Letters to the Editor
James V
Published Letters: 35 Editor's Choice: 2
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Color me skeptical
[Read the article: Matthew Dowd's not-so-miraculous conversion]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]To be perfectly honest, I really don't know whether or not Mr. Dowd is sincere or not. No one but he himself does. But I do have more than a healthy dose of skepticism in regards to his recent epiphany.
The root of my skepticism is related to one of the core principles of the Christian faith: the entire act of asking for forgiveness. I do not intend to open a religious discussion here nor to slander Christianity. In addition I think admitting mistakes and asking for forgiveness are healthy things and should be encouraged irregardless of any religious implications. Where my skepticism comes into play is when the act of introspection and the subsequent asking for forgiveness become institutionalized. It's the stereotypical "good Christian" who goes to church on Sunday, singing all the songs and reading all the passages, but during the rest of the week they are anything but "good Christians". I don't even think it's a conscious act in most cases, but simply evidence that most people's sense of personal accountability can often be very shortsighted and quite biased. This is perhaps an overused stereotype but I personally feel it pretty accurately captures how a great many of us approach anything that does not directly effect us. We only confront our failures when we absolutely have to because they are now affecting us personally or we've been caught. While perhaps a bit cynical, the fact that he is having these revelations after such personal hardships can certainly be seen as an example of this.
As I said above, realizing mistakes and asking for forgiveness from those you've hurt is an important part of the healing process (whether you are a Christian or not). But if nothing is actually learned from the experience than what value is there in the introspective journey? What value is there in any apology? What use is there in offering or withholding forgiveness? The process is supposed to heal in both directions. But if a person isn't sincere or if they subconsciously think that they don't need to think about their actions because the realization-forgiveness path will always be there for them, then what is any of it really worth?
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Let's get ready toooooo FABRICATE!!!
[Read the article: McCain: It's fun to be wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Please. John McCain did not "misspeak". He lied to push his position on Iraq.
The entire trip was orchestrated. The market was cleaned up. They had snipers everywhere. They were surrounded by 100 soldiers. Then they took their little stroll, all for the benefit of that 60 Minutes piece. And how in the world do you "misspeak" about that? You don't, you lie and say that's how it ALWAYS is. The entire thing sounds about as "real" as a professional wrestling match. I mean how many people still think THAT stuff is real?
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The new bubble?
[Read the article: The American media's fringe ideological view of Pelosi's trip]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]With all that's been spinning around in the mad American kettle over the last few years, something just popped into my mind. I was thinking about how fringe much of the current politics and media of this country have become in recent years and I also noticed the increased roll the internet has played in both information sharing and in the dispersion of ideas & beliefs. It's given the fringe a much more front and center position than they've ever had in the past that much is certain. But now it's like a runaway train. It reminds me of the internet "bubble" before everything dotcom went ker-pluey.
Remember when anything and everything "tech" was the hot thing? Remember when companies were started or needed to hire in 20-something CEOs to ensure they were "savvy" or "plugged in"? Whether or not these new corporate rockstars knew anything about actually running a company was not seen as all that important and the investors dove in head first. To me there seems to be something in all this that is similar to that. All of this vile and hateful fringe right wing ideologue has been out there for years, it's just more front and center now. It's easier to access, and it's all so attention getting! It's the new American flag lapel pin... War is the new Peace... let's get R. Lee Ermey to do the commercials and we'll sell millions...you get the idea. So these politicians with this "new" message of ignorance and hate have become our nations new 20-something CEOs. It's like we've stopped paying attention to how to successfully and properly run a country (company) and we've gone all trendy in hiring in our new management. I just hope for all of our sakes that this horrible "bubble" pops sooner rather than later and doesn't bring the whole nation (company) down with it. I mean finding a new job is hard enough these days even with Craigslist or Monster, I can't even fathom how difficult finding a new country would be.
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Sign of the times
[Read the article: Do national journalists agree with Gary Kamiya?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You know Glenn, I really think that this general lack of accountability or responsibility is much broader problem for our nation in general. It could be argued that it's been a problem that's been increasing exponentially from generation to generation, but I don't really know for sure. What I do know is that this mindset is evident across the spectrum of professions and hits all aspects of American life.
The Church is not responsible for a "few rogue priests". Corporations are not responsible for a few rogue executives or accounting firms. A political party is not responsible for a few rogue members that clog phone lines during elections. I'm not responsible for parking in the handicapped spot to run in to the ATM for a few seconds. The list of examples is endless. People do it in the private lives, in their kitchens, before taking their kids to school in the morning. It's literally everywhere. It's a general feeling that in this hectic world with 24 hour news cycles, nothing is ever really all that permanent because nothing ever really has peoples attentions for more than that. Hell, eveyone is just too damned busy to really bother with it all right? And besides, there's always someone else to blame it on.