Letters to the Editor
ray1064
Published Letters: 22 Editor's Choice: 4
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The Future...another direction?
[Read the article: At home with David Brooks]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am not sure why women cannot do both--work at home and raise a family. I know that is not possible in all professions, but many women I know work at home at high paying jobs (or at least part time jobs) and continue to raise their family.
A better vision is a national government initiative to support more telecommuting and remote work, by both men (who can help out with the family obviously) and women. I am amazed that in this day of wireless high speed Internet and video conferencing that we spend BILLIONS of hours of time and money commuting to a cube or office located 20 or more miles away. I think 100 years from now, people will laugh at the endless hours we spent in our cars, sitting in traffic jams wasting gas, polluting the air, etc, to do something we could easily do at home. Hopefully in that future world, our children will be raised in the best environment possible and everyone will be fulfilled professionally, and be less stressed.
Ray
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This has been a good season...
[Read the article: Will you miss "The West Wing"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I will miss "West Wing" very much. I think this year was a real comeback season for WW especially with the focus on the behind the scenes workings of the two competing campaigns. And, they can still put together a hell of a show with the "current administration" on the nuclear leak like the one Sunday night. Compared to much of the schlock on TV today, WW is still one of the best dramas on with terrific acting and interesting story lines. The move to Sunday night was fatal for them in many ways. But I can look forward to going back to the older seasons on DVD as we really did not start watching WW until a few years ago. Losing WW and "Six Feet Under" in one year is tough. So long, West Wing...
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On the money...
[Read the article: Actually, hell is other people]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I read the article, and then many of the accompanying letters. I would agree, making friends and maintaining friendships is just too much trouble. I used to think my wife and I were wierd because we never made plans with other people (other than our family). We so much more enjoyed going to dinner ourselves, to wineries, to movies, to events--just the two of us. We were comfortable doing that and did not have the pressure of entertaining or engaging others. I know that sounds harsh, but it is what it is.
Ultimately, as noted in several posts, friends usually let you down, either by their actions, or inactions. And, once you reach a certain age, you realize, its just not worth it.
I also think people put too much pressure or guilt on themselves about making friends, keeping friends etc. I think friends are like phases of your life. When you were in your 20s, you had your happy hour pals and party animal friends. As you moved in your 30s, you had some work friends or neighbors. In your 40s, you associate more with people due to children. Friends are like ships passing in the night in 95% of cases. They are your friends because of your association with work, school, neighborhood, etc. But once that changes due to a move or job change, people's interest and focus change too. And there is nothing wrong with that. It's nobody's fault, it just happens.
Anyway, I believe I heard someone once say that no one makes any close friends after high school. With limited exceptions, that holds true for my wife and I. And we have learned to accept it.
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A Short Comment and my life according to Woody Allen
[Read the article: The flying spaghetti monster]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If God does not exist, man would surely create one. I am a Catholic person who has, like most, had doubts about the existence of God. I believe any rational person would have doubts given that no evidence can be produced. And, there is the comment: how could a loving and peaceful God permit the Holocaust, permit the horrors of Darfur and African genocide, plane crashes, etc.
There is no answer for me so I have turned to two Woody Allen movies for guidance.
In "Annie Hall", when Alvy Singer as a young boy questioned doing his homework because the universe was expanding, Doctor Flicker(smoking as I recall), states something like: "It won't be expanding for billions of years yet, Alvy. And we've gotta try to enjoy ourselves while we're here!"
In "Crimes and Misdemeanors", when Judah played by Martin Landau visits his boyhood home, they flash back to the family sitting around the table discussing religion. His father, I believe, says something to the effect that if he had to choose between the truth (if there was no God) and religion, he would always choose religion. Because his belief is that his life was much richer and meaningful due to his beliefs and following the teachings of his religion.
So that's it. Enjoy yourself while you are here, and believe what you want in the hope that it will lead to a rich and meaningful life. That is the best I can come up with now...
Ray
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Our Christian Pro Life President and this War
[Read the article: The terrible toll in Iraq]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is amazing to me that Christians and people of faith support George Bush. His actions, and the actions of his administration, have led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and thousands of others have suffered ghastly injuries that have destroyed their lives.
His policies have caused all of this unnecessary death and destruction. And for what? I wish George Bush could explain to that grieving young boy in the picture why his Dad is dead.
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Tom and Katie's Wedding---what will it look like?
[Read the article: The Fix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Since Tom and now Katie are Scientologists, I am curious as to what kind of wedding they will have? She is a former Catholic girl from Ohio, so perhaps it will have some parts of the Catholic mass. Or perhaps an alien spacecraft will hover over them and blast them with a Hubbard Beam that will send them into marital bliss. Not sure yet...