Letters to the Editor
flyover52
Published Letters: 243 Editor's Choice: 32
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Imus Just Got on Some People's Last Nerve
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've tried to keep up with all the articles, letters and reports of the Imus saga, but admit I've probably missed some.
However, I have seen the video of the remark and know the story of the Rutger's team and I have to say that there is one element in this that might have been the tipping point. Certainly race and sex was a factor, but so was class in the sense that these team members were not famous for anything other than being on a good college basketball team. Imus was not responding to any opinion or quote from them. He simply saw them playing and chose to reduce their long road to the championships to an extremely reductive insult.
I mean, what DO you have to do to get some respect from the media pundits? These women seem to have done what everyone told them would give them a good place in the world - went to college, excelled academically, lived a disciplined lifestyle. And what puts them in the consciousness of more than sports fans? A genuinely labored piece of banter from two clueless white guys on a televised radio show. And no, it was not an off-the-cuff remark. The "remark" was the capper to a back and forth that any person with two brain cells to rub together should have known was going to end badly.
I think the ultimate lesson here is that to hit and try to run either literally or metaphorically puts you in the bottom of the human heap. And as far as the Rutger's players grinning and bearing it? Hah! I'm glad they were able to use the media to their advantage. They and their coach outmaneuvered a DJ who has played in the media pond for 30 years. Good for them.
That being said, I wish Imus WERE still on the air. And it does not have anything to do with free speech. He has free speech, radio show or no. But removing him from the public spotlight might let us forget the whole incident that much more quickly. Of course we have to move on, but propping up Imus in his chair for a couple more years might have been a constant reminder of his stupidity and hubris. It would have been interesting to see how much loyalty his old guest list would have given him. Getting rid of him lets almost too many people off the hook.
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I Don't Think the Plan is Lame at All
[Read the article: Do I have to be a mommy to "opt out"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It sounds like the LW is just shaking things up a bit. She's making decisions about her own desire, or lack of desire, for children of her own, what kind of job really satisfies her whether she wants to travel some more and came to the realization that her feelings for her family, specifically her littler family relatives are very real.
I might not be as objective as I want to be since I have two sisters who don't give a crap about my kids and never did. There might be some boundary issues to work out, but for the most part most parents welcome extended family and help and support.
One thing might lead to another. Sometimes stripping down your life to some essential elements leaves you room to embelish those elements again. I have a hard time believing that the LW will be satisfied working a boring job that pays the bills for too long, but it might give her a breather to see other opportunities.
One caution to the LW. Don't commit alot to those kids and then split for parts unknown when they are used to having you around. It's not fair to them. Every kid will get over not having a relative around for birthday parties and Christmas, but it's quite another to see a relative day in and day out and then suddenly they are gone.
A side note: Just what the heck does "happiness comes from within" mean? It was the last line of one of the posts. I've heard that expression since the 60s, usually with the caveat to not get too attached to anything, because (see above.) Is it part of some philosphy or religion or did it come off of a Hallmark card?
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Wonder Woman Hope You're Still Reading Thanks for the Research
[Read the article: Do I have to be a mommy to "opt out"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I only got to check out more posts just now. Your post certainly puts the quote about happiness into an admirable context. Thanks for pulling together all those sources.