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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
pubius maximus
Published Letters: 634 Editor's Choice: 23
How ironic that, on a website so rightly and staunchly devoted to promoting a woman's right to choose, that a presumably grown woman's right to engage in personal grooming can be so derogated. Freedom of choice-- seems to me that if you want it, you need to be willing to accept the free exercise thereof by others.
I disagree with your conclusion, minimus, but appreciate how artfully-- albeit wrongheadedly-- you managed to slip in some gratuitous "liberal bashing" into an argument over genital grooming.
I can hardly wait until these two begin procreating and then beating the resulting offspring! That'll make for some good letters, you betcha!
"Ebenezer: [shocked] Spirit, are these your children?
Spirit of Christmas Present: They are Man's. This boy is Ignorance, this girl is Want. Beware them both, but most of all, beware this boy!
Ebenezer: But have they no refuge?
Spirit of Christmas Present: [quoting Scrooge] Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"
If only poor Debo's neighbors could've been shunted off before polluting her pristine neighborhood and intruding so needily into the idealistic bubble that is apparently her life. Poor, neglected and raised by the parental equivalent of wolves, did you expect these kids to act like your own? I'm not sure which is sadder, these children's obvious need or Debo's Blinders of Oblivion.
For the love of God, beware the Boy!
If boyfriend has the slightest inkling of common sense and even a modicum of self-esteem left, he should run like the wind away from this self-righteous egomaniac.
Since that seems doubtful, I look forward with voyeuristic anticipation to part two of the story where he writes in after several more years of abuse, whining about the miserable shipwreck that she's made of his dreams.
Not to be trite, but reading this piece put me in mind of that line from Raiders of the Lost Ark: "Asps. Very dangerous. You go first." Having said that, bravo Mr. Shapiro for having gone first and speaking the heretofore unthinkable!
I look forward to the day-- the good Lord willing it will come in my lifetime-- when I can sport a "No more Virginia Techs. Repeal the 2nd Amendment" bumper sticker without fear of being libeled as unAmerican. Or shot with a Glock.
Hero is in the eye of the beholder, pal. Yes, heroes enter flaming buildings while everyone else is running out, rescue damsels from evil wizards, hunt down the outlaws, clean up the town or fight good fights against terrible odds and sometimes even prevail in the end.
But that's mainly the adolescent bullshit view of heroism that most of us never touch except in daydreams. Why? Because most of us are busy just getting out of bed every morning to go to a job that's barely tolerable so we can put food in our kids' bellies or keep a roof over their heads. Or loving and being true. Or teaching those kids to grow into strong, honorable and trustworthy adults. Or doing any of a million mundane daily chores that mean so much and are taken so much for granted by the ones we love (including even ourselves) and that, added up in the end, are the sum total of a life well-lived and glorious.
There's a quote from Charles Bronson's character in the Magnificent Seven which comes to mind:
"You think I am brave because I carry a gun; well, your fathers are much braver because they carry responsibility, for you, your brothers, your sisters, and your mothers. And this responsibility is like a big rock that weighs a ton. It bends and it twists them until finally it buries them under the ground. And there's nobody says they have to do this. They do it because they love you, and because they want to. I have never had this kind of courage. Running a farm, working like a mule every day with no guarantee anything will ever come of it. This is bravery."
You want to be a hero, pal? You want your name to live on after you? You want to be remembered and revered?
Then marry that "good woman" and have some children and love them, one and all. Be a good, kind, decent, responsible human being in the face of all the odds and impediments.
Because perhaps, in the final analysis, the best, bravest and penultimate heroes are the unsung ones. The ones who acted out of love, courage and self-sacrifice and not for the sake of some ephemeral, illusive, egotistical quest for immortality.
There are no accidents. You handed your hubby this diary of your "darkest secrets" (yeah, I'm sure they were real chillers, too) and are stunned that he read them?
The fact is, you were hoping he would. Now you get to "forgive" his transgression, secure in the knowledge that he accepts your "dark side" and yet continue to dangle the threat that it's affected your relationship too badly to go on. Spare me. More to the point, spare him.
I suggest you stop with this obvious "pay attention to me" gambit and allow this poor guy to see his dying father off and mourn in an environment sans worry of whatever the hell YOU might be thinking. If, after an appropriately decent time passes, you are still unable to get over the fact that he fell for your ploy, then allow him to move on and find someone less manipulative.
Revealing mom's abortions in the guise of a presumably mature discussion of sexuality and contraception. How noble...
I would no more discuss my ex's 2 abortions with my daughter than I would her mom's 2 arrests for shoplifting. What would be the point, except to metaphorically backhand mom for her sad history? Oh, and incidentally, guarantee a total screwing up of my daughter's head.
Jeez, can't anybody sense an ulterior motive anymore?
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The Maine fight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for repealing California's Prop. 8 -- but gay marriage lost
Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
Salon headlines in your mailbox
