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

HesterEastman

Published Letters: 300
Editor's Choice: 21

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 03:57 PM

Women today are too independent to be bothered by this

If this is indeed happening, it's because women are independent enough not to be threatened by it. They aren't threatened by their fiance making a sweet, old-fashioned gesture because that's what it is - just a revived tradition. No one who does this expects Dad to say no, it's unlikely that the couple has not discussed marriage before the man goes to Dad, and it's unlikely that any part involves thinks the woman is chattel that Dad has to give permission to give away.

It's the same as when my Dad walked me down the aisle. I had been living in another state, financially independent from him for 8 years. No one at the wedding - me, Dad the Groom or the guests - were under any delusion that he was literally giving control of me over to my husband. It's just a tradition. While this one's not for me, there is a place for tradition

Monday, October 8, 2007 06:25 PM

Love & Denial

This is a woman so seriously in denial I wouldn't know where to start. Or perhaps I do: "I love my husband and I'm very happy with him". You don't betray people you truly love. Someone this self-involved probably isn't capable of true love. Someone who describes themselves as a "lapper" (once you have a word for it, you know you're in trouble), is not a feeling, caring person. This person is an opportunist and opportunists only look out for themselves. There's no room for love there.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007 03:08 PM

Dove ad

Great spot. Now, if Dove will stop running ads for beauty products in which all the women are in their underwear, they'd have more credibility.

Five to ten seconds? Give me a break. This girl/woman is giving rape victims a bad name.

Monday, October 1, 2007 12:04 PM

Mixed emotions

I'm happy to see women stepping forward and asserting their rights in the "new" Afghanistan. I hope that in that country modeling doesn't mean undernourished 18 year olds in skimpy clothing. After all, modeling by definition does not need to mean exploitation, it just so happens that's how we do it in the west. It may be an extreme way to "take off the burqa" but sometimes extreme measures have to be taken in order to advance a cause and get change rolling. I do hope it's safe.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:41 AM
Original article: Fashion weak

Shame on Nolita

This ad, creepy as it is, will do nothing to help anorexics nor anyone who spends their time worshiping celebrity bodies. This is a sensational, pathetic stab at publicity, and Nolita got it. Very little awareness will be raised, but everyone will notice their ad. If they wanted to really make a point they would put her in an airbrushed, clothed, ad right next to this one as someone else suggested. That would make a statement.

Monday, September 24, 2007 08:33 AM

Never faced hardship?

The fiance is not the problem, the LW and her serious money issues are the problem. She states that she can't trust him now that she knows "he's never faced hardship". Assuming that someone who has come from money has never faced hardship tells a LOT about how the LW. Cary's right, she needs to figure out her own feelings about money for this relationship to work.

We all know that money is one of the major causes of couples fighting. For this couple it will likely come up in such issues as where to live, what kind of house to buy, how to raise the children, and who spends on what. These are all serious hot spots for fighting. The LW should definitely work through her issues before getting married.

Monday, September 17, 2007 01:16 PM

Well, if the celebrities are doing it!

Maybe I need to read the original article, but is this pusher of maternity-wear really suggesting that getting married while pregnant is a new trend inspired by celebrities? I don't want to appear to be a gossip, but I've heard a few stories of people marrying when the woman was pregnant that pre-dated Jennifer Garner. Perhaps the marketing department at this company is just trying legitimize a former taboo in order to - gasp - sell dresses.

P.S. I always heard that the color white was a symbol of joy in ancient Greece and thus, the beginning of why it was used in bridal dresses. The virginity thing came later.

Saturday, September 15, 2007 03:14 PM

This isn't particularly shocking

This explains why my 11 year old daughter asked me about Nair. I told her it stunk and it didn't work well, my memories from about 25 years ago.

Everyone's talking about girls not needing to shave their legs. What about the pits? There are 10 year old with significant underarm hair and a culture that does not appreciate it. If we adult women can't avoid razors & Nair, why should a 10 year old who has to face playground teasing? At least when I don't shave I don't have to worry about some mean girl pointing it out to everyone at lunchtime.

Friday, September 14, 2007 02:07 PM

What is different about France

Perhaps another thing that is different about France is that adultery is considered socially acceptable and so those who are cheated on feel that it is something they just have to accept even though they hate it (kind of like the "free love" era of the 60's). Perhaps the President's wife was not that thrilled to attend his funeral with his mistress, but needed to save face in a very public situation. If everyone in France is so on-board the mistress-on-the-side thing, why do they need alibis?

Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:45 AM

Are they Plus-Size Clothes or Miracles Workers?

But for fat clothes to be marketed as cool, and sexy, and as positives, no that's just wrong. That's just enabling these kids to eat the cake, have the heart disease and diabetes, and feel sexy about it too.

It is utterly ridiculous to assume that because an overweight kid is able to buy clothes that are stylish, that the overweight kid will suddenly forget that he or she is fat. If the mirror doesn't remind them, some insensitive schoolmate will tell them or a judgmental moralizing adult will. Our society is not about to let anyone forget that they are fat.

Most Active Letters Threads

348

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
323

Tough-guy John Bolton, hiding under his bed

As usual, right-wing pseudo-warriors are drowning in extreme cowardice.
163

Is Obama's civil liberties record understandable?

Was it unreasonable to expect him to adhere to his commitments regarding the Constitution?
154

Phil Carter's resignation from key detainee policy post

Many of the "War on Terror" policies he spent years condemning were ones expressly embraced by Obama.
99

Palin, Prejean: Beastly treatment for beauties

The governor turned author must fight what the pageant queen learned: Politics and hotness make strange bedfellows

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon