krzmarzick wrote: My father was a farmer and rancher who worked his own place for most of his 78 years, until he was taken from us by a drunk driver. We raised cattle for our own use and for sale. He never mistreated an animal in his life. He loathed veal and thought the concept vile.

I don't know which article you read, but I find it obvious that Singer would have applauded your father for his farm and his ethical treatment of animals. Singer is saying we should treat animals more like your father did if we are going to raise and consume them. Was your letter just a knee-jerk reaction to anything you believe might be "liberal?"

gene writes: Why should we do good to others?

To ease suffering. He states that very plainly.

But here's a question that Singer and other Utilitarians can't answer: If by force or by guile I can steal everything he owns and kill him and get away with it, why shouldn't I?

Because then somebody can do the same to you. And to others. Again, his belief is that we need to ease suffering, not increase it.

More knee-jerk reaction in the form of a letter?

Xanthro First, Peter Singer is a huge hypocrite.

The whole notion that it is unjust for some to live well while others starve, but that the former can buy off his personal guilt by donating 20% of his income is beyond belief.

If one really believes that we have a moral obligation to help others in the manner professed, then donate 80%.

"I don't think that word means what you think it means!"

He is a hypocrit because he backs up his beliefs with his money? You are merely arguing about the amount not that he does not back up his beliefs with his wallet. That does not make him a hypocrit.

No need to wonder why these folks vote Republican.....

You know what they call a "slacker" of color?

....

San Francisco really sounds like some kind of town!

Well, at least they do not have the racists that seem to be thriving on the east coast. And do you realy believe that people like the described slacker do not exist on the east coast? If so, I have a really nice bridge.... It is nice to see the stupid people represented, however.

To the letter writer: You have to cut the deadbeat lose. If he is behind on support, file papers and a judge will make sure he gets a job and starts paying. Since he is paying support, I assume you are custody of the child? A judge will probably put you in that house if you haven't signed away your portion of it, the parent with the kid will almost always get the house. Get a good lawer, grow a little bit of a spine, and fix all this so your daughter will not have to witness two children trying to raise one.

christianjb, that is similar to the religious right saying we cannot teach evolution in school because it cannot be proven, although it actually has been. Then they want to teach God's word in school although they cannot prove God exists or that the Bible is really his word. Christians are funny like that.

God does not give a crap about the Super Bowl or the NBA playoffs. However, I do believe that he wants an Italian to win the Giro and Candians to win the Stanley Cup.

According to Republicans it was the lying that should have gotten Clinton removed from his office. This guys just lied so using their logic, shouldn't he be removed from office?

What a sad article about Ali. I think it should be poimted out that many believe Ali actually suffers from pugilistic dementia which exhibits itself with Parkinson like symptom. It is also called pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome, I believe. Like others before and since, he stayed in the ring too long. The shame is that he as quick with his mind as he was with his hands and according to the article he is not quick with either. I suppose he could still be quick with his mind, but may be unable to express himself. That would be even worse, I imagine.

A little uncouthness is perfectly fine and plenty of fun. We're talking about games and entertainment here, after all, not matters of state, even if they do insist on playing national anthems before ballgames. You know those contests where a fan tries to make a half-court shot or shoot a puck through a tiny mouse hole from center ice? When those people fail, I like to boo them.

Especially if they're children.

LOL!

Anthems really should not be played for professional sporting events. I find it rather silly, and now it seems to be a show of false patriotism for the masses.

The only exception is for Atlanta Thrashers's hockey games. During the part "Gave proof through the night...." a sizable part of the crowd gets to scream "Knights!" in honor of our old minor league hockey team, which half of them probably never saw. But twently years from now somebody will scream "Knights" and then turn to his buddy and ask why they do that.

It is nice to see a clear rebutal to the conspiracy theories being bandied about. I still would not put the Wellstone accident beyond the GOP. I can think on that and believe, "Yeah, the GOP would do that." Coud they? I don't know. I do believe they would, however.