Letters to the Editor
Tigerr
Published Letters: 103 Editor's Choice: 2
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Dynamic truth
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That Turner guy on c-span freaked me out, with his "don't be a pussy-time for quick action"-arguments.
The constitution especially so because on many issues it is vague and ambiguous, some argue by design of the framers.
Now, I am not a lawyer, not a constutional specialist, and I'm not even American. But I am, though, concerned about what is going in the most powerful nation of the world, and how it affects international politics.
I'd say "vague" and "ambiguous" are great: it leaves room for debate. In a democracy, there has to be clear and open debate about how and when laws should be applied, and changed when necessary, depending on the different times, and situations.
It reminds me of the conflict between Plato and the so-called sophists. To exaggerate my analogy: while Plato argued for absolute truth, quick decision and clear black-and-white application of laws in politically troubled times, the Sophists argued that every decision should be discussed and debated, because no situation was ever the same - truth for them was a dynamic principle, it shifted.
No surprise Plato won, and the Sophists went down, unrightly so, in history as liars.
Problem is, though, in the sophist appraoch, you need strong citizens who are not afraid.
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@ L.W.M.
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks for the link. Great!
I agree about clarity of laws and legislation, though it seems we still need judges to decide what exactly they mean in different situations (but once again, I'm not a lawyer, so I could be mistaking here.)
What I don't like is the idea of legislation being/becoming "absolute", and being passed quickly without proper consideration or debate, especially in and because of times of so-called terrorist threats.
It's basically the republicans tactic to use people's fear and this "there's no time for this"-argument to get scary amounts of power.
We need more sophists. ;-)
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Cato debate
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Great work in the Cato debate, Glenn.
Casey quote:
The US foreign policy in the Middle East had its ups and downs.
That is such a funny thing to state in a very, very sad way. Honestly, I'd be laughing my *ss off, if not so many people died in the name of the "downs" of US foreign policy in the ME.
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@ WT
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Wow, great poem. Reminds me strongly of the words of Preacher (vanity...) in the bible (the only part I like in that book, by the way, no, wait, let me be honest, the only part I know, ok, like AND know, know and like).
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LOL
[Read the article: Never let them see you sweat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]On Fox News Wednesday, Neil Cavuto began an interview with George W. Bush by telling the president, "I notice, in the heat, you just don't sweat."
It went downhill from there.
That was so funny I laughed out loud. Thanks so much for that.
I'm sure the journalist was sweating in awe of this Great President. Idiot.
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"Understanding" the ME
[Read the article: If you think they hate us now]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]@ rtf100
He probably also thinks that the "war of terror is just a bumper sticker" [...] Canason, like Greenwald, need to do more balanced research and not cherry-pick their facts.
And do you, by any chance, happen to think that muslims are angry at the US because of the great American ideals of freedom and democracy?
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Dishonest
[Read the article: "Little Children"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I caught the movie on dvd this week and found it deeply unsatisfying and outright dishonest, especially the ending.
The movie lets me question the certainties of family life for more than 2 hours only to find the voice-over comfortingly promising both main characters some kind of a future again?
Either they go back and never talk again about the affair, or they do and possibly wind up with nothing - what kind of a future is that?
The voice-over ruined it; it should have never talked about future, should never have promised anything, leaving the spectators more room to think of what will become of the protagonists.
And if there was a reference to 9/11 in the book, it should have been included in the movie too. The ominous shadow would have been perfect for the "open" ending.
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To a young poet
[Read the article: Dear Sir, I write today to say that I cannot write]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]@ all LW-bashers. Go find a tree and vent your frustrations by knocking your head against it. No, wait, use a lamp post. If you actually feel better by exploiting a LW's courage and vulnarability, face your own problems first, cowards.
LW, I understand, to the degree that I can sympathize through words in letter. Don't pressure yourself, don't give yourself deadlines, don't compete with yourself, or others, don't think about it too much.
Live, read, enjoy the sound of wind in trees, or heavy traffic at dusk. Read the books you like. Stare through the window at your favorite coffee shop. But live, openly, enjoy living, and always take a book with you, read anywhere you find the time. It'll come back, maybe not in the way you'd expect, but you'll find it, and it will find you again.
You might want to try Rilkes "Letters to a young poet" (I think) too.
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Regrets
[Read the article: I let my friends stay with me and now they're evicting me!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Maybe you should try to make sure you still won't be gnashing your teeth about what happened in a couple of years from now.
(People who have difficulty saying "no" tend to be wallowing in regret from all the things they should have said and done when they had the chance.)
I'd say: make sure they understand you don't approve of what they are trying to do. This is about you. Make sure you get the feeling you said it in a way that will make you feel good in a couple of years. They should be feeling bad about this. Stand up, get angry, tell them strongly how you feel.
And then start looking for a new place. It was your place, wás, the place of the old you, the one who was too kind, sometimes.
Find yourself a new home, one you earned from the painful lesson you have learned and make a new start.