Letters to the Editor
lastvisibledog
Published Letters: 13 Editor's Choice: 2
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Sure, fundamentalism is bad
[Read the article: I don't believe in atheists]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But this is hardly a bold statement. Any reasonable person would agree.
I have great respect for Hedges' past work, but I think he misses the boat here because of one missing component — none of the New Atheists he is discussing has any kind of power worth speaking of. Not the power to sway minds and forge movements, certainly. They have best selling books and celebrity, but no power. Worrying about them is just slightly sillier than worrying about Ralph Nader at this point.
Furthermore, I don't think that it should be surprising that any of them have agendas beyond they're atheism. I'm sure everyone has other purposes that surround their belief — or lack of belief — system. Where's the news there?
I define myself as an atheist and what few other people who define themselves as the same that I run into seldom care or know about Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens. I adore Hawkins, find some of Harris interesting and some of Harris pompous, and think Hitchens is an asshole who can be funny on occasion. You'd be surprised, though, at how many people out there manage to think similar thoughts as these guys without defining themselves as part of any kind of movement.
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I don't really see the problem
[Read the article: Our kids want to go to Christian summer camp]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It seems very black and white to me, in that the issue is that the parents see fundamentalist Christianity as a very harmful thing - and possibly insidious in its influence. The children will be exposed through it naturally through their extended family. Seems to me that's quite enough and fair if you are teaching the kids to respect their family and their family's personal views on religion. It's certainly good to listen to kids, but sometimes the job of the parent is actually to protect the kids, to actually know better despite a kid's wishes to the contrary. If fundamentalist Christianity is something the parent's are strongly opposed to, then they should act accordingly in regard to their convictions and explain to the kids why - I think that will speak volumes more as a lesson in integrity and making tough choices than sending them would.
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Always been bored by the Sixties
[Read the article: Through a bong, darkly]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's the grand piano on my generation's back (I'm 42). I've always been put off by my peers who gaze longingly at the 60s as a time of rebellion and transformation as part of a hero worship tendency towards their big brothers and sisters, with the unstated understanding that "we" could never live up to that, that it will never be the same again.
That's crap.
I've always tried to pay attention to what is happening "now" and what sort of dissent and counter culture exists "now," even if it is not something I always care to be actively involved in. I've never seen the point in wrapping rebellion in nostalgia, since rebellion is only really relevant for what it is doing in the present.
I also never give much credit to the movement of crowds, which is how I see the 60s counter culture. I put a lot more faith in the actions of the individuals who move the crowds. To me, the 60s were just one more example of a bunch of people acting like bees in a hive, with a few queens floating to the top. Any cultural movement has that air about it - the 60s counter culture is just more annoying than most because it has become so smug about what they "did."
The civil rights movement is the great, transformative, important political and social explosion of the 60s. The rest was just so much whiny self-indulgence.
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Think small
[Read the article: How can I get a writing job?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As a newspaper editor, I can honestly say that published clippings aren't important to me - good writing samples are.
If you feel you want clippings, there are always zines and blogs and web sites and local publications that are desperate for writers. You can build up a repertoire that way. I did that back in the day, so have most writers I know.
Also, if you look to small town newspapers, you will find a transitory world where first time writers are sought after. Usually the way it works is that a 23 year old gets hired, spends a year, year and a half figuring out how to work on assignment and deadline, and then gets a better job at a slightly bigger paper. I see it happen again and again and again. Go to journalismjobs.com, look around.
Also, if you see ads for freelance work - it happens - write anything. I got my first paying gigs writing about sports. I knew nothing about sports, but I ended up doing it for over a year and next thing I knew I was doing regular work for the Boston Globe . . . writing about weddings. I knew nothing about wedding planning, but the pay was good, so I figured it out quick. Doing anything and thinking quick is the best plan to working as a writer.
Oh, and prepare to starve until you get to the point where you are only sort of starving. When it comes to newspapers, unless you're at a certain level, you'll starve with a full time job.