Letters to the Editor
RobertGlass
Published Letters: 21 Editor's Choice: 4
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Welcome back, Camille!
[Read the article: Dancing as fast as she can]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Dang! I wish you'd exercise your brilliantly analytical brain on a further excursion into disco (I couldn't agree with you more about its significance, and your appreciation of Georgio Moroder and Donna Summer), rather than wasting it on a second rate phenomenon like Madonna.
Outside of a studio, she can't sing. Simple as that. Brilliant marketer. So, are we praising capitalism and MTV quick-cuts as art?
Tightly-controlled lip-synched "concerts?" Who is she fooling?
I'm glad she has the kids, and the decade-younger husband. But seriously: it's like watching the female Michael Jackson in slow motion, detonating a career that was based on far less talent than Jackson's to begin with.
Love to hear more from you on disco in general, and Michael Jackson too (his career; not the legal stuff).
Welcome back!
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Interesting article . . .
[Read the article: Lebanon's psychic hot line]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And even more interesting letters. While I couldn't agree more that the lies that are religions are killing the world, it's interesting to read people reflexly deride astrology (including the "Amazing Randi").
I've never known anbody who has seriously studied it who ridicules or dismisses it. Having studied and utilized astrology for over 40 years, I'm well aware of what it can and cannot do. It is not quantum physics.
On the other hand, it once literally saved my life. And a few years ago, when my sister called to say she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer and was to have surgery the next morning, I looked at her chart, called her back and said, "For what it's worth, you don't have cancer. You have fibroid tumors."
A family member phoned me the next day to say, "You were right. It wasn't cancer. It was fibroids."
I am not a physician. I HAVE studied medical astrology.
It's possible to be quite factually specific, as opposed to making general statements that apply to anybody, as in sun-sign columns. (Yes, I have "predicted" deaths -- exactly four times in 40+ years and NEVER for the person themselves: solely to mitigate justifiable emotional or financial concerns regarding a loved one's particular situation. With equal exactitude.)
People who denigrate astrology are exactly the same as religionists who denigrate the theory of evolution. They've not actually studied it, have no rational information about it, and -- in their own irrationality about the subject -- make ad hominem attacks calling astrology and those who use it irrational.
I neither expect nor want Salon regularly publishing astrologers'predictions. But it's great to see the occasional article that treats it objectively.
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More than two lines of thought emerge . . .
[Read the article: Back to the Dark Ages]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What seems not to occur to Ms. Bunting in her excellent article is that a "third" line of thought emerges.
That is the global repudiation of "religion" entirely.
Religionists' bases for their "beliefs" rest entirely on myths and irrational (and ancient) tribal hatreds perpetuated in the name of their "God."
To engage in false conflicts ("Your relgion is more violent than mine!") distracts from the fundamental psychosis religion represents for the human race.
It is probably too late to speak out against religionists, now that their fanatical myths and WMDs are as ubiquitous as iPods.
They seem adamant on provoking Armageddon, WWIII, the elimination of Israel, extermination of Infidels, execution of women and gays and lesbians and anybody else who disagrees with their Theocracy -- at any cost.
All we can do is speak the truth about them.
And, perhaps, pray.
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Brava!
[Read the article: What Oprah can't forget]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One of the best-written most perceptive pieces I've ever read on Salon.
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How Long, Allah, Lord . . . How Long?
[Read the article: Women come last in Afghanistan]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]After awhile, one sickens at the mention of "God" in discussions of women, same-sex people or any "minority" presumably subservient to a dominant male culture and religion.
Second-hand myths from all-wise sheep-herders two millennia ago no longer suffice to represent "God."
Islam? Christianity? Judaism? Holy books? Who's kidding whom?
These are exercises in bullying, warmongering psychopathology.
Fortunately, the world is moving beyond "faith" and toward "fact."
Unfortunately, the faith-based are once more unleashing their blood-lust death-cults on those of us who refuse to go along with their primitive superstitions.
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Respect is a two-way street?
[Read the article: Edwards campaign rehires bloggers Marcotte and McEwen]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Apparently not, for Catholics (and other) churches. They're fine with denigrating and ridiculing others who disagree with them on subjects like same-sex equality. The Catholic Church is even fine with killing some 20-60 million Africans through their anti-condom distribution policies, according to the President of the Royal Society of Britain, the world's oldest continuing scientific body.
Like all bullies, they can't take what they dish out. Point out facts to the faith-based and watch what happens.
Again, like all bullies, the Church's stance of "we're being persecuted" is the exact opposite of truth. It is the Church that's persecuting those - yes, with lies and ridicule - who won't bow down and kiss its ring.
To cite one of L. Ron Hubbard's favorite doctrines from his Scientology, the Catholic Church is "Fair Game."
ALL churches and religions are "Fair Game," which use slander, distortion, lies, violence and persecution in the name of God. Including, of course, Scientology.
Edwards and his staff did the right thing, and in less than 24 hours.
Bully for them.
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Votes Before Lives
[Read the article: McCain takes the press for a bumpy ride]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]McCain's pitiful equivocating response to questions about condoms and AIDS reveals his ugly truth: he'd rather pretend to be "stumped" by whether condoms help prevent the spread of AIDS than tell the truth (they do). In this he is matched by the Vatican's Cardinal Trujillo, who lied to the UN (and others, repeatedly) by claiming that latex condoms are permeable to the HIV virus (they are not). In any context, these are lies. The President of the Royal Society of Britain (world's oldest continuing scientific body) stated that the Vatican's anti-condom-distribution stance in Africa would be directly responsible for between 20 and 60 million deaths. McCain, on his so-called "Straight Talk Express", has instead demonstrated his willingness to lie (or feign ignorance about the spread of AIDS) to pander to his new-found (he hopes) allies of the religious right. In other words, he prefers lies and religious dogma to facts and saving lives. Voters need know nothing more about him than this: if the choice is between millions of deaths and risking offending the Religious Wrong, he'll choose the deaths, thank you.