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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
christianjb
Published Letters: 128 Editor's Choice: 12
Well, I do happen to have a PhD in physics. I'm afraid to tell y'all that there's nothing in quantum mechanics or thermodynamics which even hints at making the afterlife more scientifically credible. Sorry. You might want to use the same test that is applied to creationism here- If these maverick scientists are onto something- how come they never ever get their papers published in peer reviewed mainstream journals? Oh- I forgot, it's the international conspiracy of scientists to keep the truth from being told.
There has been a near universally negative reaction to this article. I don't think we objected to some fairly harmless speculation- but it was just embarrassing to see the misuse of some fairly well understood scientific terms, which could have been avoided. I'm not the first to suggest this, but clearly a lot of us would be much happier if Salon hired a scientific editor. Salon's science coverage clearly needs to be improved.
Maybe not the most appropriate place to be commenting on this- but much as we love the TV column, aren't Havrilesky's talents being a little bit underused every time she turns out another piece about the latest reality show? As this article shows, (and as most of us already knew) this Rabbit can write.
When I lived in England and Ireland I was a 'Guardian reader'. Then I moved to the States and there weren't any readily available daily left of center papers. Salon has filled that gap and part of who I am now is a 'Salon reader' (which means so much more than someone who merely reads Salon).
This is the price for making alliance with the far-right Christians. Jews share their ludicrous religious beliefs with Christians, but their outlook on the world has generally had more in common with liberal humanists and atheists. It makes me a little queasy therefore that some Jewish leaders still won't recognize the commonality between these groups. Humanists, atheists and Jews need eachother right now.
Man this is going to be a time-sink on the working day. You've just made the workers of America another 5 minutes less productive. Hope you're proud of yourself.
The Amazon rank of the Oprah book club edition of MLP is #5
I thought it was funny.
There's a difference between being educated and entertained by a story and liking it- because we think that other people might be educated and entertained by it. I love the Sopranos, and I hate hate the fundies, but still- I found this cheesy. Paulie had the better story-line in this episode.
I'm really moved. You went to all the effort to enrol your kid in an all white school in a privileged area, but you found out that the other parents failed to live up to your European liberalism that you had found so delightful in Paris. Well, what's a mother to do? Don't worry, I've heard that there are still plenty of well-off white liberals in areas of New York, where you can discuss how vibrant the latest Hip Hop music is over a fair-trade coffee.
Umm, since I am a European atheist liberal, currently working at a university in Texas, I find your remarks a little bit off. I've never said the Pledge of Allegiance and couldn't recite it if I tried. I consider the war in Iraq to be a disaster, which has caused the deaths of untold innocent lives.
I drive through the Houston projects every day and see the exclusively black schools in crumbling areas surrounded by poverty. Somehow I find this discussion on the possible political indoctrination of 5 year olds a little- shall we say- shallow?
Besides, it's completely hypocritical for the author to try and instill her liberal point of view to her 5 year old. Since the child is not old enough to critically assess the political situation for himself, the author is just using equally wrong indoctrination in the other direction. Let him be a five year-old and let's leave the global politics to the adults.
hermesloin wrote:
"In order to survive we have to jump ship from the Narrowsburghs of the world and move to the New York Citys where we can be safe from people who desperately cling to antiquated ideas of patriotism and religion before we become their casualties."
Uggh! Is this really what my fellow Salon readers believe? Yeah, let's all move to safe-areas where we can find people who look and behave just like us. While we're at it, let's restrict our reading to only those articles that we know are going to affirm our beliefs and let's continue to indoctrinate- sorry 'educate' our kids to be good little mini-liberals.
Oh, and I apologize for not rising to the correct 'level of discourse'. That's right, people who disagree with you are not using rational argument at all. Gee, I guess we're just not playing fair! Thor and I obviously need to spend more time brushing up on our Chomsky before we can join this little club.
Hey, next time I donate clothes to the poor black people- can I get my own Salon article to show what a good human being I am? So different to the families of those poor deluded kids in the military who are dying in Iraq to defend our freedoms.
Oh, sorry, can I be against the war and yet feel support for our child soldiers? Does that make me a bad liberal?
Sorry AJ, but I'm Irish, not French. Hope that doesn't mess up your jokes too much.
You're right though- it was cowardly of me to give my liberal credentials when making an argument. I hope that my points would have been just as reasonable if I had claimed to be a Christian conservative. I shouldn't have to defend by bona-fides to the liberal inquisitors.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
