Here are readers' comments on opinion pieces we've published lately. Got a comment on our work? Send a letter to editor@tompaine.com.
Straight Up Sontag
Re: Sizing Up Sontag by Richard Bradley
Thanks. The less dissent I hear, the worse for the republic. Sontag could be cranky and wrong and overbearing, but she took risks to expose some motives in our culture that we either hide or refuse to see. Andrew Sullivan has abandoned his gifts for some kind of public acceptance. Discussing the religious right on Bill Maher's show, he repeatedly said "Don't humiliate these people!" as though their retribution would result in a cosmic wedgie for every moderate in America. Sontag didn't parse her message into conciliation or fragment it into an indefinite appeal to all. Like her or not, she fought.
Michael Edelen
Just Plain Wrong
Re: It's Not Only Illegal, It's Wrong by Ray McGovern
I very much enjoyed your article and was so pleased that you said that what mattered most was that torture was just plain wrong. I have been saying for months that I can't believe we are even having this conversation. When did America become a country that allows torture?
I believe that Sergeant Provance and Specialist Darby are truly heroes. These are times when it takes a great deal of courage to stand up and be counted as people of integrity. Bless them.
Marjorie Swanson
Thank you very much, Mr. McGovern for expressing very succinctly the same objections I have about Mr. Gonzalez. I could not have said it more beautifully. Again, thanks for expressing what many good Americans feel about the nomination of Mr. Gonzalez as attorney general. We don't want the rest of the world to believe that the American people sanction torture of prisoners. Otherwise, we are worse than the terrorists, because we should have known better, instead of going down to their level—or should I say below their level.
Clara Salinas
Cultivating Opportunity
Re: Quo Vadis: From Crisis, Opportunity by Patrick Doherty
The statement about metropolitan land use from Doherty's new strategy is certainly true. But equally important is the building up of agricultural land in the organic farming mode of today's many Western farmers, having gone through the chemical revolution with its many downsides. We are among the remaining family farms in the United States to be included in this process. With proper Peace Corps advisors along with many other aid groups, this approach could do more to improve the planet than any other approach. Of course, you have to include free family planning resources in any project, as overpopulation is the biggest problem.
Peggy Conroy
