Letters to the Editor
swilldog
Published Letters: 184 Editor's Choice: 20
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If only it were so clear
[Read the article: My best friend is marrying a guy who's nothing but trouble]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Were it me, here's how I would handle it:
First, realize the demand to either be 100% with the program or drop out is an absurd one. As others have pointed out, it could have been prompted by the fiancee; or, it could be one of those "desperate plea for help" moves by someone who deep down in their heart of hearts knows that she's about to make a big, big mistake. Either way, it's a false choice.
Therefore, the demand is not to be taken seriously, and I would point that out. "Sorry, hon, that's unfair, and you know it."
Second, I'd reiterate, concisely, my feelings. "You know I don't really approve. He's not good to you, and you deserve better."
Third, I'd profess my support, and acknowledge that I couldn't possibly see and know everything about this guy. "Still, there must be something there that causes you to want to spend the rest of your life with this man. And because you feel so strongly, I'm willing to stand up with you to support you best way that I can."
Fourth, make HER decide what my role is to be. "But if you feel so strongly that I need to be 100% supportive of him, I cannot do that. So if my support for you isn't enough, then you need to rescind your invitation. I might be disappointed, but I won't be upset."
Finally, I'd point out that I'll continue to be her friend, regardless. "Just know that no matter what you decide, I'm here for you. I hope I'm wrong about him, I truly do. My fondest wish is for you to be happy. And no matter what happens, I will be your friend. Just let me know what you want me to do."
999 times out of 1000, this will get you dis-invited to be MoH. About half the time, you'll never really be close friends again. Should she decide to remain close, it's less likely you'll be the one she turns to (repeatedly, most likely) when things go bad. On the other hand, you're more likely to be the person she turns to if/when she's ready to kick the bum to the curb. And really that's the best you can hope for for the both of you. Good luck!
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stop everything! anecdotal evidence of something!
[Read the article: Bad schools, dumb kids]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe there are serious things wrong with our public education system. Reforms are needed, bureaucracies need to be streamlined, **parents and communities need to be more involved**, yadda yadda yadda.
But please -- are we supposed to draw some sort of conclusion based on video footage of a few morons who think Lincoln was the first president? Newsflash: morons walk amongst us, and have since the dawn of mankind.
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*sigh*
[Read the article: A Democrat knocks Colbert, says Bush "deserves some respect"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why is it whenever something -- anything -- happens that liberals/progressives/democrats can get energized over, some semi-democrat (Semi-crat?) has to go and piss all over it?
Stephen Colbert has integrity this Hoyer douche could only dream about. Where does this guy get off saying anything about anyone?
Oh, and he's the House Minority Whip? I assume that's some sort of position of importance in the party -- so why haven't I heard of him until now?
For future reference, Mr. Hoyer, next time something like this happens (a guy can dream, can't he?) here's how your thought process should go:
"Gosh, I thought that Colbert guy went over the line. But by golly, a lot of our people got really excited about it. People feel hopeful, invigorated by this guy's performance. Perhaps I should just keep my big yap shut about this."
And we wonder how the neocons took over.
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A modest proposal for the Sierra Club
[Read the article: Party foul]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I posted this on the very forum Amanda Grissom Little referenced, but I feel it might also have some value here:
his record may/may not be relevant
...given the Republican leadership in Congress and the White House.
He might vote with the Sierra Club 100% of the time -- it doesn't matter. The GOP is (currently) monumentally hostile to environmental issues, and having Chaffee as a token moderate gives them just enough cover to go on raping the environment with their corporate-friendly "voluntary compliance" and Newspeak policies.
And I say this not to cast undue aspersions to the Senator. He very well might be a standup guy on many environmental issues. But as long as the Republican leadership is hostile to environmental issues, the Sierra Club should not be endorsing him for the general election.
Admittedly, it's a tough spot if indeed Chaffee has a decent environmental voting record. The Sierra Club needs to appear nonpartisan, and provide incentives to "moderate" Republicans so that they will support an environmentally-friendly agenda.
I would think the savvy endorsement would be to give a glowing endorsement of Chaffee for the Republican primary. List the many things he's done, both as a legislator and as a committee chair. And then say that the Sierra Club, regretfully, cannot give him their endorsement for the general election because while Chaffee has been a standup guy, his party's leadership has been the antithesis. As long as the GOP's positions on the environment are this bad, no Republican -- good environmental voting record or no -- can qualify for a Sierra Club endorsement. For those races, they should choose to regretfully abstain from endorsing either candidate.