Letters to the Editor
Ben Sen
Published Letters: 541 Editor's Choice: 98
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Is Your Hair Clean Today?
[Read the article: An open letter to Karen Hughes]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Baldwin said: "Nobody is a villian in their own eyes." He was talking about racism, but it's the same thing.
Very few of us develop individual consciences. We like to think we do, but mostly we're herd animals. Thoreau was probably the best at defining the problem. We join a team, it's a sport, we want "our side" to win--human life is not our highest priority--it is not what sustains us, and the collective understands that and accomodates it.
We are silent when it most matters, when nobody else is talking either, and that's when the mob takes over. When I read Baldwin my family was living in an all-white suburb of Detroit. We had to escape the battle in the inner city. I remember asking my father, who was not a racist, what he thought about it, and he said. "There is a colored family who lives here."
I asked him where and one day he pointed to a house on our way to church. I remember looking at the house every time we passed to see if it was true, but never saw them. But dad had diverted my attention--given me an excuse. After all, he hadn't planned it that way. He wasn't to blame and I'm sure Karen Hughes feels the same way.
What's most distressing is the role religion has come to play in justifying inhumanity in this country. "God" has been usurped by the basest in our nature and the herd is running right over the cliff with him or her. It is an aberation and remaining silent about it is a mistake,
Pity the peacemakers. It's always been true. The best we can do is keep our own hair clean. Do you know what I mean? Is your hair clean today?
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Don't Get Suckered By Ideologues
[Read the article: Let's abolish the Electoral College]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How about: Let's Get American So-Called Liberals, Democrats and Independents to Demonstrate Some Loyalty to Something Other Than Their Own Egos and Vote.
The reason the conservatives won't budge on the college is they know they are in the minority. There are 72 million registered Democrats nationally to 49 million Republicans with about a third that number independents.
The left leaning ideologues who keep screaming for a third party want their perfect little world devoid of the reality of politics as it is, and as it always will be: full of compromise. They are as responsible for Bush as the fundies since they won't participate, and moderates get stuck with these madmen.
After the primaries, and it becomes time to show some party loyalty they will make themselves known. At present you can tell who they are because so little satisfies them. They are superior to the process as it exists. "If only he would say this, if only the party didn't do that, I won't let myself be threatened, I can't forgive her that...I won't vote for so and so under any conditions even though I hate Bush, blah, blah, blah."
They are the children who always want it their way, and if you get suckered by them you have no excuse either. It's what happened in '00 and in '04. The problem at the polls in those years is mute at this point and distracts attention from the greater problem--so unfortunately is this issue of the electoral college. While they are chasing pie in the sky the right is standing shoulder to shoulder.
Let the Republicans splinter this year, it's time for the Democrats to take over the Presidency and the Congress in a landslide that rebukes Bush and tires to undo some of the damage.
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Stop Projecting
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's smooth-talk express]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I just don't get it any more Mr. Scherer. It is a fashion. Define the candidates "performance" the way you would a TV actor. Make it clear you realize it's a act. Nobody is fooling you. This candidate is a person who will kiss your ass for a vote. What do you expect them to do while they're on the stump?
She makes "no mistakes." She plys her trade as a politician, just like her husband with what--no style of her own? Is that the intention of the piece, or were you out of substance today?
Or are you mad she doesn't come to the back of the bus more often with warm donuts for you? You are starting to repeat yourself.
Get over it Michael. A woman is running for president and she's not going to do it the way you want her to. She's not cuddly. That's what your loved ones are for. Stop projecting. Stick with the issues and ending the Israeli stanglehold on the American psyche. I'm with you on that one.