Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

AncientAssyrian

Published Letters: 769
Editor's Choice: 54

Friday, January 25, 2008 08:39 AM

@gams..

I appreciate your agreeing on some points. But I disagree on the others with you as well.

If you are going to ascribe to Obama the comments of Jesse Jackson Jr. then Clinton gets Johnson's equally ridiculous racist comments. Hillary's campaign has also been behind some of the "Barack is a Muslim" smear rumor campaign -- sad but true.

As for being misogynistic, I'm an empowered woman, and not misogynistic in the least. And I would never question a woman's private sexual or marital decisions. But Hillary Clinton is a PUBLIC figure. And not only that, but she is holding herself up as a paragon for women's rights.

So that puts her, and her life as a WOMAN, on record as part of her shining example. And to that end, she is running on a record which is primarily as wife of a politician. She has a few years of elected experience, and a legal career. Beyond that, she was a wife. But, since she wants to present the Clinton White House years as HER political experience, that means that her marriage IS in the middle of it. And that said, the public face of her marriage is not inspiring -- if not downright archaic and UNenlightened -- to many women. And her disingenuously allowing Bill to attack Obama while she feigns innocence is conniving, and a VERY poor example for women of how to do something on your own merits.

She's a 60-something woman, running on the fact that her philandering HUSBAND was president, and allowing him to fight her battles. She's may be exercising her "women's rights" but she's making many terrible choices that show her to be a woman I wouldn't want to emulate, nor would I want my daughter to think is an example of a strong, noble, ethical, politically committed woman.

Friday, January 25, 2008 09:15 AM

@logical -- Not Logical

And there you have it.

By refusing to live in the past, and dedicate his life to 40-year old struggles, and insisting on facing today's struggles, you want to paint Obama as a racist and sexist who refutes the values of the 60s.

This is definitely an agree-to-disagree situation. Because there is no way a rational person can, in my opinion, look at that statement and see someone who refutes or fails to respect the battles of the sixties or the values that they represented. ESPECIALLY when they're coming from a biracial son of unconventional parents, who himself worked in the area of civil rights/racial equality. No, sorry, but if you truly believe that Obama is rejecting the values/struggles/battles of the 60s by looking forward, then you, like Hillary and the other 60-something 60s era politicians are living in the past.

Frankly, all this harping makes me even more convinced that the real issue is that Hillary is of the 20th century, Barack is of the 21st century.

The 15 or so year age gap between them might as well be 50 years, given Hillary's grasp on present day challenges, issues and battles.

Friday, January 25, 2008 09:36 AM

@Gary Owen

Your failure to master reading comprehension limits your ability to participate in discussions.

And I post under my own name -- there are others who apparently find your trollish stupidity equally inane. I'm happy to put my name to my own disgust with you.

Saturday, January 26, 2008 06:57 AM

Dr. Herbert Benson -- Pioneer of Mind-Body Medicine

For those who want to explore the information of a more knowledgeable expert on mind-body medicine, check out the writings and work of Herbert Benson, MD -- author of a groundbreaking book, "The Relaxation Response," and considered the father of "Mind-Body Medicine" in the west. He runs the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine in Massachusetts.

http://www.mbmi.org

He has also written "Timeless Healing," "Beyond the Relaxation Response," and Wellness Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Maintaining Health and Treating Stress-Related Illness."

Benson has been at this for more than 25 years, and, frankly, makes Harrington's "history" look like a high school term paper.

Saturday, January 26, 2008 07:05 AM

@Portlander... I'm so sorry...

A total aside here to the discussion, but you sound like you need some comfort. I don't know you, but I can hear how you're feeling, and for what it's worth, I'm sending you a hug and some good thoughts.

It sounds like you had a great marriage with a really wonderful woman. And to have lost her only five weeks ago. Five weeks is so raw, so soon. And this is one of the most difficult things to ever move through.

If you have friends and support to help you get through this, I'm glad. If you're feeling alone, please call a local hospice, because they have some amazing grief counselors, if you feel like you want to talk or need some ideas.

My Mom died of lung cancer almost 5 years ago this month, and she and my father were married 40+ years. Even when someone is terminally ill, the time after they're gone is really quite mystifying, emotionally.

Anyway, just wanted you to know that I read your post, and your love and your grief was heard, and someone who never knew her is thinking about your lovely fashionista wife and what she meant to you, and wishing you well.

Saturday, January 26, 2008 08:02 AM

@Portlander and @Ben Sen

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Your wives were lucky to be so loved, and so well remembered.

They live on in your hearts, and they live on here, in your words that give us all a sense of who they were.

Most Active Letters Threads

475

The Weekly Standard's ACLU smear indicts only itself

Neoconservative contempt for the Constitution is not only un-American; it is al-Qaida's greatest ally
436

The Washington establishment suffers a serious defeat

Approval of the Paul/Grayson bill to audit the Fed is both rare and important in several ways
415

The administration guts its own argument for 9/11 trials

If some detainees get military commissions or indefinite detention, how can 9/11 trials be justified?
231

Palin-Beck 2012? Sarah says maybe

She'll never be U.S. president, but her star power ought to scare the hell out of her charisma-free GOP rivals
226

A letter to readers

On my current condition: Definitely treatable, definitely uncertain

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon