The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 2 of 18)

Stan Welli br> Aurora, Illinois /p> p> I read James Frey's book in 2005. It is a page-turner, there's no doubt about that, but recent revelations of Frey's "one-downsmanship" don't really surprise me. In that regard, would someone please look into the veracity of the book's most harrowing chapter, where Frey describes getting a root-canal without the benefit of anesthetic? It seems to me that someone who would turn three hours in jail into a three-month stint in the pokey would have no qualms about getting a tooth filled and calling it root-canal. br> -- Gavin Valle br> Peapack, New Jersey /p> p> I, too, am a former drinker. However, I am at odds with Mr. Judge regarding Alcoholics Anonymous. For me, AA was a failure. No, I didn't start drinking again; I just got tired of the "One-Downsmanship" and the whole "disease" mentality. "Drinking" is behavior! I believe, when you "medicalize" behavior, you defer responsibility! Diagnoses provide excuses; excuses offer justification for... more behavior; and on it goes. You want to stop drinking/gambling/drugs, etc.? Stop the behavior! No one's putting a gun to your head. br> -- Jon Lindquist br> Las Vegas, Nevada /p> p> The former Mark G appears to have benefited by his tour in AA. Godspeed with the rest of your life, Mark. I have chosen to regularly participate in the AA fellowship until God calls me home. That's because I feel an obligation to be there when newcomers need direction. God bless those oldtimers that were there when I needed the help. br> --

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