Letters to the Editor
Arcarsenal
Published Letters: 13 Editor's Choice: 2
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Long overdue
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]An emphatic yes to everything written in this article and most of the suggestions made in the letters.
The best idea that I have seen that would be completely doable now with no changes in stocking the plane or in anyway adjusting the frame is creating a "family" area. I travel quite a bit on business, and as a 6'2" 200lb+ guy I anticipate to have my knees bruised by someone infront of me who insists on reclining (I will knee your seat constantly, because I have no choice), I anticipate no longer being entrusted to the full 12oz of gingerale in the can, and I anticipate the only provided entertainment options to be bad NBC television and movies that no one really wants to watch. What I can never anticipate is whether I will have a screaming, whining, kicking, obnoxious child seated within a few seats of me.
I was recently on a plane from Las Vegas to Chicago, and for the entire 3.5 hours a two year old cried. Nothing, NOTHING would stop this little boy from crying. I can expect and handle all the physical discomforts, but I cannot tolerate an incessant barrage of mental torment. I have had other similar experiences, and generally I can guarantee whether I will have a good flight or not based on the number of small children in the waiting area.
I know there will never be a fool-proof method of keeping kids in one area due to overbooking and standby lists, but if airlines tried to seat as many children as possible in one section of the plane I would be much happier. Hell, if you made a family section you could have flight attendents that like children work that section, because I've seen some flight attendents that are outright mean to some kids, even good children that just sit there quietly.
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Never...
[Read the article: So, what's next?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Never did I think that my Indiana vote might ever matter in a national primary. After years of just getting to pull the lever for the already established candidate, I get a choice and a voice.
I would be really excited if I weren't so frustrated about wishing the whole thing was over.
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A long term vote loser
[Read the article: Prepare for the assault on "Grand Theft Auto IV"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Videogame censorship is the kind of thing that can goose Clinton's base, but it is exactly the kind of thing that turns off young male voters. If somehow Clinton wins the Democratic nomination it will only solidify the ire and distrust that men, and especially young men feel toward her. She will need young people if she wants to beat McCain, but calling for videogame censorship is a vote killer for people under 30. Young liberals may not go to McCain, but they may not vote at all.
To some people I am sure this sounds ridiculous, that a videogame could seem more important than so many pressing issues, but considering that videogames represent huge investments in social time and money for many young people, it's like launching an attack on people's free time itself.
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Point 4 is the key for me
[Read the article: California's marriage ruling -- what it means and what it doesn't mean]
[Read more letters about this article: Here](4) The Court did not rule that California must allow same-sex couples the right to enter into "marriage." It merely ruled that if the state allows opposite-sex couples to do so, then same-sex couples must be treated equally. The Court explicitly left open the possibility that the state could distinguish between "marriage" (as a religious institution) and "civil unions" (as a secular institution) -- i.e., that California law could leave the definition of "marriage" to religious institutions and only offer and recognize "civil unions" for legal purposes -- provides that it treated opposite-sex and same-sex couples equally. The key legal issue is equal treatment by the State as a secular matter, not defining "marriage" for religious purposes.
This is precisely what I have been advocating in the midwest for years. Many think the proposition of removing the state from "marriage" is radical at first, but nearly everyone sees the point eventually. Even many conservatives will concede that they would rather have the government out of marriage all together, and allow religions more autonomy in defining marriage. Just because many churches will not marry same sex couples does not mean that all will not. When presented to social conservatives as a matter of the state declaring to some denominations that they cannot practice rites as they see fit due to a secular law, most I have come across will acknowledge that this is a frightening intrusion of the state onto church matters.
I advocate making everyone equal under the law under the title of "civil unions", and thus leave marriage to religious and social definitions that can be argued outside the realm of the supposedly secular governmental sphere.
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Muzzle!
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Oh for the love of God yes, please do something about the kids. A six hour flight with a screaming 1 year old I had to go on recently was literally like living through hell. I can handle the uncomfortable physical conditions, but that kind of sustain mental assault had me wishing for a tranq gun.
I know the muzzle and medication ideas are tongue in cheek jokes (seriously, the offended parents need to stop thinking the entire world is damning their lifestyle choice and wants to hurt their childen), but I do not see what is wrong with sequestering children, or to put it nicely, creating a family seating area. I don't care where it is on the plane, all I care about is not having to sit within two rows of a squalling pre-adolescent. I would gladly pay a fee for a guarantee to not be within three rows of a toddler.
Not every child under six is a coiled spring of pent up noise resulting in mental anguish, but many are and I would be incredibly happy and willing to pay to at least be able to distance myself from those most likely to produce a sanity melting barrage of screams.