Letters to the Editor
maureenodonnell
Published Letters: 577 Editor's Choice: 5
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The French have finesse
[Read the article: The truffles are coming]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One of the most unusual books I've ever read was "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind (who is German). It is fiction and writes about smells, both horrible and exquisite, in a very graphic way as it traces the career in perfumery of the grotesque Grenouille, gifted with an extraordinary ability to detect even the faintest odour. I note Folgar's comments, which seem to be full of bravado and even missplaced chauvinism - a French word. I hope he or she enjoys those "Freedom fries" which replaced French fries in 2003 but must admit that the only example of American cuisine of which I'm aware is the MacDonalds fast-food chain and Starbucks. As well, I don't eat turkey, which I believe is native to North America, but, to be fair about it, I wouldn't eat veal or snails either while the French seem prepared to eat anything and to cook it superbly. I'm too finicky for France and too unwilling to gorgr myself on massive amounts of food for America. Just kidding, of course.
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First Lady! Don't you have to be a lady first?
[Read the article: What would Michelle Obama do?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The terminology will have to change as there are precious few "ladies" around. I'm not going to comment on Michelle Obama apart from saying that "stink-y and snore-y" don't sound very ladylike, or even articulate. As for "First Gentleman", that can only be a joke as Bill has more in common with a lascivious goat than with anyone's ideals of a gentleman. You have plenty of choices which reflect the actuality rather than the pretentiousness of all this. How about "First Battleaxe" or "First Spouse", the latter to rhyme with "louse"?
As for tea-drinking being associated with insipid and timid people, those who regard it as such are clueless. Asians and Indians (sub-continent) drink tea, as also do the Russians and, as a matter of fact, I'm quite partial to it myself. The French and Americans prefer coffee so that, at the very least, is something you have inc common.
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The "wolf in sheep's clothing" sharpens his fangs
[Read the article: Quote of the day: Obama on Clinton ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]and all the real sheep, little and large, bleat 0-baa-ma, 0-baa-baa-ma. This is truly Orwellian, a dystopia where words can be twisted for any purpose. "Yes we can" is NOt a translation of "Si (accented "i") se puede. It means "It is possible" but who cares about accuracy or anything as arcane as that. Getting all-of-a-dither, fainting and frothing, means so much more. I'm lucky to live in a parallel universe where Obama's banal statement, tinged with spite, would not be deemed worthy of being chosen as "Quote of the day", As a witty British parliamentarian retaliated to criticism from another politician: "It's like being mauled by a dead sheep". I can see why Senator Obama is unwilling to debate; that would require real intellectual rigour and silly soundbites will do for you (or should that be "ewe"?).