Letters to the Editor
melthough
Published Letters: 1264 Editor's Choice: 102
-
"In the current system, the place to vote your heart is in the primaries."
[Read the article: President Nader? Maybe third time's the charm]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My heart's desire just left the race, so I'm afraid that's not possible.
And, in case you didn't read my earlier posts, you don't need to convince me not to vote for Nader. I am only defending Nader supporters from 2000 against the claim that the blood of 9/11 and Iraq are on their hands because they didn't vote for Gore. And making the already oft-made point that if Democrats want progressive votes, they should try to be more progressive. They don't get votes, in many cases, not because of what they believe in but because of the fact that they refuse to actually stand up for it. They should not be surprised when some of the votes they do not get are the votes of progressives staging a boycott.
-
As a rape victim,
[Read the article: South Africa gets an earful about Mike Tyson's visit]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I object to the idea that rape is never about sex. For example, coercion by familiar men (the most common form, a.k.a. "date rape") is very often about wanting sex really badly and seeing that you can get it by force or manipulation. As a child, I also witnessed a rape that fell into this category. And the scars that remain for the rape victim are often primarily sexual. The blanket assertion that "rape is not about sex" has a great deal of accuracy in a certain context, but it does not make sense in all cases.
Perhaps the real problem is our country's puritanical attempt to segregate sex and sexuality as separable components, rather than being able to recognize that sex and sexuality are just one aspect of personhood. If we had a less dualistic view of what it means to be human, we would not be having this conversation about whether rape - an act of SEXUAL violence - is about sex or not.
p.s. Tina, it is probably a dumb idea to bother trying to engage you in a rational conversation, but if you are posting in good faith and you want people to respect what you say, try speaking respectfully. I frequently disagree with some of my favorite people on Salon, but none of them are trolls.
-
Being a mother changes your identity completely,
[Read the article: I get grossed out when I hear, "I'm a mom!"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]both in the public's esteem and in your own. You might not want to think about that, but you're going to have to face it eventually. Your contempt for women who identify themselves primarily as mothers is a little alarming, and suggests that you fear it deeply - which, to be honest, is perfectly understandable. But having a child changes your entire existence, and if you don't accept that at some level before your baby is born, I'm afraid you are setting yourself up for a tough transition. I wish you luck and happiness and a husband who identifies himself primarily as a father for a couple years.
-
"I'd wager that every woman reading this, whether she will admit it or not, has played the "pretend to be dumb" thing in the presence of someone she likes romantically."
[Read the article: Women never would have invented television?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If we're really betting, I accept checks and PayPal. Nope, haven't even done it once.
-
Yikes. Leave the Nazis out of it.
[Read the article: Campaign wrap]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sounds like one more person who likes dirty politics better than the candidates themselves do.
Can we please get a Nazi-imagery-free rundown of the real differences - and similarities - between Clinton's and Obama's health care plans? Besides climate change and Iraq, this is my biggest issue of interest this year, and it seems to be their biggest point of contrast. Thanks.
-
Damn it!
[Read the article: Will they call it Microhoo? Yahosoft? ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I switched to Yahoo mail when AOL bought Netscape and did all this annoying, screwy shit to its mail client. I can't even imagine what kind of irritating "synergies" will start showing up in Microhoo's mail client. I guess it's gmail for me in the near future.
-
Ha!
[Read the article: Women never would have invented television?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Maybe Fay Weldon is struggling with the thought of smart women because she's not particularly bright herself"
My own little personal red star for _Allie_! That is the smartest thing on the thread so far.
-
@crumley
[Read the article: Quote of the day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Are there any manly - or even vaguely masculine - male stars who provide what you would consider an adequate comparison?
-
@Colt
[Read the article: Quote of the day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"look at the how young male star athletes (who happen to be of similar age) as the starlets covered here are treated by certain kinds of tabloid sports media."
Well, that is a good point, but too bad you buried it in a lot of nastiness. I didn't even know there WAS such a thing as a "sports tabloid." Comparable examples would be helpful.
-
Well said, TCF
[Read the article: Feisty bloggers vs. old-school Steinem-ites!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"[M]en and women from across the political spectrum can rally around a fundamental belief in women's equal rights, while debating the best way to secure and defend those rights."
And I think I count as an old-school Steinemite, even though I'm 35, but I think what Pappas did was really, really dumb. There are some people you just don't want on your side.