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Letters Provide Much To Discuss

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By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: December 13, 2007

A tip of my hat to the learned Dale Gillis for his observation regarding my column of Nov. 8, in which I somewhat criticized our government trying to develop Iraq into a democratic form of government.

He is right in that I have a negative view of religion and I ask just why I should not with all the scandals and religious zealots out there. Islam is just another religion, which has gone way too far in enforcing their fundamental beliefs. I failed to emphasize the need to establish some form of compromise between the Sunni zealots, Shiites, Jews and conservative Muslims so that that country can as our country does in accepting each other without war.

As for the number of atheists, agnostics or non-believers numbering in over a billion, I can only go with what I found in my research and with some 6.9 billion being the total world population that would make one out of every seven people a non-believer. That could be true.

It's ironic that the day Mr. Gillis wrote his article, the front page of that edition, Sunday, Dec. 9 headline story was regarding those who write "Letters to the Editor."

A New Word

One thing I noted regarding those who write letters to the editor was the number who were lawyers or otherwise very well educated. As is Mr. Gillis with the use of the word "schismatic." He stumped me there, I had to look it up and he is right again in that I do consider the Protestants guilty of that.

Definitions

Communications between men and women is hampered because we have many different interpretations of certain words. Such as:

Thingy –The woman says that a thingy is anything under the hood of the car;

The man says that it's that thingy that holds the girl's bra together

Vulnerable – The woman believes it's fully opening up one's self emotionally to one's partner.

The man believes it's when you play football without a cup.

Communication – The female says it's the open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.

The man says it's leaving a note before taking off for a weekend with the boys.

Commitment– The girl believes it's the desire to get married and raise a family.

The boy thinks it is not trying to pick up other women while out with one's girlfriend.

Entertainment– The female says it's a good movie, concert, play or book

The male says it's anything that can be done while drinking, and ends with a sports report on TV.

Flatulence – Every woman reports its an embarrassing by product of digestion.

Us guys say it's a source of entertainment, self-statement, and male bonding.

Guilty Lawyer

I have heard of one fellow who wanted desperately to get out of serving on a jury. He had tried every excuse he could think of but had no luck in getting relief. On the day he had to report for jury duty he asked if he could approach the bench.

"Your honor, I must be excused from serving on this trial because I have prejudices against the defendant. I took one look at that man in that gray suit and his beady eyes and his very dishonest face and have determined he is a crook and guilty, guilty, guilty, so your honor I cannot possibly serve on this trial!"

The judge with tired annoyance replied, "Get back to your seat, in the jury box, that man is the lawyer."

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, can be reached on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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