The American Spectator

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More Fumbles

5.27.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 6)

I say let's negotiate. In the 1960's President Kennedy did a deal with Cuba and the Soviets that kept nuclear weapons out of Cuba for over 40 years. The basic terms of the deal were that in return for America promising not to attack Cuba; Cuba promised not to install nuclear weapons. Imagine if we could do that same deal with Iran and prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. Now that is something worth negotiating for and that we could never achieve through sabre rattling.
-- Rick James

JUST EAT IT
Re: Lawrence Henry's How Little Boys Eat:

Lawrence Henry's story brought back some fond memories. My youngest son, Chase, was a real picky eater. As a little guy he wouldn't eat breakfast...EVER...which meant that every morning before his 11:30 AM kindergarten class we'd "head for the border" for a burrito. This not only worked as a bribe to get him to go to school, but to feed him as well. It was also where he learned his first Spanish phrase, "Yo quiero, Taco Bell!"

Chase wouldn't eat sandwiches, fresh fruit or school bought meals, so I had to get "creative." His brown bag lunch consisted of a fruit roll-up, chips, cheese or peanut butter-filled crackers, a single-wrapped string cheese stick and a juice pouch. This went on through Middle School with little variation. At least his "snack" lunches were easy to throw together! By High School, these lunches were no longer "cool" and I was relieved of this duty.

Yes, I worried that he wasn't eating well, but he survived and stayed healthy and slim. He now has a little boy of his own who isn't nearly as picky as his daddy was.

Thanks for the memories!
--Margie Gary

Willie Nelson? How about Hank Williams, who wrote it. And maybe Bob Wills deserves mention.
-- Michael Lynch

Fishies (Goldfish) are good, but try the little crackers called Whales. Buttery, salty, I can't put them down, and neither can my kids.

I've always enjoyed the Bob Wills version of "Roly-Poly."

Hope you are feeling okay.
-- L.W.

PRAGMATISM
Re: Nicole Russell's Minnesota Miracle:

I differ with Nicole Russell's pragmatic approach. Why should Gov. Pawlenty "save" Minnesotans from the consequences of their decision (used universally) to put Democrats into office? Put another way, why should the adults save the children from the consequences of their choices? Perhaps if the democrats of Minnesota really felt the pinch of Democrat rule in their taxes and decreased standard of living, perhaps then they would elect fewer Democrats.

When the Pawlentys of the U.S. work hard to save the people from the results of their vote, it prolongs the maturation process for Democrats. We need a terrible national condition (e.g. the Depression) to wake up this country and have it throw off the ideology it learned either in the classroom or the family. Gov. Pawlenty merely prolongs the catastrophe and by making it more mild, makes it longer-lasting. To quote the bard: "I must be cruel in order to be kind. Thus bad begins and worse remains behind."
-- Hugh Thomson

Philosophical purity is a wonderful pursuit. It contributes to elevating humans above all other life forms; our cognitive abilities are a gift from our Creator and it is from this gift that we know we are made in His image and for His purpose. Further, through this gift, we are able to realize the potential of all else that has been granted us. Descartes, after questioning everything, came up with his answer: "Cogito, ergo sum." Thinking, pure rational thinking. But worthy of consideration is that Descartes had wealth and time to pursue pure philosophy. The working man, having neither time nor money to spare, needs to be set his sights and hands on more earthly matters. Politicians are charged with serving both the houses of the philosopher and the laborer. As such, a wise servant of the people often will consider writers such as Plato, who wrote extensively about the ideal objects that are to be found in the heavens and Theophrastus of Eresos, who wrote prolifically about botany, an actual substance of life. Between these two poles is where the pragmatist set his tent: he must apply cold and efficient logic to the lofty schemes and hopes of the idealist so that both the philosopher and the laborer have food on the table

Minnesota, like any other state, has people (e.g., the idle rich and the life time pols -- too often a distinction without difference) who are willing to make great sacrifice (usually at the inconvenience and expense of others) to find the ideal chair while they are comfortably serviced in their luxurious homes. People of their ilk clamor that Governor Pawlenty has sold out. No, Pawlenty sees that the tax paying, hard working people rather have a rough seat here on earth than wait forever on heaven's (or politicians') promises. Pawlenty's compromise may not meet the conservative gold standard, smaller government with less spending, but it does keep millions in the pockets of Minnesota's tax payers. What can Jason Lewis find to be a "Disaster" about that?

Letter to the Editor

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