Letters to the Editor
JosefG
Published Letters: 27 Editor's Choice: 1
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Wish we had your problems…
[Read the article: The Big Idea: No more breakthroughs]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The notion that humans are about to reach a limit of knowledge and understanding about the world around us is not new and has been falsified many times in the past. It is surprising to see this idea advocated by a self proclaimed veteran �science writer�. Science is NOT some dogma or world view but a method for finding out how things around us work. The application of the insights gained via this method is what allows you to read these words. It is true that science has established some limits, such as the finite speed of information propagation (�the speed of light�, as John Horgan calls it). But consider that the fastest vehicle humans to date have engineered (the space craft Pioneer 10) is traveling at 0.005% of this limit. Is a snail on a freeway concerned about the 65mph speed limit. The snail would either be nuts or have some ulterior motive for voicing such concerns, wouldn�t you think?
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Condi's trail of lies - Public relations disaster made in U.S.
[Read the article: Condi's trail of lies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As a representative of a socio-economic group that still bears a double disadvantage (being female and African American), Condoleeza Rice has been given a good-will bonus. It is sad to see her wasting this capital in pursuit of policies that will ultimately harm this great country rather than make it more secure. Logic dictates that the �war on terrorism� (I shudder using this dumb phrase) can never be won. The threat of terrorism can be minimized using a balanced policy that adheres to international laws and treaties, as this administration is about to learn. The current U.S. policy is an unmitigated public relations disaster as the article correctly points out.
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Can we pull this off with the leaders we currently have?
[Read the article: Mission to be decided]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is "Nation Building 101". Now that the U.S. has invaded and occupied Iraq it is morally responsible for what is going to happen in that country. Even those of us who have never approved of invading Iraq now share this view.
Mr. Conason is advocating the right idea: The fight against the Iraqi insurgency can not be won militarily. Thus it needs to be resolved via compromise through negotiations between Shiites,the Sunni minority, the Kurds and other, and with great diplomatic help from the United States. However, diplomacy is not a skill that the current U.S administration has great command over. So this plan is bound to fail. Mr. Conason’s plan can only work if the U.S. administration learns to skillfully use diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution within a completely foreign cultural setting. Is that a likely scenario? Do we have the right leaders to deal with this situation?
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Nice going Mr. Bush...the terrorists are winning...
[Read the article: "Never have the freedoms we cherish seemed so imperiled"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This great country which used to be a beacon of hope and liberty for many people now holds its own citizens in indefinite confinement without charges, is engaged in a pointless war in a middle-eastern country, severely restricts the constitutional civil liberties of its general population in the name of "security", uses torture against "enemy combatants", openly violates international law. Impressive!
I think that if the 9/11 terrorists could see this, they'd be proud!
Carry on Mr. Bush, good show, jolly good work!
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re: How do you like your democracy now, Mr Bush?
[Read the article: How do you like your democracy now, Mr. Bush?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Juan Cole points out that true democracy is only possible if some minimal social and economic conditions are met. Even though this seems like an obvious fact, Mr. Bush and the current U.S. executive branch seems unaware of it. It is well possible to have democratic elections that institute very anti-democratic regimes. Democracy is a double-edged sword if the electorate is desperate (Iraq, Palestine) or is in a state of neurotic fear, combined with a constant “war” scenario (as in the U.S.).
Mr. Cole also points out that the U.S. does not act as an even-handed arbitrator in the Israeli-Palestinian issue and thus has little credibility. This also is very obvious. Both Israelis and Palestinians need to make major changes in their current attitudes and practices if further bloodshed is to be avoided. Unfortunately the current weak U.S. government may well be less than useless in this matter, especially in reigning in the unavoidable Israeli hard-line response to this democratic election.
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I can't believe I'm writing about cartoons!!!
[Read the article: 'Tooning out humanity]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]When a system of belief claims to be absolutely true and does not allow rational criticism and debate it should automatically be discarded as dangerous. This should thus happen to all major superstitious belief systems, i.e., religions, if they are so constructed.
It so happens that a very vocal minority of the "Muslim world", along with many necessarily less vocal fundamentalist Christians, orthodox Jews, etc. do not accept this basic premise of enlightened reasoning. Too bad. The author of this piece finds "the cartoons" in question "ignorant and offensive". Tough. Life can be so hard! In reality the cartoons are a mixed bunch: Some are pretty funny, others mediocre, some in bad taste, and one even pokes fun at the publishing Danish newspaper itself.
It you don’t want to be offended by cartoons, simply skip the funny pages in the future, but please don’t tell me what I can and can not read!
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Good reporting !
[Read the article: Permanent bases in Iraq?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Very informative piece of reporting. The facts, as reported in this excellent piece of reporting, speak for themselves. 'Just wish that more people would learn about what is happening and where their tax-dollars are being "invested". 'Would like to thank "remixedgdog" for well-written comments and insights.
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Does God have a sense of humor?
[Read the article: "The Da Vinci Code"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Your article is pretty much on target, as far as the book is concerend: A page-turner that turns more and more towards the ridiculous as the end of the book is approached. I don't believe that there is anything new in the book but the combination of popular thriller and serious religious underpinnings (and simply being at the right time at the right place) resulted in the "Da Vinci Phenomenon".
It is amusing to see how some religious folks see the book and movie as an insult to their mythological beliefs. At the same time, some not-so-religious people try to derive some insights from a work of pure fiction. I guess there is a god and she has a sense of humor after all...or maybe not.