Letters to the Editor
Lobelia
Published Letters: 205 Editor's Choice: 6
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To Joan Walsh
[Read the article: The other 18 million]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am embarrassed about this kind of thinking. And it's exhausting to the spirit.
6String once again cuts to the chase -- Obama is addressing AMERICANS with his campaign, and once citizens of any stripe or sex or group both listen to him AND read his policy proposals and ponder their own hopes for the country and the world, hopefully reason will prevail. There is time for this.
I am a 58 y/o white woman who squirms to see the waves of projected victimhood splatter the stage Hillary stands, and stands, and stands on.
I have not missed one subtle nor sledgehammered example of the sexism she has been subject to. I wince each time. I hate seeing it, I feel it in my own porous bones, and she does not deserve it. I know this as well as any other "old white woman." But my personal sufferings from sexism -- OR HERS -- real as they have been, are NOT AS IMPORTANT AS RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS WE ARE IN, GLOBALLY, BY ELECTING OBAMA.
What I think you may miss, Joan, is that plenty of older white women are able to live with paradox (a kind of spiritual multi-tasking). Mine is that as a feminist and as a veteran of plenty of hurts from sexism, I know I must weigh how much my personal grief and irritation over these injustices and insults matter in the context of the enormous perils we face right now, as a nation and as a species.
The answer is, it weighs nothing. It must weigh nothing. I must release it. There is no time for grievance. My personal grief doesn't matter, it's lifted away. I want the rise of the oceans to slow and the planet to begin to heal. Including all its nations, all its wars. HOW CAN I SULK? How can you?
THIS ELECTION AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOAP-OPERATIC SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW OBAMA HAS TO GO OVER AND TALK TO HER AT LUNCH, NO, MAYBE AT THE PEP RALLY WOULD BE BETTER, AND IF HE DOESN'T DO IT EXACTLY RIGHT THEN ALL THE CHEERLEADERS WILL STOP SPEAKING TO HIM AND HE BETTER ASK HER TO THE PROM, TOO, OR EVERYONE WILL KNOW HE REALLY DIDN'T MEAN IT WHEN HE ACTED SO NICE.
God help me, I'm grinding my teeth into splinters. Joan, I really may be a bitter old white woman, but I realize that I am bitter because one of my sisters, in a position that calls for depth of imagination and agility, just can't rise to the enormity of our times.
I'm sorry. My frustration about this makes me write some pretty scalding things about you. I'm sure if I met you I would like you very much, and enjoy hearing your life story.
I'd like to ask you this: Can you get past his good looks, his fortunate education, his confident masculine smile? Do these things grate so much that you can't hear what he's saying?
He's been talking about transcending our favorite "ism" identities and coming together as AMERICANS to show a different face to the rest of the GLOBE, where a very large number of human beings hate us with a new and swelling intensity. I see him, his eloquence, his openness, and his courage...as the sort of figure that will make some of those who are rushing to harm us at least pause. At least pause, and listen.
And if they really listen, could he can inspire them, too?
With Clinton, all I sense I'd win is projected payback for my narrow hurts, through a personality that will not -- CANNOT -- express the best that America can be.
Joan, I really am sorry if this is hurtful to you. It is not fun.
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For your service, Libertyson @1:54...
[Read the article: The other 18 million]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...thank you very much.
Concise, cogent, clarifying and much needed.
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Hear, hear Nadine...
[Read the article: The other 18 million]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...I was sickened (and honestly, kind of crushed--on such a gloriously significant evening) by the Daily Show "correspondent"'s incessant riffs on his interviewee's breasts.
It REALLY PISSED ME OFF.
(That's why I still 'twang' to sexism...how could any sensate woman not?...)
...and I'm still so glad Obama won anyway....since
planet
trumps
nation
trumps
party
trumps
ethnicity/gender
trumps
etc.
Thanks for mentioning it anyway. It hurt.
love,
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doloresflower and CeliainSF and TRenee
[Read the article: The other 18 million]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Can I come too? I'm a party animal.
hugs,
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Joan..."Confused?"
[Read the article: The other 18 million]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Me too.
I am completely confused by your single response to this thread. Absolutely buffaloed.
THIS many loyal readers (exasperated, but still here) try so hard, and so intelligently (for the most part), to show you where you've been blinkered, and all you can say is:
"I'm confused, but I know my next move..."?
I am stunned but mostly, I regretfully give up. Your full retreat from the questions you've been asked about your reportage is amazing to me. If I were an editor with such a podium, I would have both respect and gratitude for readers who care enough about my publication to challenge me, remonstrate with me, and address me with so much passion. I would experience some hurt and fear and anger, as you might, but I wouldn't be dismissive.
I discount trolls and hateful posters, as should you. But they're a tiny minority compared to the diverse thoughtful voices that have called you to account.
Even Hillary has finally gotten it, with her wonderful speech today.
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We still on this?
[Read the article: Oh no they didn't]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Most Obama supporters who have corresponded here never implied that Hillary Clinton did not suffer sexism. One would need to be a blind hog wearing noseplugs not to find that she was a victim of sexism.
Obama supporters did not find her victimization a reason to choose her over Obama. They chose Obama for affirmative reasons, while not choosing her for a negative one.
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A trend!
[Read the article: The new racist, anti-Obama fashion statement]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Maybe that button could be the far-right flag pin?
Let's do more buttons!
While Bush is in can we call it the Outhouse?
When Cheney is out can we call it Our House?
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Irresponsible
[Read the article: Barack Obama is a Muslim, and other stories]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I find the headline, despite the "and other stories" to be editorially irresponsible.