Letters to the Editor
HesterEastman
Published Letters: 248 Editor's Choice: 21
-
Unbiased judging? Where?
[Read the article: Wait a minute: Iron whose shirt?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]cries crocidile tears before TWO primaries
I wonder if a male candidate's voice cracked during a Q & A session if it would forever after be referred to as crying?
-
Conflicted Feminist Feelings
[Read the article: Wait a minute: Iron whose shirt?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hold on Hester, did you just say that you have basically talked yourself into voting for Clinton because she's been discriminated against?
No, that line was a joke, but the joke does reflect that, as a feminist, I've had to weigh my desire to see a woman president with my misgivings about Hillary. The real conflict is this: Obama and Clinton do not offer very different policy options to the voters. Therefore, secondary issues have come more into play, i.e., who can better lead in a unified way, who is a better candidate against McCain, etc. A personal secondary issue is gender and knowing that having a woman president could do a lot for women in this country. However, my feelings about her more-of-the-same political tactics and her position on the war have tipped me over to Obama. But honestly, the war position alone wasn't a deal breaker. She had to position herself on the hawkish side to be taken seriously as a woman. I truly believe if she shows the slightest hint of what Fox news considers a weakness on the military, she's toast.
Two weeks ago on my primary day I was all set to vote for Obama but when I went into the booth, I was struck by the never before experience of being able to vote for a woman for president. I was very tempted (my state was solidly for Obama and I knew it didn't really matter how I voted) but I didn't. However, if she's the candidate in the fall, I'm behind her and I'll defend her because obviously, women in power need to have the women on the ground rooting for them.
-
Tell him after the fact
[Read the article: I did a vagina monologue but didn't tell my husband!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Tell him, and tell him why you didn't tell him before the fact. And perhaps add in that you aren't interested in hearing his opinions on the VM now, either. If he's that unsupportive of things you're interested in, then you have every reason to keep it from him beforehand. But I think it would be weird to keep it a big secret. That seems like you have a much bigger issue in your marriage.
-
Farhad, when's the last time you made someone that happy?
[Read the article: YouTube Awards: "Chocolate Rain," and a happy kid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While I agree that the Laughing Baby Genre may not make for award winning videos, it's definitely entertaining (or there wouldn't be so many of them on Youtube). And if it makes complete strangers laugh, why wouldn't it make the Dad laugh? How can you find that kind of pure unadulterated laughter sad?
-
At least he's honest
[Read the article: My boyfriend won't give me his apartment key]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Say what you will about the boyfriend, but at least he's honest about his intentions. He's upfront that the girlfriend is not that important to him, and that seeing her frequently is not his priority. Personally, I would run for the hills but if the LW want to continue being treated like a puppy, at least she knows what she's signing up for.
It could be worse - some guys would hand over the key even though they didn't want to make the commitment and then find some other minor reason to become distant and dump her. At least he's not lying about his level of commitment (very low).
-
In truth, we've all been there
[Read the article: My boyfriend won't give me his apartment key]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I just think there is too much emphasis these days on people undergoing a complete psychological overhaul when relationships end, as tho there were something dreadfully wrong with them.
Tara, I agree with you, and it's especially true here on this letters page. Everyone is very quick to assume that the LW has self-esteem problems and the boyfriend is a controlling asshole. Maybe the LW has just found herself in a position where she doesn't know where or how to set the boundaries. Haven't we all been there? Sometimes you miss the first warning signal that boundaries need to be set because you're having fun falling in love. Sometimes you let it go too long because breaking up with someone just sucks. Neither makes you a dysfunctional person.
I can remember a long ago relationship that definitely taught me where to set my boundaries (after the fact, when vision is much clearer). Obviously, the LW sees there is a problem with waiting on the doorstep with her groceries. If she didn't, then we would have to worry about her.
-
What Miss Manners Would Say
[Read the article: Would you please get out of my swimming pool!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What would Miss Manners say about this situation? She'd say "you invited her to use the pool anytime. You told her there was no need to call ahead. And that's exactly what's happening, so you got exactly what you asked for. If you'd like something else to happen, you have to make it clear." At this point, the husband should call the cousin, tell her there's a liability insurance issue, could she please not use the pool when they aren't home and so please call first. Of course when she calls they can say "this isn't a good time" but if they say that every time, there's going to be a problem.
Frankly, if someone offered me an open invitation like that, I would take them up on it, too. Maybe not all the time (I know what a pest is, unlike the cousin), but I'd be over once in a while, after calling first.
-
You don't need nudists...
[Read the article: Would you please get out of my swimming pool!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Next time you see Cousin pulling up, you and hubby get in the pool quick - and naked. She and the kids walk in to see you in a nude embrace, she'll call next time.