Letters to the Editor
MarieA
Published Letters: 298 Editor's Choice: 20
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Maybe you're giving off the wrong vibe
[Read the article: I'm in love with my bandmate]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There's a lot to ponder in Cary's response and you'll have to judge the situation for yourself but, that said, ...
A friend was attracted to a guy and they hung out together doing a lot of "datey" things, but he never made a move on her. We puzzled over why he was into spending time with her but not apparently into her.
Then I found out that she went on every date wearing sweatpants and an old t-shirt. We fixed her up in a sexy outfit and, that very night he made a move on her. Wham bam thank you ma'am, they've been married for more than 10 years.
She didn't have to humiliate herself but she still got the guy.
Sometimes you gotta send the signal loud and clear.
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What's in a name?
[Read the article: Should I take my husband's name?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't know what you should do, but here's what I've experienced.
With the first marriage, I changed my name. I married at a time when the modern feminist movement was really getting radicalized and I had ambivalence about taking his name. But I did feel that sharing a name was a significant bond, plus his was a way better surname than mine.
With Marriage #2, I was in my 30s, well-established in my little world, and didn't want to be lost to people who knew me but didn't keep in constant touch. So I kept my first husband's name.
This has served me well in many ways, particularly since my husband and I often work together. People often have a preconceived notion of spouses, so it benefits in a professional sense. Socially, I feel it has helped me retain my own identity. (BTW, my husband's first wife didn't change her name either and he really couldn't have care less about whether either of us changed our names.)
On the other hand, it is sort of a pain to have a different last name from your children, but it's not that much of a pain. And I often will use my husband's surname casually, as in "I'm Mrs. X" when speaking as a parent or if I want to be identified as the spouse. With so many divorces and remarriages and whatnot, teachers and doctors don't think anything about the mom's name being different. Their only concern is that you are really the parent, which they pretty much take on faith.
My children have never questioned this and seem to think it's perfectly normal.
I do have friends who have hyphenated, and that's fine, but I think it looks pretentious and it's long.
So, the bottom line is, it's fine whatever you do. And aren't we lucky that we have these choices?
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Please read the Constitution, Mr. Bush!
[Read the article: Interviews with AP executives on the Bilal Hussein travesty]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The AP reports that Mr. Hussein was detained when Marines took over his flat to use as an observation post, where he was giving shelter to "strangers ... following an explosion near his home in Falluja."
Our very own Constitution, Amendment 3, states: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
I suspect "prescribed by law" isn't very prescribed in the Iraq War. How shameful that we do not follow our own stated principles in the conduct of this war (an illegal war not declared by Congress--oops).
And if you glance over the Declaration of Independence, you'll note that we've followed the British playbook pretty closely in Iraq.
But just as great concern is what Mr. Greenwald notes as the politicization of the military. While one should be careful speculating about the slippery slope to military dictatorship, turning again to the Founding Fathers, they greatly feared too intimate a relationship between politicians and the military.
Friends, we are in for a wild and woolly ride.
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As usual, an interesting idea goes bananas
[Read the article: The divine sound of silence]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's one thing to say, no music blasting in public places, but why should radio stations andmusicians recording in studios go silent?
The article refers to music that was "once uplifting," which concedes that music is a wonderful thing. Yes, wonderful things are generally most wonderful in moderation but...silencing music isn't moderation.
There is a place for a music, even in public places. Much of the problem is the blaring. Some of the problem is the ubiquitous of Top 40 hits.
I love to go into places that have fresh music at moderate volume. It lends a nice vibe.
Yes, I know it's hard for people to get behind "Moderate Volume, Fresh Music Day" but really, do we always have to go crazy with every notion?
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TV, Schmee-V -- I just like to read Heather's writing
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't really care what Heather says about the TV shows. Usually I agree with her but sometimes not.
She always gives me at least 3 good laughs and that's what counts.
Although I wish she'd address "Nip/Tuck" which I think jumped the shark at least a season ago (if not before) and seems to have jumped a whale to get to LA.
Oh how I'd love to hear a hysterically funny bitter rant from Heather about that.
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LIkability is no way to pick a president
[Read the article: Mike Huckabee's Middle East miscue]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, I'm sure Mike Huckabee is loads of fun. He is affable and occasionally pulls a good line.
I personally don't wish to live in his theocracy, nor do I want to be subject to his know-nothing policies. Not to mention that he is plagued with accusations of corruption that he hasn't been able to explain away.
I understand the desire to have a likable president. By all accounts, Bush is a great buddy. But let's dig a little deeper here, voters. Just once. Pretty please.
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How about Congress, let alone Joe Klein?
[Read the article: Time magazine's FISA fiasco shows how Beltway reporters mislead the country]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Congress doesn't read the bills -- why should Joe Klein?
And where are all these "civil rights" extremists of which he speaks? And what is a "civil rights" extremist anyway? Someone who wants to follow the Constitution?
And, while we're at it, why shouldn't there be a FISA warrant to tap calls, especially those that route through the United States? Seems like that road leads straight to system abuses.
Oh. Maybe I'm the civil rights extremist.