Letters to the Editor
Joan Conroy
Published Letters: 47 Editor's Choice: 2
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From Norman Rockwell to Abu Ghraib.
[Read the article: From Norman Rockwell to Abu Ghraib]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This article is excellent and accurate on all counts, with the exception of Mr.B.'s mistaken take on Norman Rockwell. Apparently, someone failed to do his/her homework. Rockwell, was, by all accounts a staunch proponent of free speech, who, particularly in the 1960's, exhibited his strong sense of social conscience in many of his illustrations. I suspect that he would not be pleased to have been associated with George W. Bush and his corrupt cronies who, unlike Rockwell, have cast a very dark shadow over the American landscape of the 21st century.
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The decline and fall....
[Read the article: The impertinent prince]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If I wasn't before the Queen's visit, I am now totally convinced that the entire Bush clan are clear signs that the American "empire" is indeed on the decline.
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Smart women, self-defeating choices
[Read the article: Why I won't stay silent anymore]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Having been raised and educated in the 1950's within in a traditional and strict Irish Catholic family, I finally, after much inner turmoil and guilt, walked away at the age of 23 from the extreme rigidity, the dogmatism and blatant misogny of the Catholic Church. Now, years later, with the concept of separation of church and state in grave jeopardy, I cannot help but wonder why so many seemingly intelligent, educated women continue to dedicate their precious time, hard earned money and energy to an overtly male establishment which continues to devalue them and views them as second class citizens. Personal choice ? Yes. Self-defeating choice? Definitely !!
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Two bullies on the playground
[Read the article: The George and Tony show]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Bush and Blair are like two bullies on the school playground, who, after beating up on all the smaller kids, still continue to think they are the most popular guys in school. Talk about denial !! These two overgrown schoolboys are delusional.
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Pink is definitely not my color either.
[Read the article: What's worse -- my breast cancer, or my relatives trying to "help" me?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If ever there was a time to put yourself first, it's now. You are NOT responsible for the reactions and feelings of your in-laws or those religious crackpots who are "only trying to help". They are meddling busy-bodies who have no concept of personal boundaries, so, please do yourself and your immediate family a huge favor and have your spouse send them all packing asap. This is your life and only you know what is best for you. I hope you will be restored to good health soon.
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It's the truth, I swear it is !
[Read the article: The fine art of lying]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Mr. K.,
Some years ago, a friend and I were traveling by train through the magnificent Rocky Mt. area of British Columbia. As the train approached the foothills, it began to move at a slower pace and in the distance we noticed a family of animals that were unfamiliar to us. A gentleman who was from the area kindly informed us that these creatures were indigenous to the area and were known as "Sidehill Gougers". As the train moved closer, we observed that the legs on the left side of their body were shorter than those on the right side and that the left-legged variety were moving around the hill counter-clockwise, while the right-legged ones were moving clockwise to accomodate their shorter right legs. The gentleman also informed us that the Gougers were thought by experts to be cousins to the Haggis, a creature thought to be indigenous to Scotland, and who also has a similar and peculiar leg arrangement. Thus, it would seem, that if you happen upon either of these creatures in your travels and you are overcome with a strong desire to catch one, you must run around the hill in the opposite direction. What you might do with the creature if you actually catch it, is entirely up to you.
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Being green...or not.
[Read the article: You are now free to pollute about the country]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In the immortal words of the beloved muppet, Kermit the Frog, "It's not easy being green."
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Thank you, Sidney...again.
[Read the article: Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Many thanks, Sidney, for your diligent efforts to reveal the awful truth about Bush and his cronies. I, for one, have never been at all surprised by anything these weasels do. The republic has reached an all time low under the feckless and arrogant George W. Bush. The question remains is will they get away with it or will justice be served???
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Saving Face with George
[Read the article: How Bush is trying to save face in Iraq]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Terrific column Sidney, but you could have fooled me as I didn't think Bush had any "face" left to save. Then again, there are still numerous misguided fools who continue to believe in and support ole feckless George no matter the consequences.
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Bush and Olson
[Read the article: Will Bush dare to nominate Ted Olson as attorney general?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Like the proverbial spots on a leopard, Bush's vindictive nature cannot be altered. He will nominate Olson and the common good be damned.
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Some thoughts on the Burmese situation....
[Read the article: Inside Myanmar's violent crackdown]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If the members of the UN and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) had any integrity, they would unanimously vote to remove the thugs in the Junta who have systematically ruined this beautiful but tragic country and replace them with with members of the democratically elected NLD party which, by the way, won in a landslide victory in 1990. However, as this is not about to happen, an internationally supported boycott of the 2008 Bejing Olympics might give China, which is a major trading partner and supporter of the Burmese goverment, cause to reconsider its soft pedaling on this issue and use its leverage with the Junta to move forward with democratic reforms. But, don't hold your breath. Like Burma, China's human rights violations continue to be both systematic and widespread as well.
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Torture is torture is torture.
[Read the article: We must ban secretive U.S. torture]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Senator Kennedy is correct. Torture is torture, no matter how George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld (remember him?), John Yoo or others in this god awful administration attempt to spin or rationalize it. By condoning and allowing Americans to partake in the abuse of prisoners, suspects or detainees, whether abroad or here at home, our government officials are, despite what they say, giving carte blanche to anyone who wishes to do the same to Americans who might be held captive in foreign countries. In addtition to the serious moral and legal implications associated with torture, it has also been proven that rarely, if ever, does the practice of torture elicit the saught for information, but merely gives the captors the answers they want to hear. So, many thanks to Ted Kennedy for taking a stand. Were there only more like him in the U.S. Senate.