Letters to the Editor
lexsali
Published Letters: 73 Editor's Choice: 9
-
A Typical Terrorist
[Read the article: National Review reporter caught fabricating; where is the "liberal media"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's not surprising that the media isn't seizing the opportunity to set the record straight on Hezbollah. After all, defending Hezbollah or debunking lies against Hezbollah won't bring them ratings or readers. If anything, it's likely to raise their profile as they join the venerated ranks of journalists that have turned war-mongering into an art. Anyone ever see CNN or any other news channel reporting on the 'War on Terror'? It's like they're reporting on the Red Terror, that's how insane the graphics and the music are. Raising the specter of the Arab terrorist is working very well for them.
I'm not holding my breath for this to change anytime soon either. Although I can only hope that the media here stops making such fools out of themselves. They would do well to realize that Hezbollah is not a 'typical' terrorist group. In fact, what the hell is a 'typical' terrorist? In the US, they would be Arab, for sure.
Interestingly, the definition of a terrorist would universally be, I think: a person or entity that uses violence to achieve political goals. If anything, the United States fits this definition to a tee. However, these days, the word 'terrorist' conjures up images of Islam, Arabs, suicide bombers, Israeli victims, 9/11, Iraq, and Afghanistan, for obvious reasons. It might as well be written into the definition. And this is not just the case in the United States; because of the influence of the US media worldwide, this 'definition' is being exported everywhere.
The problem, though, and one the Western media would do well to realize, is that Hezbollah doesn't fit the description of a typical terrorist group. Hezbollah has democractic representation in Lebanese parliament, is one of two major political parties in Lebanon, they have a public presence which includes radio and tv stations, social service programs, and it even has an identifiable structure resembling a political action group. It would be even more useful to remember that the European Union does not classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
As the old but accurate cliche goes: One person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter.
-
Ironic
[Read the article: News flash: Jennifer Love Hewitt wears bathing suits]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I understand what the point of this article was, and I agree withi t, but it is ironic that posting this article here, with all the views and responses it has gotten, has spread the story and the controversy. What we should be doing is de-emphasizing this kind of stuff by just ignoring it, and not making it into an even bigger controversy.
-
Oh what a tangled web we weave...
[Read the article: Mitt Romney's emotional moment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]So now Romney is trapped in the very web that his own party has woven. The Republicans rebuilt the connection between church and state bit by bit, using Bush and his rhetoric of good vs. evil (good being Christiany, evil being all else), and his propaganda about so-called epiphanies and moments of truth and praying about everything from Iraq to Terry Schiavo.
Serves them right. Let's see all the Republican candidates pass their own laughable religion test, painful though it may be for us to watch.
If Huckabee gets into office, it will be the final push into this degenerative spiral to a fascist, Christians-only, damn-everyone-else, crusader-state.
-
Obama vs. Clinton
[Read the article: The Oprah Winfrey show]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Barack Obama had the courage and integrity to stand up and oppose this senseless war from the start. It's time to let the world know that we have acknowledged this dark mistake and will no longer reward the characters who were complicit in it. It's time to embrace a new and hopeful future.
So perfectly put that I would only add one more thing on this topic: Hillary Clinton has been bought off by greedy corporate interests to the point where she doesn't belong to herself anymore. Look into her contributions, her backers, she has a shameful record of pandering to anyone with deep pockets. If you're looking for an independent, new perspective, Hillary Clinton is not it.
And for all who knock Obama for his lack of experience: Bush Jr. had not only a more severe lack of experience than Obama when he was elected, (he couldn't even name key foreign leaders and had never been outside of the country in his life), he had a total lack of common sense, the intelligence level of a 4th grader, and the diplomatic skills of a 500 lb gorilla (with a cowboy hat on).
Obama not only has a large dose of common sense, intelligence level rarely seen before in an American president, enough foreign policy experience to know not to back the most senseless, disastrous war in a long time, and he is a diplomat by nature. Only Obama can save this country after Bush.
-
@ Laurel962
[Read the article: What would we see if we were behind your eyeballs, Cary?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Unfortunately, like 99% of the rest of humanity (but not YOU), I have to actually work at an actual job in order to earn a living.
Sounds like someone's jealous. Which of course, you are. So do you hate everyone who is blessed with the ability to live independently? Movie stars, CEOs, hedge fund managers, you despise them all, don't you?
The difference between the 'independent' people listed above, and Cary Tennis, is that Cary actually helps people. And yes, he does help people. He's given excellent advice, and even if he can't, he's at least given comfort and enabled the LWs to connect with similar people for their advice and comfort. If you don't believe me, ask yourself why his column is the most read and active column on Salon. After all, even if he didn't open his mouth for a single question, it takes a certain amount of intelligent independence to pick the questions, too, doesn't it? And why, exactly, do you think people appeal to him for some of their deepest, most painful, most perplexing issues?
So, which is better? Cary, living independently and helping people, or you, on your high horse, working 9 to 5 and sniveling at other people that have done nothing to you?