have found a middle ground by supporting the rights of the individual to interpret "historical and cultural issues", and even some of the practices.
He was smart too, (and moderate) not to promote seperate schools for Muslims (though he later acknowledged contributing to them). This is what Catholics did in America until it mostly fell apart in the 60's. It would be taken as a way Muslims are refusing to integrate, and simply exacerbate tensions.
His most daring response was saying the West "laughs at religion" to explain the Danish cartoons. This is the crux of matter. The idea that religious belief is a private matter is new in the Muslim world This is the basis of secularism. It has been hundreds of years since the reformation in the West, still it is widely resisted--and the result is the fundamentalist movement here.
Why the moderate and symbolist movement in American Christianity hasn't begun to speak out is another question, which I'd like to see asked. Who is Ramadan's equivalent in the community? Where are the leaders and peacemakers? How much longer is Christianity in this country to be controlled by extreemists?
Of course, the Bush administration doesn't burn books. They simply ban anyone who disagrees and the collective goes along with it.
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Tomatoes or No Tomatoes
[Read the article: The view from Tehran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Normally, it would be reasonable to see the current imbroglio as a lot of chest beating and smoke blown by a couple of cowboys, but Bush has made it clear at this point what he is capable of, and still sleep at night.
I'll bet the consensus in Washington is that he won't go to war given the recent election and Democratic "control", but what if he just lobs in a few missiles at sites in Iran to "protect" American troups? It could happen tomorrow morning. It's all set up from the PR standpoint. The neo-con goons and goonettes will buy it in a flash.
The Dems would sputter--but would they act? Could they overcome the rationale of "protecting" the troups--and then where would we be?
The article makes it clear that if threatened as a nation--Iran will unite behind a leader just as the US does. It is a dangerous form of brinkmanship--and I'm not sure Hooman Majd makes the case--tomatoes or no tomatoes.
It would play directly into the Iranian President's hands--silence his critics, and give everybody a new war to focus on--in this country and Iran. It would engulf the Congress who would probably have to suspend efforts to hold hearings to find the goods on Bush and the boys before they take their loot and get out of town.
I think it's time to know what the Presidential contenders are saying about war with Iran, and for some of these opinion makers and talk show hosts to earn their pay.
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Surviving Bushism
[Read the article: Emulating the enemy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hofstadter's essay has stood up as one of the best in describing the reactionary mind set.
I think what has happened in the meantime is that the distinction between politics and ideology has been blurred--and politics has gotten the bad name--not ideology--which breeds partisanship for its own sake.
Compromising in order to protect the long term, mutual benefit of the majority no longer matters. People vote for reasons that have nothing to do with their self-interest. They think getting to tote a gun or standing up to a "bully" like Ahmadinejad is more important than whether or not they die tomorrow because they don't have health insurance. The nation's moral compass has been thrown off.
The "Rove Coalition" for lack of a more precise term is scary, real scary, but perhaps just as scary are the self-righteous liberals who refuse to participate because they think politics is "dirty," and all politicians liars, etc. etc. They are allowing the reactionaries to win by default, which is nothing new.
The election in '08 is going to depend on getting through to them, and the conservative moderates who are starting to wake up. "Bushism" may well survive Bush until a new more conscious majority is brought into existence.
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Henry Krieger
[Read the article: Hollywood gets humble]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You fail to mention the big loser of the night: Henry Krieger, who wrote the music for DREAMGIRLS. With three songs nominated, (and sung sublimely) Henry lost to a song from a documentary! He also recently submitted to surgery for a serious condition. It is probably one of those "tiny" facts that one day will resurface at the hands of an afficionado. Somebody should at least run his picture. It was the culmination of a lifetime of work.