The first question my students in Dubai asked me was "American women hate us because we wear scarves or veils?" I said "no no - we don't hate you. What we dislike is the idea that you are being forced to wear such clothing by fundamentalists like Taliban. If you are wearing by choice it is not a problem." Right? Attacking the clothing as a personal choice is not helping anyone. The problem is not the choice but the lack of choice imposed by religious extremists in some areas. But - do we get up in arms about Amish women choosing to wear 19th century style clothing in plain colors? Do we get up in arms because some Catholic women choose to wear a mantilla when they attend church?

If I worked day to day in the dry sunny climate of the region I'd be inclined to wear headcovering of some type. For the same reasons, I wear a sunhat when I garden or go walkies. The problem is the intersection between women choosing their garb and someone forcing them to dress a certain way. I do wonder what the dress code is for male newscasters and if the employers right to establish a dress code for safety and image is somewhat different than daily 'street dress'. The headcoverings I've seen can be very beautiful and artistic as well. They need not be black sacks. I tried to wear a blue silk scarf and discovered that they are a challenge to keep on the head without practice...

I'm with RachelAnne on this. I read Heather Havrilesky for her prose. I tap my husband on the shoulder while reading some of the funniest or sharp edged bits and share. I also rarely watch network television because I really just don't find the programming entertaining. "Reality" TV? Who's reality? Who are these people? They are not anyone I am related to, walk my dogs with, share tomato plants or rose of sharon cuttings with...

Every now and then I've tried a tv program out because it got a good review but...why do these tv types think that we want more soap operas in space or over-sexed hospital staff? Don't they realize why Star Trek is the amazing phenomenon it is? Why M.A.S.H. could even distract us from finals week back in colleg? House is great but I keep waiting for some butthead in tvland to cancel it because it is not bringing in some demographic I've never met.

Thank heavens and real reality that Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs give me a decent break (used to fold the laundry or file) from my oppressed white person lifestyle...:)

Di

I was so happy to see our own Dennis Kucinich in the debate last night. Senator Gravel was also a great contributor. These candidates should not be characterized as 'protest' candidates. But their candidacy should influence the overall platform in a positive way. Dennis Kucinich should be our conscience. His careful and thoroughly researched statements will hopefully be considered by all who listened. Senator Gravel is as another post commented - too real. His anger is very direct. Hopefully, most people will consider why he is so concerned. I think Mr. Shapiro owes them an apology for his characterization of them.

My husband and I both agreed that we would be giving Senator Biden another look. He seemed the most sensible of the group. Senators Clinton and Obama were both very sensible. We were daydreaming about a Biden/Clinton or Biden/Obama ticket. Or Clinton/Biden or Obama/Biden.

It is good that they put this on early in the election cycle. People like us need to feel some sort of hope that the future holds something better than a stubborn frat boy with a God fixation.

It is none of our business if a woman chooses to have children at any age. What gives you the right to criticize her? Arguing that their should be age restrictions opens the door to all sorts of other restrictions, enforcements, and intrusions.

Mind your own business.

Thank you Heather. I enjoy your columns so much more than the actual tv shows... and then I read the letters and find it even more fascinating how many people get their feathers in a fluff when you pick apart one of their favorites and thereby nudging me to the belief that you are reaching a real nerve. My infallable guage of when a critic is in fact feeling threatened - and has no real criticism to offer - is when said critic falls back on nitpicking grammar issues instead of actually reading and thinking.

Yours,

Di