Letters to the Editor
unwindthemind
Published Letters: 5
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Beautifully said
[Read the article: I'm a suburban husband in my 40s and I think I'm getting depressed]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I love how real you are, Cary. And how real your LW's are, too. Today's column perfectly exemplifies why yours is the first advice column I've ever subscribed to. Your letter writers' willingness to share their struggles in such a humble way always moves me, often to tears. And your compassion, humor, intuition, and tell-it-like-it-is and from-the-heart perspective have helped me work my own way through similar struggles more times than I can count. For that I thank you.
I agree that we are living in scary times. Sometimes I feel utterly despondent about humanity and the cruel havoc we wreak daily on our fragile planet, the precious and vulnerable non-human animals we share it with, and one another.
Your column is often a reality check for me that there ARE still beautiful souls among us, striving to make this world a kinder place. For that I thank you most.
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What an offensive article!!!
[Read the article: What I wouldn't do for my cat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And the fact that most of the people posting here seem to agree with the author is a testament to the materialistic, self-absorbed, and "throw-away" society we have truly become. No wonder our animal shelters are teeming with unwanted cats and dogs whose guardians never lived up to their commitments. The same people hedging whether or not their beloved cat (who has likely been a more steadfast and loyal friend than anybody else in their life) is worth a $1,300 vet bill probably aren't blinking when they spend the same amount on lattes over six months. How appalling. It's articles and attitudes like these that make me feel hopeless about our world and the animals and humans who suffer because of such ignorance and greed.
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Veganism bolsters health and self-esteem
[Read the article: Hey, skinny bitch!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...contrary to the author's biased perceptions after reading this book. Shouldn't Klausner have thought twice before picking up a book with a title called "Skinny Bitch?" It's obviously a book with an irreverent view toward body issues. But don't throw the baby out w/ the bath water!
A healthy vegan diet is not only good for the earth and the animals who don't have to suffer and die needlessly for our palates...it's also good for human health and weight control. I've been vegan for more than a decade and manage my weight effortlessly (partially good genes, but as I get older, I'm sure my diet plays a significant factor in my weight control). Furthermore, while not all vegans are rail thin, few if any are actually obese (in a nation where obesity is fast becoming the norm). It's animal fat that packs on the pounds, whether people want to admit it or not, and animal fat that clogs arteries, raises cholesterol, and increases our risks for many diseases and even cancer.
Klausner doesn't have to take the skinny bitch's word for it. Research has shown that a healthy vegan diet is the best way to trim down and save the planet while you're at it.
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Dreams Aren't Always What They Seem
[Read the article: I need a new dream]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My heart breaks for you, LW, and I think most of us whose dreams have been shattered at one time or another resonate and grieve with you.
I would never stoop to say that your childlessless "must have been meant to be" (I don't believe that), but I also think we've been cruelly conditioned to think that happiness equates to fulfilling our dreams (whatever we've come to identify them as: children, marriage, wealth, fame, successful careers, perfect bodies, living into old age, etc.). This dangerous illusion we not only buy into, we often sell our souls for. And as one responder aptly stated: these dreams are often mirages and don't hold the keys to happiness we'd like to think they do.
Our world is fraught with pain and in need of a loving heart dedicated to service like yours. I suspect that after you have grieved and let go (in as much as letting go is possible), there is great beauty and joy awaiting you on a different path of service. Given all that you have been through, I think you will be a great source of comfort to others who suffer pain in this world.
Wishing you peace and blessings on your path of service...
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I Had a Friend in the Same Boat When She Was In Med School!
[Read the article: I want to be a veterinarian but not at the expense of animals ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]She shared your (and my) sympathies for animals (bless you, by the way! I've been vegan for years, too, for the same ethical reasons.) In my friend's last year of med school, she was told that she MUST participate in a live dog lab (in which she would be asked to perform a medical procedure on a live dog who would be killed in the process) and she was told that she would be failed if she didn't participate. She went to her professors and told them that she simply couldn't violate her own ethics by participating in the lab. Amazingly, they not only gave her the option to learn the same techniques in a non-live-lab setting, but gave the same option to ALL students in the future if they had moral objections to the live lab. Talk about changing the world!
You have absolutely nothing to lose by talking openly to your teachers. You shouldn't have to torture animals to become a vet. And, in fact, I think the rotation you've described actually desensitizes many vets to the suffering of animals which perpetuates more suffering of animals in the veterinary profession. (The abuse of animals in the practice of veterinary medicine is sadly rampant because many vets lack compassion for animals!)
Take a stand and be true to your own moral compass. The animals will thank you.
Good luck!