Letters to the Editor
Alison M. Swann
Published Letters: 67 Editor's Choice: 2
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Joan Walsh herself and her appearance on Scarborough Country
[Read the article: Firing Imus was the right thing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Kudos to Joan Walsh for her thoughtful opinions, including tonight's posting on the firing of Don Imus and for her appearance on Scarborough Country. Joan, I had started to turn off the t.v. and read a book (I'd had enough of the Imus thing on Countdown, which I love) until I saw you on Scarborough. You make all the difference. You are MSNBC's best commentator. Thank you for your bright, clearly thought out, smart thoughts on what is going on. I'm sorry you got cut off tonight, but knew where you were going and agree with you completely.
Joan, you're the best and the brightest and your appearance tonight was a nice complement to your Salon piece.
Thanks!
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Racist misogyny was an institution before hip-hop
[Read the article: Black rappers made him do it!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Again, Joan, you said it all best. Not everyone thinks as clearly as you do and it's gotta be frustrating to be one of four folks on Scarborough trying to get your points across. It's very clear what came first here--no chicken or the egg situation.
Many times otherwise "good" people like Joe don't think through things, but this one is important to humanity. It, in fact, concerns our very definition of humanity. If we never correctly identify the genesis of this (which you did--correctly), we will never crack on it and end it. And we may never end it, but we've got to get clear on it and try.
And people, what does suggesting that awful, violent things be done to Joan do? That's misogyny. Stop.
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Sums it up!
[Read the article: Black rappers made him do it!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Joan, this (of yours) could be the last word, in my opinion. "But if rappers stopped using bitch and ho, we'd still have plenty of racism and sexism in the world. That's my point." But I'm sure it won't be and I'll prove it by continuing on!
We in this country have a past full of racism, sexism and misogyny. But we also have a present full of racism, sexism and misogyny. Sometimes they're combined (as in this recent case), sometimes not. None of us is off the hook for this--NOW in the present. Regardless of its origin and who subscribes to what belief system, The Golden Rule (treat others as you would have others treat you) seems to me to be the last word on how we should treat each other (as others have said in this thread) as human beings.
Context is part of defining intent as Joan said. If what is said is hateful and hurtful (and can't we all tell that pretty easily), I need to say out loud that it's not okay with me. I need to stand up.
daisygirl, if that makes for a bland world, sorry (but not!). There are too many examples of clever, funny, sharp wit that don't incorporate racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. to convince me that without them the world would be bland.
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A brain, a heart, the nerve
[Read the article: No reprieve for Alberto Gonzales]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Every president hires some friends he (so far he) likes and trusts, but this president's practice of cronyism fits the word's definition to a fare-thee-well. Alberto Gonzalez is a prime example--insufficient experience for his position, poor judgement, dishonest. Loyalty to the president who (along with Daddy Bush) has pulled him along and "made" his career does not qualify Gonzales to be attorney general. I guess that's now obvious to everyone.
It seems, though, that there also is a pile-up of what I'd call faith-based cronyism under Gonzales. Ashcroft got that ball rolling by kicking out many long-term, experienced lawyers to serve in the attorney general's office and replacing them with very young lawyers with one thing in common. They graduated from law universities such as Pat Robertson's. Graduating from a university that was founded to produce lawyers with certain religious beliefs and empower them to be "Christian soldier[s] marching as to war" (as the old hymn says) into our political and governmental institutions to "reform" them also does not qualify one to work as an attorney in our justice department.
Our justice department is a disgrace. It's just a political cluster you-know-what. This administration's got no brain and no heart, but it sure has a lot of nerve.
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Amen
[Read the article: Is it OK to criticize the president again?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We'd better criticize the president again. Again, Joan, you said it all so well. By the way, I think the deaths in Iraq for today exceeded 150. It just gets worse.
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Best Summary Judgment!
[Read the article: The attorney general's "tremendous credibility problem"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Michael, thank you for this story. I heard about it on NPR, saw attempts to summarize it and amplify what was most important on t.v., but yours was the best summary and commentary. I hope to watch a replay of the entire proceeding on CSpan, but I just wanted you to know that I appreciate the fine work you did on this!
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Webby
[Read the article: Salon wins Webby award]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whoever awarded it made the right decision! You do a wonderful, tireless job! Congratulations!
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. . . and pop goes the weasel
[Read the article: God save the queen!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank you for the succinct summarization of the mess that is our president. It is always best to acknowledge what is. The embarassment goes on . . . . I wish Bush were only embarassing us in matters of state socially. The blood on his hands cannot be covered by white gloves were that protocol here in the states.
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Turn the beat around
[Read the article: Is Oprah the new Imus?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This white woman agrees with you.