Letters to the Editor
Ben Sen
Published Letters: 541 Editor's Choice: 98
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Democrat Bashing
[Read the article: Battling Democrats' indifference]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm not sure Democrat bashing from the left is what is called for at the present time. I'm not even sure if it hasn't become passe. Howard Dean was recently on tour and on the talk shows being very specific about strategy, and building a new organization.
Everybody knows the Democratic problem is and has been solidarity. Dean refers to this euphuistically as the "entrepreneural" spirit of Democrats, but anachistic might be a more approprate word, or just plain Pollyannish.
The reason the Democrats removed themselves from the battle over the Geneva Conventions was because the Republicans, after all, started it and were the ones who could really do something about it. Why bait the beast when it is prepared to eat its own tail?
I'm not sure if it is correct to keep bashing them about "not taking more initiative" either. In fact, it may well be counter productive. Given the current polls, it may be wiser to simply let the growing disaffection with Bush be the vote getter.
The more than can be said in this regard, I believe, with the coming elections the better. The real battle for the Presidency begins after that, and I think more of the "liberal," left wing opinion makers are going to have to examine their assumptions--or we'll have a repeat of '04 and they'll have themselves to blame for it.
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Tough Love
[Read the article: The past won't let me go]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You can bet your bippy "Floundering" needs help. I thought it was sweet how long and how sensitive Cary Tennis was leading up to the recommendation. A family cycle like this isn't broken by accident, and not without effort.
If all a person does is look in the mirror and only see themselves they are not going to alter any condition in their lives, and not in the life of their children either. Get real.
At this point, since you are still young, it can't be said you are the problem but only part of it, Floundering, but as you age and the symptoms start to multiply that will no longer be true.
You can't seek help for "your children's sake" either, but for your own--if what you say about abuse is TRUE.
One wonders what shape your own marriage is in, or will be in if you don't start to learn how to keep the focus on yourself, and not your parents, and practice "speaking and listening," with an objective professional who can point you in the right direction--and keep you pointed in that direction.
With tough love,
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Cary the Clown
[Read the article: How can I get over embarrassing memories?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]From this entry, I'm starting to think Cary is basically a clown who has figured out how to get paid for blowing his own horn.
How about talking about various techniques used by therapists to deal with such problems--called emotional memory? In my own experience I found "Heller" work very valuable, which combines deep tissue work with therapy that allows a person to work out memories that are so traumatic they are physically cripping.
Since it is such a common problem, there are numerous workshops that that look at the issue with various intensity. You might want to check out "Heliotropic" breath work as offered by Jacqueline Small, and many others, who provide lots of books of the subject as well.
Do some research. Check out what's happening at Eshlin. (spelling?) I don't recommend any one approach, but many and in tandem. If the problem is severe enough it isn't going to go away by itself and could easily manifest in ways that will prevent you from living fully.
You may also try meditation, the world's first and oldest form of psychology, which is all about leaving the past behind--where it belongs unfortunately for so many of us.
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Shame for Shame
[Read the article: More acquaintances accuse George Allen]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's a shame for media like Salon to stoop to this level--but it isn't anything Allen isn't doing by his appeal to the base prejudices and paranoia of the electorate.
I don't think issues like same-sex marriage, or "abortion" for matter are genuine "political" issues in the first place. They deal with matters that are primarily personal and the role of the government is to support the needs, choices, and liberties of the people in regards to them--not play upon the fears and ignorance of the uneducated and misinformed--which is what puts people like Allen into office.
The question is whether it earns him more votes than he loses given the current political landscape--and time will answer that question.