Moral Authorities: Your Letters

We want to hear from our readers. Please submit all letters to the editor through our  feedback form, and remember to specify which article your letter is in response to. Letters may be edited for length.

The Cosby Culture

Re: Why Bill Cosby Is Wrong

When you have spent time in the ghetto, when you have spent a life time trying to help upgrade the black culture, then, and only then, do you have the legitimacy to stick a knife in the back of people like Bill Cosby.

Theory doesn't trump reality, and you obviously don't even understand the depth of the reasoning that has caused Cosby to contribute his experience-based wisdom to this cause.

Bob Gamage

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As a teacher for over 30 years, it is my conclusion that its a combination of both factors, culture and racial discrimination that as resulted in a subtle form of educational genocide. ... A lack of respect for oneself leads to a lack of respect for others resulting in a sense of separation that can only fuel egocentric existence.

Daniel Volz

McMansion Lite?

Re: Caught In The Housing Bubble

In this article I did not see a single mention of the easiest and fastest way for families to get out of this predicament: just say no to a large house. When my husband and I bought, we were offered nearly twice what we borrowed by mortgage lenders. We wisely took a mortgage we were comfortable with, buying a much smaller house than we could have done if we had grabbed that enormous mortgage the bank dangled before our eyes. Now as our neighbors are scrambling to pay their bills, we are comforted to know that we bought a house we could afford, not one based on pipe dreams and unfathomable calculations.

While I consider myself a progressive, and certainly believe the government has a role to play in regulating the market, I also strongly support the idea of consumer restraint as a path to financial peace of mind.

Janine Lanza

The More Things Change...

Re: Going Long In Iraq

"...though Kagan wants to send 50,000, not 20,000, and fast."

Lyndon Johnson told the nation
Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please.
Though it isn't really war
We're sending 50,000 more
To help save Viet Nam from the Viet Namese.

(by Tom Paxton)

Kieren Ladner

Wishful Thinking

Re: End Big Oil Aid To Africa

Expecting the World Bank to consider the needs and concerns of any group other than Big Oil is like expecting the town marshal to close down the red-light district when he's the town pimp.

Isn't uber-neocon Paul Wolfowitz president of the World Bank?

Sanford Silver

In all sincerity, the only way out of this mess is if, in the face of continuing calls for Bush and Cheney's impeachment, they are convinced to resign for the good of the nation by the republican hierarchy. This would make Pelosi president and she would be under immense pressure from the left wing of her party to withdraw the troops immediately.

Gary Livacari

Score One For Independence

Re: United Nations v. United States

Excellent analysis on U.S. control over U.N. policy. This type of commentary helps us, the people, better understand the diplomacy inside the U.N., and how it affects every person in the planet.

As a Panamanian, I can say that its seat in the Security Council is 1/2 point towards U.N. independence, and that's because the current government is social-democrat and carries on its shoulders the principles of the 1978 revolution that seeks political equality amongst all, and a better way of life for the oppressed and rejected societies. If these politics are applied at the U.N. Security Council, then Panama's role will be noticeably pro-U.N. independence.

Diego Castrellon

Fish:Bicycle::Women:Eric Keroack

Re: Politicizing Birth Control

The underlying message from Eric Keroack, the medical director of A Woman's Concern, is control, plain and simple, of women. And any woman who goes along with this idiotic system is someone who has such a low level of self-esteem, has been so thoroughly brainwashed, that she cannot see her own strength to make her own decisions, lead her own life and survive without being controlled. Throughout the ages, the one of the main ways used to control women was to keep them pregnant.

Eric Keroack's mentality is the result of nothing but fear of the reality of the equal ability of women to think, survive on their own, create from their imagination works of art or commerce, and is the driving factor in men who wish to control the reproductive life of women. Men like Eric Keroack are shallow, fearful of their own masculinity and abilities and rather than face their own insecurities and fallibilities, choose to keep women under their control by controlling reproductive freedom in women, of any kind. A man who is sure of his own masculinity, secure in his own self-image, does not stoop to or need this type of control.

And isn't it ironic that it is a male who is the medical director of a group named 'Women's Concern'? Why isn't a woman in this position? Perhaps that says it all.

Anne Sherwood

— — —

Of interest in all this birth control business is the fact that men are never the target of the naysayers; who, interestingly enough, generally turn out to be men. I guess it's OK for me to use a condom, but it's not OK for her to use the pill. What's wrong with this picture?

Richard Boyle

The Boob On The Tube

Re: CNN’s Dangerous Blowhard

Kudos, Jeff, on a great article. We need an organized campaign to get started, perhaps by MoveOn or some other progressive and organized outfit. Beck is absolutely ridiculous. He was on ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday morning, spouting the same gibberish about it being "1938." Who is he kidding? The U.S. has enough nukes to wipe out the entire world, let alone a country like Iran, or even the entire Middle East. I wanted to chastise ABC for putting Beck on the air, without a progressive counterpart.

John Farbstein

— — —

I personally don't watch this kind of propaganda, so I do not know who the advertisers are during these Beck segments. It would have been nice if Cohen had mentioned who they are so that concerned citizens like myself could write to the advertisers (with copy to CNN) voicing out disgust at their sponsoring such drivel. Next article, perhaps, will have the advertisers' names?

Richard O'Leary

Southern Strategery

Re: The Incredible Shrinking GOP

Was this article meant to praise progressives or to push southern moderates out of the party? Pray tell, explain to me why I'm not allowed to support both Heath Shuler AND Dennis Kucinich?

Bob Lowery

— — —

That's all well and good. But, if the Democrats continue to try to attract voters with their rule-by-committee, please everyone, satisfy no one tactics, they are doomed to fail. The Republicans defaulted this past election. Let's hope the Democrats can cast aside the old boys and girls like Pelosi and Murtha and really try to stand for something that resembles democracy instead of the old boys' network with a different label.

Shawn Rosvold

Who Gets To Listen To Bill Moyers?

Re: Message To West Point

I am most impressed with Bill Moyers' speech, and even more amazed he was allowed to deliver it at West Point. Maybe there is hope after all.

Gary Wenk

— — —

I'd love to hear a recording of this speech, since Bill Moyers voice showcases his intellectual ability and humanity. The thought came to me because a friend recently lost much of his eyesight to glaucoma, yet is still a fine storyteller in his own right. I'd read this transcript to him, but I would readily step aside if a recording became available. Mr. Moyers has posted audio from Moyers on America recently via iTunes. His spoken message to West Point is important. 

Kevin Shea