Letters to the Editor
Pandora83
Published Letters: 7 Editor's Choice: 1
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What is a feminist, exactly?
[Read the article: The 9/11 backlash against women]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The problem I have with a lot of comments on here is the assertation that all feminists are hysterical and man-hating, that we all believe that men shouldn't raise their children, that none of us have any respect for stay-at-home moms, etc. etc. The definition of feminism in Webster's is as follows: 1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes 2 : organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests.
That's a very broad definition. A feminist could be someone who hates men, but they don't have to be. That's not required. A feminist is someone who believes that women are equals of men. If anyone on here believes that idea is crazy, then by all means go ahead and argue your point. For the rest of you, please just keep Webster's definition in mind before you go blaming every feminist alive for man-hating, motherhood loathing, or anything else you're angry about.
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A response to some of these comments
[Read the article: The diet that's too good to be true]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at 18 years old. While I didn't have to suffer through high school with this disease, I did get it just before going off to college, which was bad enough. I'm still pretty young (24), and hope that I can add a different point of view to this discussion. First of all, one poster on here asked "Where are the parents?" If my daughter was a teenager with diabetes, I would be make sure to stay involved and be supportive, certainly, but you have to understand that this disease gives you a feeling of a total lack of control, at least at first. Adding to that parents hounding you and checking on your blood sugar constantly does not help. The only way you learn to handle this disease is by controling it yourself, not having someone (other than your doctor) telling you how to control it. We're sometimes too overprotective of youth in America, and I think it can often hurt them more than help them.
Also, while taking insulin does make you gain weight at first, once you get your blood sugar under control it usually goes back down. This can take years, but it's not like having diabetes dooms you to a life of being overweight. When I was diagnosed I was down to 95 lbs. A year later, I weighed almost 150 lbs. At my height, neither of these is particularly healthy. But I've been at a steady 115 lbs. for the past year and half, ever since I've gotten my A1C test to level out. I know everyone reacts differently to insulin, and I know it's harder for type 2 diabetics, but skipping shots isn't the only way to lose weight. If you can't gain good control, try switching doctors. (And to the poster named 'ER', my grandmother's a 78-year-old diabetic who's never been in the hospital since she was diagnosed, so it's not hopeless. Rants like yours are not only somewhat inaccurate, they also tend to make life more difficult for people who are already struggling.)
And, finally, to the poster who seemed confused as to why doctor's don't always push the insulin pump. For individuals who have good control already, it's not always neccessary. It's very invasive (you constantly have an IV-like tube attached to you), it looks awkward, and it can make simple things like going to the gym or being intimate with your partner much more difficult. For those who really need it, it's a wonderful thing. I'm on it myself. But I completely understand why they don't recommend it for everyone. We're all different.
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To Brightstar
[Read the article: The diet that's too good to be true]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Even though your post didn't really address diabetes, I'm going to put it in that context. A lot of people with diabetes, especially with type 2, come from low-income families. One of the reasons people get it to begin with is because of our 'typical American diet' of junk/fast food, and for a lot of people in this country that's all they can afford and/or all they know. Most of them won't be able to afford to go to Whole Foods to begin with, even if they are lucky enough to have a doctor/dietician who suggests eating less processed, more wholesome foods. Add the medical costs that diabetes incurrs to that equation, and you'll see why some of your suggestions may be problematic.
Also, I'm not really sure what point you were trying to make by telling men it will help get them attention from shallow ladies if they lose weight by eating organic. This article is about teenagers who have some issues to resolve, not about grown men trying to get laid. I think you lost sight of the real issue here.