To the Editor:
In reference to the picture accompanying the Oct. 22
article on eating disorders (Page 3): That’s a pretty big
foot, if you ask me.
-Steven C. Latimer
I was amused by Rachel Vamenta’s non-apology to
Christine Woodman. Ms. Woodman’s letter was direct,
clear and to-the-point; Ms. Vamenta erred (quite seriously)
in being glib about menopausal women and deserved to
apologize to Ms. Woodman in her role as Everywoman.
This strikes me as a fair thing to do because the original
comments were a bit insulting. Menopausal women may
be many things, but whether they are the butt of tasteless
jokes is not the issue. Everyone does indeed say stupid
things from time to time, though hormones are not the
necessary or exclusive cause of that happening. To say,
“I am sorry … you misinterpreted my comments” hardly
qualifies as the necessary apology.
It is not Ms. Woodman’s lack of acute critical perception
(or should that be mind reading?) that is as stake,
or whether “Desperate Housewives” should be off the
airwaves. Flippancy at the expense of all females (and
males, too, in her response) is what needs to be apologized
for in this instance. Unless Ms. Vamenta’s column is satire
or humor, move it to the comics pages and illustrate it
with irate women and cranky men attacking one another,
hormonal juices pouring out of them. Then it might be
funny, though I doubt it.
An apology is meant to be straightforward, not circuitous
or sly. Please toss out that bowl of rose-scented water
in which Ms. Vamenta washes her hands and claims
innocence of any offense. That’s offensive.
-Stanley Kustesky