Letters to the Editor
orbitboy
Published Letters: 1203 Editor's Choice: 100
-
Wow
[Read the article: Cheney's coup]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The nerve--the raw friggin' nerve. And contempt. And cynicism. Yikes. What next? Really?! Bush's "joke" that "this would all be a lot easier if I was dictator" was oh so very telling.
About a year ago, I was lectured to by a man who told me that "the real damage is done not by those who are elected, but by those who are appointed by the elected." People voted for Bush in spite of Cheney, not because of him. And I bet about 2% of Bush's supporters even know who David Addington is. At the time, I thought I was being lectured to by a bitter man whose time had passed. But he's looking awful wise to me right now.
For whatever reason, voters in this country seem to trust candidates who are, shall we say, not necessarily the brightest bulbs. Or at least come off that way. Bush is case in point. But when that is the case, doesn't it stand to reason that said simpleton is very likely to be a puppet? And doesn't that matter in some way?
-
Andrew O'Hehir is so pure!
[Read the article: Introducing the Guilties!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Maybe he ought to try a real job for a while. Just take a break from all this movie-watching drudgery. How about pave asphalt in New Jersey, or deliver the mail in Nebraska? He needs to get away from all that Hollywood nonsense. Why keep patting yourself on the back for being so superior to people who you think are patting themselves on the back for being so superior, and then get so angry and vindictive about the whole thing? Just stop it and do something else for a change. Maye after some time away, you'll miss it. Or not.
-
Crash
[Read the article: Introducing the Guilties!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In all the criticism I've read about Crash, I love how everybody who hated the movie is so careful to avoid Don Cheadle's involvement--as both a lead actor and as the producer. They'll jump all over Paul Haggis, of course, because that's easy and safe.
-
Thanks to Andrew and Salon
[Read the article: Introducing the Guilties!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I actually LIKE the amount of disagreement inspired by the articles and letters posted here on Salon. I remember going to a right-wing site I found through the Dau Report that had a “discussion” about the Dylan/Scorsese film, “No Direction Home.” They all hated it, of course. Page after page of bloggers all agreeing that Dylan was a jerk, overrated, etc. How boring is that?
At Salon we have liberals, conservatives and everyone else all chiming in--very heatedly in some cases--on a variety of angles to this subject. Sure, it often devolves into childish name-calling and flaming, but that’s better than one simplistic side of the story.
And to Andrew, thanks for writing in; that was cool. I never assumed that you’re a “Fox News” conservative, and I’m glad that you don’t take the criticism directed at you here too seriously... that would be downright strange!
-
Go ahead and get married
[Read the article: Should I marry into a family of bigots?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If it bothers your fiancée as much as it does you, you're probably okay. I married into a situation like this, but on a smaller scale. There's only one in-law like that, but everyone else tolerates his behavior while he's around, and then talks about what a jerk he is behind his back later. Very bizarre, in my mind. If everyone else is bothered by it, why doesn't someone do something? I was told flat out by my wife that it's not my place to interfere (I'm still the "new guy"), so I don't. And it sucks. But I rationalize it as one of the many compromises that have to be made in a marriage. It certainly helps if your in-laws live halfway across the country, I'll say that much!
I think it's a generational thing on some level--that we were taught to accept a certain amount of racism and not "make waves" at family functions. I personally think being silent perpetuates the problem, but that's just me. Hopefully, you and your future husband will work out certain ground rules allowing you to "opt-out" of a certain percentage of family functions. It would also help for your fiance to have a word with the offending parties that it might be nice for them to "tone down the language" when you are around. That rarely does any good, but it's important for that effort to be made.
-
Lord of the Flies
[Read the article: Should I marry into a family of bigots?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anyone who believes in the relative innocence of children should remember "Lord of the Flies."
-
Oh please, Oh please, Oh please....
[Read the article: Handicapping 2008, or the Frist-Kerry buzz kill]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Forgive me for discussing this topic in such a crass way, but recent elections have forced me to look at candidates in very "simple" terms. Please let the Republicans nominate Mit Romney. Are you kidding me? A guy from New England with a funny name? Joe Nascar would rather vote for anybody else. If there's anyone I fear from the Republicans, it's McCain. He would win centrist votes.
Personally, I want Feingold. Feingold is handsome and he has nads. That's very appealing across the board. Gore and Kerry had their chances and they both folded when it counted most. If they aren't going to fight for themselves when an election is being stolen right from under them, why should I beleive they are going to fight for me? That being said, Chuck Todd is making a mistake for leaving Karry out of his top five. Kerry's the front runner at this early date. He's got money, and never really stopped campaining. His support is stroger today that many want think. Democrats who want someone other than Kerry should start working for someone else now. Passively sitting around waiting to see who will get picked and then supporting "him" is how we got in this mess in the first place.* It's what I've done in the past, but I'm not gonna do it anymore.
*Well, that and letting the Republicans steal the last two elections. But they can't steal it if it isn't close. And it never should have been close!
Blake Mitchell
Austin, Texas
-
Mea Culpa
[Read the article: Handicapping 2008, or the Frist-Kerry buzz kill]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yikes! Did I have some typos or what? Sorry folks, I'll be more careful next time.