Letters to the Editor
jprfrog
Published Letters: 44 Editor's Choice: 1
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The Mark of Cain
[Read the article: Rudy, Mitt, Fred or John]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]A small nit:
Joseph Smith must have been having a bad day when he transcribed the angel's dictation about Cain. According to Genesis, after God banished Cain for killing his brother, he (Cain) lamented that he would be a target for whoever he met (attention literalists: where do all those other people come from if Adam's family was the first?) so God marked him to PROTECT him.
Further, according to Genesis, blacks are "sons of Ham", the one of Noah's children who exposed his father's nakedness while the latter was sleeping off the first recorded drunk in {Biblical} history. It was this passage, that the curse of Noah doomed Ham's descendants to serve his brothers that was most used to justify slavery in this country.
Somehow, it seems odd that 3000+-year-old folktales are part of the criteria in selecting candidates for the most powerful human office in history (with the potential to destroy the human race quickly, or slowly) in the 21st century.
JRosen
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An annoying plot point
[Read the article: Dumbledore? Gay. J.K. Rowling? Chatty.]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If I had a chance to ask Rowling a question it would be: How does it happen that at the climactic moment when Neville kills the snake, he pulls Gryffindor's sword out of the Sorting Hat? When last seen, the sword has been confiscated (filched? reclaimed?) by the goblin who helped the trio get into Gringott's. Since goblins a clearly highly expert at guarding stuff, wouldn't it remain there? But it miraculously appears in Neville's hands for his great moment (and a satisfying moment it is too! -- in a way Neville's growth throughout the series is one of its more pleasing themes).
I know that the sword is supposed to be available when any stout-hearted Gryffindor is in great need (a little like Siegfried's sword in Wagner?) but that seems to me a little tenuous as an explanation...and surely such an important event needs a little more support. Any ideas?
AS a side issue, and just out of curiosity...what happened to Draco's parents? Who is Hogwarts' headmaster? (McConagall?) Who is the Minister of Magic? (Shacklebolt?)
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Translation?
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Patriot's motto:
ODERINT DUM METUANT
As one who suffered for 30 of my 35 years in NE (remember Billy Sullivan, anyone?), I must agree.
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Asterisk, yes, but why?
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Full disclosure: I lived for 35 years in Eastern Massachusetts, and had to live through the Sullivan era: Plunkett, Grogan, Ben Dreith, Champagne Tony, the Fridge, Chuck Fairbanks, 1-15, Victor Kiam, Parcells (who upstaged his whole team in the Super-Bowl week, stopped coaching in the 4th quarter, and didn't even ride the plane back with them after). After suffering with these guys for all that time, I have a right to wear my 54 jersey with pride, even though I now live in the heart of Giants-Jets territory (in Jersey).And now I know how the Yankee fans felt in the great years. Of course, we have Kraft and they had Steinbrenner, which is a whole different class of being.
No wonder we wind up with 8 years of Bush, when people can't even see that this rule violation (filming is allowed from the stands, just not the sidelines) that brings a penalty when discovered...like holding which could be called on every single play every single game in the NFL... would be marginally advantageous and hardly explain the record of the last few years. And in particular, since the thing was discovered and prohibited in the first quarter of the first game of a 16-0 season, what the hell does it have to do with the all the victories since? Not to mention that stealing defensive signals aids the offense, however slightly, and most of the Pats big victories, especially in the earlier seasons, were won by defense (e. g. stopping Indy on 1st and goal to preserve a lead, picking Pittsburgh in the first quarter, stuffing Kurt Warner in the 2001 Superbowl, and many more).. which is why although I admire Brady, I still wear Bruschi's number, as I said.
All that said, maybe there should be an asterisk, like Roger Maris's, except for the opposite reason. Ruth got 60 in 154 games, Maris got 61 in 162 games...more games, more chances to score. Buit Miami went 14-0 and the Pats 16-0. Longer season, more chances to lose (not to mention parity, free-agency, etc.) It is, no matter what happens, a greater achievement.
True, it seemed quite often that the general level of play bu almost everyone else (the Giants emphatically excepted) was rather poor...but is that just due to the comparing the polish of the Pats play, or can there be an objective measure between season and season? I can't think of how that might work.
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The Bookie of Virtue *(Bill Bennett)
[Read the article: Bill Bennett knows black people]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The man who sold a million books has bucks and bucks to spare.
He taught us all what Virtue is and really didn’t care
When at the Trump Casino by the boardwalk of great fame
He’d dropped a ton, while having lots of fun in Virtue’s game.
Ah, virtue! How thy name is praised and honored in the breach
And how I love to hear Bill Bennett bloviate and preach
And take the money when his tomes are selling really well
And hand it to a one-armed bandit wired for sound in hell.
Now, Bill, I heard you say that you can easily afford
Your losses when you pull the lever. Really? Praise the Lord!
Miraculous indeed that what’s a vice that all should dread
Becomes, if you have scratch enough, a harmless prank instead.
I grant that I’m not famous for my wisdom or my looks
But there are things a person knows without expensive books :
So if I had such money I would have sufficient wit
To find some use more virtuous than slot-machines for it,
Like AIDS research, or homes for battered women, or good schools
Where everyone was taught that everyone must honor rules,
Including you, the Virtue Czar, but who am I to say?
I guess I’m just not smart enough to live Bill Bennett’s way.