Letters to the Editor
David L.
Published Letters: 196 Editor's Choice: 9
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The reason religion exists...
[Read the article: A friend is involved in Scientology. Should I interfere?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is because we have this natural desire as humans to have easy explanations for the unexplainable. The Age of Enlightenment tried to find a different, more "reason"able way to explain the universe, and it's done society a lot of good (e.g. the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, this whole freaking country itself, the Scientific Method, I could go on for days about this...). And despite this (or I guess in the face of this), religion still exists, because reason only isn't good enough to find the answer...or the answer may not be available for many years to come....or it may not exist, which just isn't acceptable for some people.
But self-righteousness can go both ways...the LW, unfortunately, is just so chock-full of reason that they can't understand why someone could possibly believe that humans are the descendants of some inter-galactic slave labor force, forever burdened with emotional problems by our former masters...yeah, sounds about as crazy as some guy getting nailed on the cross and rising from the dead to forgive us of our sins...if only we give faith to him...
But that's just the way it is, ese...you harpin' on and on about it isn't going to change the issue. And I know where you're coming from, because you feel like it's your JOB to show people the right path, through reason. But that's a battle you cannot win, not unless the other person CLEARLY indicates that they ask for your opinion.
You are not this person's mother, so stop acting like one. Save your energy for other things...if you are that uncomfortable about her religion, and that insecure about your own "faith," then don't hang around with her. If she were letting some shyster take all her money away, and did it voluntarily in the face of all common sense, my advice to you would be exactly the same...her religion itself is not the issue, though some on this forum feel that it is.
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Zombies Unite!
[Read the article: "I Am Legend"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've always loved the zombie movie genre, whether it's the slow, staggering ones (original "Night of the Living Dead"), or the fast ones ("28 Days Later"), or the deranged, over-idealistic zealots not looking to feast, but looking to rule the world...consciously ("Omega Man"). Having spent my entire life WATCHING zombies on the big screen, I'm tempted now to go and READ about them for a change...I guess I'll start with "I Am Legend" first, even if it's not really a typical zombie book, then go on to "Zombie Survival Guide" and "World War Z" books.
I know how the book from whence this movie came is suppose to end, and I know that Hollywood just can't be that realistic (though the DOTD remake wasn't exactly a happy ending)...so I'll walk into this film with no expectations as usual. Low expectations = higher yields, been my operating philosophy for most things in life. I'll just enjoy the ride for what it is.
And everyone, stop hating on Will Smith...the guy has become like a modern day Charlton Heston, if you think about all the blockbuster films he's done (sorry Mark Wahlberg, you kinda lost that title over the last few years). Someday, this guy late in life is gonna get his props...and I bet you anything, it'll be this damn film that people will point to and say "Yeah, I guess he really can act." You may not like everything Big Willie does, but he's really hard to HATE...seriously, you watch, Will Smith is slowly building his own Charlton Heston "legacy."
Let's just hope he doesn't become the President of the NRA in 2050...
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Sorry, but I just got to say this...
[Read the article: The right wing's Jerusalem gambit]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]To all you X-Men fans out there, this article just begged me to say this wonderful phrase that got me through years of college...
"I'm Gambit, damn-it"
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Quote from below...
[Read the article: Movies that mattered]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Free Press
Anybody notice that "The letters thread is now closed" for "Charlie Wilson's War" after only 34 posts? Is this fine online magazine, Salon, attempting to curtail dissent about an overtly propagandist movie because they are advertising this film on its site? If is it true then shame on Salon. If not perhaps the editor's of Salon will again open the letters thread for this movie. Thank you.
--Anony."
Thanks for that comment...kinda scare to think that is the case...and why the hell do they limit activity on some topics? Why can't we go on debating them forever and a day?
I'm very irritated by selective reviewers of cinema...I know not every movie can be seen under the sun, but to be a "movie critic" and to leave out major films like NCFOM and Rescue Dawn that DESERVE more than honorable mention kinda pisses me off. I could only wish to have that kind of job...
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You know, this was kind of interesting...
[Read the article: Let the voting begin]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]For the first couple of entries...then all of these actors started showing up with their comments (*note that I clicked on the less descriptive link on the right, not the big banner on the main page*). Bah!
I care as much about Alec Baldwin's politics as I do about Ted Nugent...you folks are performers, not political commentators. Yeah, I know, we're all citizens under the same flag, and all of our opinions are just as important, yadiyada...but come, Salon, this isn't time to play Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.