Letters to the Editor
petralyn
Published Letters: 61 Editor's Choice: 10
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Felicity Huffman is no Terrence Stamp
[Read the article: "Transamerica"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Terrence Stamp comes the closest of any actor in memory to playing a real-life transexual woman. Terrence has the appearance, sound, and hair. When I first read about this movie I realized is was a loser when the director failed to recruit an actor who really looks the part--a part NO biologic woman could ever play.
Maybe if the producers had hired a few t-women to advise them the movie would have been a signicantly improved. As a trans who has suffered all the ugliness our society can heap upon a transexual, I would love to see a more serious production that speaks to our lives and loves.
Thanks,
Petra
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A playwright speaks--the truth
[Read the article: A playwright speaks out]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Having read the article, and then reading the text of Pinter's speech, I feel a profound sense of collective guilt, as strong as if I'd had directly bombed or shot or tortured the last human standing. If there is anything that has convinced me that Atheism is worthwhile, this speech has. Pinter, in few words, has illustrated for me the ethical and moral vacuum of our culture since, at least, the Second World War. Pinter has defined what it means to be "An American," and we ARE not without guilt, any of us. We have let this virus, this contemptible political virus, invade the very being of our lives, without remorse for the millions who have suffered from our imperial hegemony.
Yet for all this history, where are those of self-professed morality? The religious crusaders and Bible believers? Worried about partial birth abortion? Worried about same-sex marriage? The material actions of past administrations and the current one will never be called to account before a world court. I believe the only court of appeal resides in the the hearts and minds of those, such as myself, who have developed and acknowledged our guilt.
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Face transplants: the most obvious users
[Read the article: Face transplants -- just for the ladies?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What I find most interesting is the silence from those most likely to want to use the new face transplant techniques: m-f transexuals. As a group, we are the ones most likely to want to change our facial appearance: notice the growth in facial-feminizing surgery (FFS) from surgeons in the: U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. At present, we can have hair transplants, vocal cord surgery and voice training, facial bone re-contruction, and now a new face on top of the sculpted bones. The only surgery missing, and one I believe will become available in a few years is: Uterine transplants. I sincerely wish these techniques could have been available to me much sooner in my life, as I would, and still do, spare no expense to be as plausible as possible and to be able to have a child.
Petra
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NY Times and Credibility
[Read the article: Prying open the Times]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As I've written to the New York Times, if one can't trust the NYT to publish with honor, veracity, and ethical conviction, who can one trust? Certainly in the polical arena, and perhaps others, the New York Times has published all the news that Bush & Co. have approved of. It is truly a sad day when what was once THE journalistic standard becomes no better than a supermarket tabloid. My heart goes out to all the truly ethical, dedicated writers still working for the Times: must be quite difficult to go to work every day.
I can't but think that one of the principle reasons we are bound up in Iraq is the failure of a free press to report, and report honestly, all the events pre and post 9/11. Furthermore, I've read nothing repudiating ex-administration authors's views of this administration in dire need of investigation and impeachment.
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The Filibuster Fiasco
[Read the article: The filibuster fiasco]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is quite clear the Democrats remain leaderless and impotent in developing a cohesive strategy--not the case with the Republicans. Therefore, I'm over all the Democratic hand wringing and last minute, poorly thoughtout maneuvers. There are some Senators who are just plain losers and nothing they attempt will be seen in any other light.
Frankly, I don't see how any Democrat can win in '08 against a party as well managed as the Republican party. I can only imagine the success Dem's would have had had they tightly banded together in mutual support of common goals with strong enforcement, ala DeLay, et al.
Now, the public seems to not give a shit about government as they know they have neither the ear of their representives nor the money of lobbyists' to influence decisions. When was the last time a constitutent had a real conversation with an elected Congressional official? Who takes these men and women on golf outings, lunches, and dinner parties? Aren't those attendees the one's with money buying influence? Can anyone doubt it? I've quit writing to my elected officials, as in return, all I get is a letter stating their position--if I wanted their position I'd visit their propaganda sites.
Until Dems are willing to die for their cause, we will not prevail against the Republican hegemony.
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What the Hell happened?
[Read the article: What the hell happened?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Look, it's not rocket science: this country was divided in 2000; again in 2004, only stronger; and now, even more so. It has come to me, all the usual and traditional "liberal" organizations are preaching to the choir. A majority of the electorate doesn't give a damn and continue to be un-persuaded that any change is necessary.
Exacerbating the problem further, is the vacuum in Democratic leadership--I would cite the waffling on the two recent Supreme Court nominees. We all knew what was coming and what to expect, yet not surprisingly liberals failed to deliver a persuasive message. I see no changes any time soon unless and until a leader appears who can precipitate an agenda acceptable to 53% of those who vote.