Sunday, May 25, 2008
Quick
Sunday Mail
"I have either been dating a lot of lesbians, or Blane Bachelor’s mother."
Iraq is Iraq
I generally agree with Stephanie Ramage’s opinions and I, too, think we
should continue our occupation of Iraq. However, Iraq is most assuredly not West Berlin (“Iraq: It’s West Berlin, not Vietnam,” News & Views, May 11). To compare our occupation of Germany after World War II with Iraq is disingenuous nonsense.
Germany is European, while Iraq is a Muslim country whose traditions are
alien to the West. The four-year German occupation was a success in large measure because we were dealing with a people and a culture built on Western civilization.
The U.S. has been in Iraq since March 2003—five years and counting. We have
a long, long road ahead before the Iraqi government and people will, in any way, resemble Germany after our occupation.
—Charles Jackson, Atlanta
Ramage responds: The idea is not to make Iraq in the mold of Germany, but to stabilize a democracy that is thoroughly Iraqi. Some Americans are ignorant of the fact that many members of the Iraqi National Assembly are moderate Muslims and have been educated in Europe, earning doctorates in some of the best programs in their fields. Those Americans consequently have a warped perception of the U.S. leading “backwards” assembly members by the nose, and they believe that U.S. troops are in Iraq to puppeteer a benighted Iraqi government. None of that is the case. We’re there not only to keep the peace until the Iraqi government can stand on its own, but to reassure rank-and-file Iraqis of our commitment to helping them, a reassurance that staves off panic every day in households throughout Iraq, which is precisely what we did in Germany. That reassurance and assistance will be the smartest investment in peace that we have made since we occupied Germany, an investment that has paid off tremendously in good relations between ourselves, the Germans and its neighbors in eastern Europe.
The aforementioned Iraqi panic is lessening. Though it will take some time before peace is all-pervasive and prosperity returns to Iraq, its government is finding its feet faster now than anyone would have believed possible even a year ago. Only last week, Gen. David Petraeus said he expects to be able recommend more troop cuts in Iraq by September. Our next challenge will be adjusting to a robust Iraq that’s capable of selling its products to an international market. When that shift comes, I’d prefer to have the Iraqis as friendly allies—like the Germans.
Better than paying for grades
In response to “Pay for an A” (News & Views, May 11): I respect the former speaker [former House speaker Newt Gingrich]. I do not like the idea of bribing our kids to do what Indian parents [South Asians] drum into their kids in the best way. We are a fat and happy culture of kids that get handed everything. Innovation comes from abroad. Mom and pop both work to death for the plasma TV to prop up the fat kids while they work for another generation of technology to replace the last electronic babysitter.
To bribe a kid who has no incentive to learn is to teach the wrong lesson very early and reward it. Can’t we bribe teachers to come up with better ways to incentivize the kids? Can’t we explain to the parents that camping is better than $4000 for a week at artificial Disney? Isn’t a pair of binoculars better than a Wii controller? Isn’t it ironic that my former neighbor was paranoid of bird poop and kept her kids inside while we are the “greenest” generation in history for loving “nature”?
Torpedoes away. May they hit their targets. Maybe we have become so stupid as to pay kids to learn.
--John Ares, as posted on www.sundaypaper.com
We eat grids for breakfast
(Regarding Jonah Goldberg’s column, “Why We Need Nukes and Gitmo,” News & Views, Maym18): Jonah, when you write that nuclear power can provide clean energy “on a scale solar never can,” try to remember that your editorial might be read in the future, when truth reigns again.
The year is 2058. Every house’s roof has a little solar power device. Noticeably missing from the house are meters. There is no gas meter, there is no electric meter, and on the corner there is no gas station. Do you know what else is missing? Exxon Mobil, Georgia Power, the Southern Company, all the utilities, all the energy suppliers, all wars over oil, and all the king’s men.
This is the scenario the largest corporations and the wealthiest people in the world are trying to stop. Their baby is nuclear. It will keep you and me on the grid forever, paying for energy, and its mess.
Oh yeah, I looked it up: Many times more solar energy falls on the earth every minute than the planet uses in a year. Sounds like enough to me.
Also, regarding Blane Bachelor’s May 18 column, “What’s Taking So Long?”: The only women Bachelor knows who can get ready in less than 30 minutes are lesbians and her mother?
What does that say about her? I know lots of wonderful women who do not wear makeup and find no need for fake eyes and lips etc. Essentially saying that a woman would have to be a freak not to be into makeup is rude and shallow.
I only date women who wear little or no makeup; in fact, it is a criterion I use. So I have either been dating a lot of lesbians, or Blane Bachelor’s mother.
—Dr. Robert Soloway, Decatur
Careful how you mix it
I found it rather amusing that in the same week that The Sunday Paper published its Wine & Spirits column with the headline “Straight Talk on Booze,” (May 18), another alternative weekly (which is printed days after SP is) published a cover story on a guy’s battle with alcoholism. This coincidence, in and of itself, wouldn’t seem so funny, except that SP’s “straight talk” was actually an interview with Ted Allen, who used to be on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” about his favorite beverages (Chartreuse and gin and tonic) and best serving accoutrements. Once again, SP ends up looking like a party-all-night swinger, while the competition is in therapy.
—Jim Evans, Atlanta
Editor’s Note: The news story you reference dealt with alcoholism, which is a real and tragic problem, and our hearts go out to those who struggle with it. Our piece, on the other hand, was a regular Food section column by Jason Tesauro and Phineas Mollod. Seeing the two as somehow related or competitive requires a chaser. By the way, do you happen to know where we can pick up a good deal on swizzle sticks in bulk?
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