海角大神

Nonsense words

Regarding Melissa Mohr鈥檚 column 鈥�Not the same old folderol: 鈥楴onsense鈥� words鈥� in the Jan. 27 Monitor Weekly:聽When it comes to creating nonsense words, I nominate author Damon Runyon as the literary star whose colorful dialogues frequently paid scant attention to the dictionary.

An oft-cited perennial favorite is his line 鈥淚 never expect to be in love, for the way I look at it love is strictly the old phedinkus,鈥� from the 1937 story 鈥淭obias the Terrible.鈥� In keeping with nonsense words, phedinkus probably means 鈥渂unch of hokum,鈥� 鈥渃on,鈥� or 鈥渨ell-intentioned claptrap.鈥�

Harry Melkonian
Vaucluse, Australia

Politics and religion

Regarding 鈥�Looking past Roe: Can 鈥榩ro-life Democrats鈥� still fit with the party?鈥� in the Feb. 24 Monitor Weekly:聽In the article, Democratic state Sen. Katrina Jackson of Louisiana is quoted as saying, 鈥淭o the extent that the party is on the wrong side of an issue 鈥� and what I mean by the wrong side is that they veer away from the 海角大神 faith 鈥� then I have to stand with God.鈥�

This is where the difficulty lies. According to the U.S. Constitution, laws cannot be passed that favor any religion. This is true, whether one is a Democrat or a Republican.

Marianne Preger-Simon
Whately, Massachusetts

Bookstores and community

Regarding Peter Rainer鈥檚 film review 鈥�Book dealers, behind the scenes鈥� in the March 2 Monitor Weekly:聽Booksellers foster the growth of communities that support mutual care and regard. So I very much appreciated this review of the documentary 鈥淭he Booksellers.鈥�

Far from the metropolitan areas covered in 鈥淭he Booksellers,鈥� the small towns in southeastern Vermont enjoy independent bookshops. I especially love Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls, Vermont. The owners, Pat and Alan Fowler, are community leaders, and the store itself is a hub of activity. Writers visit and speak with customers often; a knitting group uses the store as a meeting place. Some of us hang out there, and we buy and give away more than we keep. We learn through exposure to many modes of thought, feeling, and politics.

Bruce L. MacDuffie
Westminster, Vermont

Moral courage

Regarding 鈥�Rohingya ruling: How a tiny African country brought Myanmar to court鈥� in the March 2 Monitor Weekly:聽

Thank you to Gambia鈥檚 attorney general and justice minister, Abubacarr Tambadou, for working to hold Myanmar responsible for its abuse of the Rohingya people. A small country like Gambia making a huge difference sets a great example for the rest of us. Hopefully Gambia鈥檚 campaign will result in improved lives, but it also makes the rest of the world aware of what seemingly minor players can do. We should all be ashamed that we didn鈥檛 do it first.聽

Another good example in the same Monitor issue is Gov. Janet Mills of Maine resisting sports betting as discussed in 鈥�Yelling 鈥榝oul鈥� on legal sports betting.鈥� Every one of us needs to stand up for our convictions.

Christine Matthews
Washington, D.C.聽

British literature

Regarding 鈥�The joys and perils of rereading鈥� in the March 16 Monitor Weekly:聽In his review of 鈥淯nfinished Business鈥� by Vivian Gornick, Steve Donoghue states that he detests the 鈥渋nept fiction鈥� of British author D.H. Lawrence. Mr. Donoghue is entitled to his views, but many would argue that his comment is unduly harsh and critical. Lawrence is a unique voice in British literature. Novels such as 鈥淭he Rainbow鈥� provide a candid portrait of life in England during the early 20th century.

Alistair Budd
Newport, Wales