LIGHTER FLUID
Re: Gene Healy’s Freedom Is
in the Air (cough):
The smart money in New York City has it that Mayor Bloomberg
will make smoking “licenses” available to bars and restaurants
willing to pony up the fee; that this, in fact, was his plan all
along. We’ll see.
Thanks!
— Rich Meade
DRIVING ALONG IN MY AUTOMOBILE
Re: Eric Peter’s Unsafe at
Any Speed:
I commend Eric Peters for his piece exposing the incompetence of
American drivers. But the primary reason Germans have lower
accident and fatality rates is this: they do not drive drunk. Their
penalties for drunk driving are an effective and tangible
deterrent. It’s that simple.
Best wishes for the holidays,
— Stephen “Doc” Watson
Beaumont, Texas
Great essay! States have to start treating a driver’s license as
the privilege it is instead of the right most people seem to
assume. The essay was especially pertinent for me today since I
will be making the 45-minute drive from my home to downtown Denver
using Interstate 25. This travel time will be spent dealing with
and trying to avoid police radar, left-lane cruisers, and other
generally passive-aggressive incompetent drivers. My teeth are on
edge already just thinking about it.
— Evelyn Leinbach
Fort Collins, Colorado
It is acceptable to have increased highway deaths, insurance costs
and prices of goods shipped by truck. The States have ceded their
responsibility in the traffic area to the insurance companies,
i.e., if you can get insurance, you can drive.
— Bruce Peek
Eric Peters’ article made me want to drive on the Los Angeles
freeways as fast as I can, which is about 40 mph and only for a
very short distance.
In 1965, I purchased a 360 HP Pontiac GTO. I was 18 years old.
The driving test I took for that car was the same test you would
take for a 80 HP VW bug. What’s wrong with this picture?
Today’s driving test should include how to operate
communications and entertainment devices at speeds above 65mph. The
“training” the average U.S. driver receives is a violation of
minimum health and safety laws applied to almost any other
activity, not to mention common sense. Yes, the method to obtain a
license is way beyond reform and the backlash would crush any
attempt to change it.
But this seems common in almost everything in the U.S.
population today. If you don’t like a law, protest against it,
ignore it, etc. Thus the need for red-light cameras at
intersections. After all, red lights are just suggestions.
— Len Labounty
Please also consider the fact that trucks in Germany stay in the
far right lane and DO NOT speed. They do not pass autos at any
time. I believe this is a main reason that the highways are safer
in Germany. Even smaller trucks or towed vehicles are relegated to
the right lane. I never saw a truck with three trailers either.
This is a subject that surely needs investigation and hopefully
changes in our laws in the U.S.
Thank you for your consideration,
— Marianne Mosley
On a trip last spring from the Niagara Peninsula to North Carolina
with a route through West Virginia on the interstates, I found it
particularly hairy and scary trying to overtake on the sinuous
mountainous roads because of the parkers in the passing lane. The
problem is in the signage. “Slower drivers keep right” is an
invitation for some people, who decide that they are not slow
drivers, to stay in the left lane. The more sensible message, keep
right except when passing, would probably go a long way towards
eliminating the problem of left-lane parkers.
— unsigned
In 2000, I bought a brand new VW Beetle. And, the car just keeps
stalling. It’s been in the shop more often than I can count. And,
part of the problem is that I didn’t know I had a lemon.
It’s in the shop, now, again. It stalls out when I’m at long
delay red lights. It stalls out when I accelerate from a stop. And,
I’ve gotten lots of excuses from VW Service, too. “Loose wires,”
has been a standard.
The battery died at about 7,000 miles. Today, I’ve got about
15,000 miles on my car. And, now when I stall my battery takes four
or five starting attempts before it kicks in.
And, you’re telling me that the German’s know about cars? HA!
They sure know how to fool you. They’re very polite at service.
And, they count on the customer being dumb. Sometimes, I think they
just keep the car for a week before they even return it. How would
I know? My car stalls only intermittently. (About every 400 miles,
before it kicks in. And, then it ‘“passes.”) I even drove with the
engine light on for one week. Because Service told me they had no
open appointments right away; but that I shouldn’t worry. As long
as the light wasn’t blinking.
— Carol Herman
San Marino, California
HISTORY AT SEA
Re: James Bowman’s review of Master
and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Richard
McEnroe’s letter (“Missing O’Brian”) in Reader Mail’s Taking
Issue:
James Bowman’s review of Master and Commander was spot
on when describing some dialogue out of the nineties and
post-Vietnam sensibilities rather than the period it was meant to
be. It seems a screenplay tends to give away the era it was
written. Being an aficionado of sea stories I cringe when they
appear. In Cameron’s Titanic, the fictional characters
were right out of the nineties while the re-creation of the ship
herself was so good, probably 95% of the public could not
appreciate the degree of accuracy that went into portraying a real
Titanic.
Sea stories are especially difficult to re-create in film
because with each generation, we are getting further away from the
skills and knowledge required sailing great ships. Until Master
and Commander, the best movie representing of sail in action
in my opinion was Captains Courageous circa 1937. The schooner race
to Gloucester was breathtaking.
The Yankee-built ship and model referenced in the movie
supposedly built for the French is our own USS
Constitution, a fast 44-gun frigate that drove the British
Navy crazy pursuing her during the War of 1812. American ships’
lines were finer which meant faster and they were sturdily built;
hence “Old Ironsides” as cannonballs bounced off her hull and their
speed outrunning the enemy was valuable to live another day.
Superior design was used to advantage in war and commerce
throughout most of the 1800s. French warships of the late 1700s and
early 1800s had beautiful lines too but not the muscle built in
American ships; they usually lost a battle when equally
matched.
I agree with Richard McEnroe’s description of the special
effects and cinematography, magnificent right down to the details
like the cramped, crowded feeling between decks, even hearing water
gurgling alongside the hull. Despite some problems with the
dialogue, for anyone who loves history, beautiful ships and a good,
old-fashioned action yarn, there are so few movies of this caliber,
Master and Commander is a must-see.
— Karen Kamuda, Vice President
Titanic Historical Society and Titanic Museum
Indian Orchard, Massachusetts
CINOS
Re: Paul Weyrich’s Hats Off to
Senator Frist:
Very sadly, Paul Weyrich is illustrative of so many former
Conservative leaders who over the years have accepted the fact that
Conservatism can’t win. It is obvious that things like the Partial
Birth Abortion ban and limited tax cuts are far outweighed by
massive spending increases, huge new entitlements, unresolved
filibuster threats, failed energy initiatives, and an under-sized
military. A new fact needs to be accepted: you can’t win if you
don’t fight.
Weyrich blames Conservatives for Frist’s failure to end the
filibusters. If Weyrich is not willing to name names, it is hard to
take him seriously. But perhaps, he is talking about some of the
CINO’s, Conservatives in Name Only, who lead the movement
today.
— Mike Rizzo
ISN’T IT RICH?
Re: Brandon Crocker’s Kerry Jumps
of the Deep End:
So, President Kerry (cough, sputter..) would “undo the harm
already done to our relations with the Islamic world” by calling a
“summit of world leaders” that would include the Pope and the Dalai
Lama. That’s rich.
Perhaps the Pope could explain to President Katsup how important
it was for the U.N. Security Council, including the veto-wielding
Soviet Union, to be on board with the whole liberation of Poland
thing. I’m sure he feels much better about the fall of the Iron
Curtain knowing that Reagan was careful to obtain the permission of
Cameroon before engaging the Evil Empire. Then the Dalai Lama could
explain how critical gaining the blessings of the Red Chinese would
be before any action be taken on behalf of the oppressed people of
his beloved Tibet. I’m sure his conscience (or whatever Buddhists
have) would rest easier knowing that East Timor approved before any
liberation attempts were made.
Of course, none of this would faze President Kerry. Since he has
already taken upon himself the role of Arbiter of Legitimate
International Action, the opinions of a couple of moral
lightweights would be of little more consequence than that of the
evil W.
I will look forward to more of Mr. Crocker’s observations on the
Krazy Kerry Kampaign, especially prescient ones like “Senator Kerry
and his handlers apparently believe the way to catch Howard Dean is
to dump the image of experienced statesman that they had previously
tried build, and instead try to come across more like Dennis
Kucinich on PCP.” Keen commentary like that is what keeps me coming
back to the Spectator.
All the best,
— Wylie Merritt
Norman, Oklahoma
WHY THEY SERVE
Re: Paul Beston’s The NFL’s
Lonely Hero:
First of all, thank you for writing such a great article and for
realizing the respect that service men and women all over the world
deserve. It gives me great enthusiasm to read an article, such as
yours, that depicts the overpaid and pompous players in the NFL,
like Sapp, Rice, and Shockey. I am enthused and motivated because I
realize that it doesn’t matter what people like the ones mentioned
above, and others like them, think. We don’t serve our country for
pride and glory, we do it because it’s our duty and we care about
the citizens in our society. We want them to enjoy the freedoms and
liberties our forefathers set out for us so long ago. The money,
publicity, and fancy material items that our society thinks measure
success do not matter to those who are fighting for their
country.
Of course, I love professional sports, especially football, and
I think there are some truly admirable players in the league.
However, I think people need to realize that some of the athletes
we admire as children should not be the ones we emulate as adults.
People like you and the soldiers should be the ones we try to take
after and learn from. Well, thanks again from service men and women
everywhere. You are a true patriot and speaking the truth is always
more admirable than thinking, because you are famous, you have a
voice that matters.
As for Mr. Tillman and his brother, I respect them and they are
in my prayers. They are doing the right thing and doing it for the
right reasons. They have a daunting task ahead of them but I know
they have the heart, desire, drive, determination, and skills to
complete their tasks and accomplish their missions. I emulate them.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
— CDT/SGT Jonathan King
Army ROTC
Bowling Green State University
