Well, I don't know much about Richards or Vick. Maybe they really are racists or serial bird flippers or whatever they. But, King, I wonder if you're just being catty on this one.

When I hear, "That's not me," as part of an apology, my impression is that what the person is saying is, "That's not NORMALLY me."

For example, I'm not normally a person to flip off my mother. But I have. Twice, in fact. Once when I was 16 and once when I was 30. Both were circumstances in which I felt a great deal of stress and I snapped under the pressure. Maybe the stress was my fault. I'm not trying to make an excuse for my behavior, or for Vick's or Richard's behavior. I'm just saying that sometimes people behave in ways that isn't normal for them.

I'm not one to flip off my mother. I don't approve of such behavior, in myself or others. But, we're not always at our best. And sometimes we're at our very worst and we have to apologize for it.

Maybe I'm cutting these guys slack they don't deserve. I just don't think "This isn't me," is some subtle dodge of responsibility, cleverly worded sophistry. I think it's more likely just the way people talk. Like when you say, "I could care less," when what you mean is "I couldn't care less." I get what you mean. And I think I get what these two are trying to say. Maybe I'm wrong, but, King, while I'm a big fan of yours and rarely disagree with your insights, I think you're reaching on this one.

And for the most part, I find GenX'ers to be petty, emotionally stunted, and intellectually shallow. The responses to this article have only confirmed what I've long felt. Boomers can be self-involved and self-congratulatory, but at least one on one they're more likely to treat you with a modicum of decency. GenX'ers seem to revel in being bitter and cruel.

Now, that's a generalization. Plenty of GenX'ers are nothing like my above characterization. But enough are that the entire generation is tainted.

People sometimes dream of being younger, but when forced to be around folks like the GenX'ers lashing out in this letter thread, I'd take being older--among the self-absorbed hippies--in a heartbeat.

I've had a vasectomy myself, but I'd be tempted just for the no mess. Honestly, I'm not looking at the end to my penis to see if something squirts out when I come, so the fact that it won't isn't something I'd be likely to notice. But later, well, depending on when the moment of truth comes, not having to worry about a tissue or towel seems pretty damned nice, for me and for my lovely wife.

I'm all for this, and the puds in the article deserve only to get theirs solo given their attitude.

Yeah, I'm an atheist, but I got dragged to this movie by a well-meaning friend. And I admit I expected to hate it.

But it was fine. My friend loved it, but then it's a story that means something to him. For me, it was a bit long, but not unpleasant. Well-acted for the most part, not too sacharrine. There was a certain charm to it. I didn't fidget, or look at my watch a lot (a little though). It was certainly miles better than other recent Christian films, like the execrable Narnia, with its blunt-force preachiness, or the brutally sadistic Passion of the Christ, which may have served best to shine a light on the viciousness many Christians display in their dealings with those who don't share their belief.

I'm suspicious of Christian propaganda (any religious propaganda, really), and in general find religion to be among the more destructive forces in human history. Sorry, Christians, I know you think you're the good guys, but your team is right up there in thick of the ugliness.

Still, while being an atheist I've long thought that Christian moral philosophy at its best (minus all the obsession with and hatred of sex) is something the world could use a little more of. I even find A Charlie Brown Christmas charming and even a touch moving. Do unto others, care for the poor, love thy neighbor -- all things we need more of to be sure, but which seem to get subsumed in the God Bless America/Hatin' on Gays/Genesis Not Evolution/Kill Them Muslims message being pushed by the big mouth Christians running the show these days.

I know not all Christians, nor even most Christians, are the radical right, but they're carrying the banner for you. They get the press, and drive the policy, and you can handwring about how you're not like that all you want, but until you wrest the the steering wheel away from them, they're gonna be what "Christian" means to those of us who want to have sex, control our reproduction, educate our children, and care for the environment and for the future.

Maybe the best thing this movie can do is show a less radical, assaultive side of Christianity to the rest of us. I don't know. But if you're an atheist who gets dragged to it by a well-meaning Christian friend or family member, don't panic. It's fine.

Tom:

A) Mailed it in

B) Used to be funny

C) Only thinks he's clever

D) Is the illegitimate child of Hillary Clinton and Olympia Dukakis

E) All of the above.

Now . . . . ROBOTS, FIGHT!

1) His presimadent son is mean and dumb.

2) His gov'nur son is mean and smart.

3) His businessman son is mean and wily.

4) His wife is just fucking mean.

I'd be weepy too.

. . . Donald Trump has the worst hair this side of the galactic core, and he's none too svelte himself.

You obviously missed the point of last week's piece. Try it again, and this time put your irony hat on.