Letters to the Editor
MarieA
Published Letters: 298 Editor's Choice: 20
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Wicked intolerance
[Read the article: The strange case of midnight renegade oleander gentrification camouflage]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have battled the intolerance of gentrifiers for many years. They have rigid aesthetic views and, once they get hold of power, they can't let go.
It's an excellent lesson in politics, that. Right in your face.
The neighbor overstepped her bounds, absolutely. She illegally trespassed.
But calling the police is not going to help. For one, the police are not likely to take this very seriously. "She conspired to plant oleanders? Mmmhmm." Can you picture Sgt. Friday?
And, if your town is anything like most towns these days, the authorities are more likely to take a look at the old lady's house and start writing citations if it's really in bad shape. I have seen people lose their homes over situations like this because they couldn't afford the repairs to bring the place up to code.
There are 2 things you can do.
First, if there is a civic association, homeowner's association, whatever it may be called, become active in it. If your neighborhood has a reputation for tolerance, that means that the majority of people are tolerant and the NIMBYs are a minority (they often are). But most people don't want to get involved with neighborhood associations or they don't know what's going on. Make sure they do know. Do not get into shouting matches, but form alliances to block the enactment/enforcement of rigid rules. If there are rules, make sure they're reasonable and as far from aesthetic judgments as possible. There's lots of stuff on the internet about this.
Second, do something to really help your elderly neighbor. Research elder care resources. There are organizations that do modest repairs on homes, provide check-in services, home care, what-have-you that she may be eligible for. Your neighbor may be more amenable to help from strangers than from neighbors. Organize a neighborhood "Help Day." If a group of neighbors is willing to pitch in with time and materials on a Saturday, just leave your elderly neighbor a note and ask her what work she needs done, a wish list. Write that you won't take no for an answer, that people feel good about helping others and she'd be providing the neighbors a chance to get closer to each other. She'd be giving them more than they give her. Be sure and invite the NIMBY. She's a go-getter.
And replant those oleanders if the elderly neighbor says it's OK.
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Free Speech Trumps Irrational Hatred of Wal-Mart
[Read the article: Judge blesses "Wal-Qaeda," "Walocaust" anti-Wal-Mart Web sites]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank goodness the judge saw sense in this suit. Free speech is a very difficult concept for many.
But even though this seems laughable in some ways, the over-defense of trademarks is a serious matter. Laws protecting trademark have their place, but statutes defending trademarking and copyrighting have gone completely overboard in recent years. This allows companies to attack people and organizations they don't like, just like this. More often, these laws encourage corporations to train their heat-seeking legal missiles on individuals and companies whose name is similar but unrelated or companies that even had the name first but didn't trademark it, all under the auspices of "defending the trademark."
I have grave concerns about the dampening effect on creativity and liberty by excessive trademark and copyright (this issue has been addressed on Salon.com) when it seems as if ever word and phrase is unreasonably protected.
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What if you have a daughter and a son?
[Read the article: Have a daughter? You wimp]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I had a daughter and then a few years, a son. Did my core personality change?
What about people who have mixed sex twins? What about those who have multiples of mixed sex?
They must be crazy.
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Maybe it's in the grammar
[Read the article: Fred Kagan on Monday: "The civil war in Iraq is over"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Perhaps Mr. Kagan means the "civil" war is over, civil as in "not rude." Could he be saying that up to now everyone has been behaving nicely but today the gloves are off?
Or perhaps he is just watching an alternate reality Iraq war.
Or perhaps he is smoking crack.
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Blowback From the War on Drugs
[Read the article: Is Briana Waters a terrorist?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While the Feds could no doubt have come up with some snazzy variations on the terrorist statutes after 9/11, much of the idea of prosecuting conspiracies and getting people to roll on each other is a direct result of all the practice they get conducting the Drug War.
The Feds (and now state prosecutors) have honed this style of prosecution to a science. Without it, they would never have been able to successfully convict the millions imprisoned for drug offenses.
Prosecutions at all levels have become a gotcha numbers game with greater emphasis on the size of the score than on justice.
For the most part, "terrorist" statutes are dangerous, with many unintended consequences still to come. Arson is a crime. Blowing up buildings is a crime. Crashing airplanes into buildings is a crime. Killing people is a crime. They should be prosecuted as such, with due diligence and seriousness, not an eye toward publicity and ambition.
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The Clintons have always played hard ball
[Read the article: Hillary's team crosses the line]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You don't have a successful 30 year career in politics, particularly with a presidential win, and not be willing to play hardball.
Mrs. Clinton entered this race expecting to be the runaway winner. Her balloon deflated a little when Mr. Obama entered the race, but she's still holding on. She wants this bad, her team wants this bad and I imagine they want it even worse because they thought it would be a walk in the park.