Discourse

In disputing an article, follow these simple steps:  1. Call your opponent a name.  2. Refrain from addressing the original point. 3. Introduce an irrelevant subject.  4. Deny evidence.  5. (Optional) Do not trouble overmuch with spelling and grammar.    I am indebted to Oldcrowandwater, from whose comment on my post "The most famous umbrella since Neville Chamberlain went to Munich"  I was able to divine the essential steps: What a tool.

In disputing an article, follow these simple steps:  1. Call your opponent a name.  2. Refrain from addressing the original point. 3. Introduce an irrelevant subject.  4. Deny evidence.  5. (Optional) Do not trouble overmuch with spelling and grammar.    I am indebted to Oldcrowandwater, from whose comment on my post "The most famous umbrella since Neville Chamberlain went to Munich"  I was able to divine the essential steps: What a tool.

I cheered Ruth Wooden and Andrew L. Yarrow's commentary, "Reclaim the 'town hall' for genuine public engagement" (Dec. 21). It aptly expressed a frustration that I have felt for quite some time and actually offered an alternative to today's devolved "town hall" that is designed to include those who have rational opinions and thoughtful questions about the issues under consideration by the government. I think we the people are more divided than we have been in years, and I believe we owe much of that division to the loud voices of the "town hall" naysayers who have received an inordinate amount of publicity - especially, but not exclusively, on cable TV stations.

This week the AP Stylebook, the standardized style guide for newspapers and other publications across the United States, announced that no longer, under their rules, will it be acceptable to use the term "illegal immigrant. " AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explained that the term "illegal" is incorrect when labeling people and "should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally. " The change, proponents argue, is necessary because labeling individuals as "illegals" or "illegal" is an unfair designation that no other criminal or civil offender in this country receives.

Tim Eastman ( "The unruly mob comes to the editorial page," April 6) got it only half right. If he wants to see an unruly mob, he should peek in on a comments section on a sports related topic. And if the author of that piece happens to touch a nerve with the sports community, he'd better have a strong stomach because he will witness the most intense wailing and gnashing of teeth to be seen anywhere this side of Hades. I wrote an opinion that was published in this section on April 6 that the Sunpaper (not me)

Bonnie S. Copeland, chief executive officer of the Baltimore schools, joined John Sexton, president of New York University, at an event in Washington yesterday to announce the formation of a national campaign for civic discourse. The campaign will be led by the Associated Leaders of Debate, a new national nonprofit dedicated to increasing urban students' involvement in and access to debate leagues. Copeland will sit on the association's board. Copeland said the group will solicit contributions so that it can provide financial support to organizations such as the Baltimore Urban Debate League.

WHEN ANGRY protesters voiced outrage about Anne Arundel County's decision to approve a large supermarket in a quiet town, they didn't hold back. The anti-growth group erected a 12-foot effigy of County Executive Janet Owens. A group member referred to Ms. Owens as the "queen of sprawl" and simply "Janet" at a County Council meeting. But that kind of excessive rudeness might sound tame to skewered Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. She takes abuse -- even from the mayor of her city -- that no one should have to countenance.

The Internet is not an especially civil place. A guy in Asia can spend his evening trashing a Canadian woman's home movies; students can spread malicious rumors about classmates for the world to see; and "editors" can add all manner of falsehoods to Mohandas Gandhi's Wikipedia page, just for kicks. In most cases, these ne'er-do-wells write vitriolic comments and blog posts anonymously, there are a few fighting words and the dustup dies down with minimal damage. Other times, men and women are emotionally, mentally, physically or monetarily hurt because of words published online, with little recourse - unless they can find out who their cyberbullies are. A lot has been said recently about Vogue model Liskula Cohen and her suit to discover the identity of a blogger who called her a "skank."

This week the AP Stylebook, the standardized style guide for newspapers and other publications across the United States, announced that no longer, under their rules, will it be acceptable to use the term "illegal immigrant. " AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explained that the term "illegal" is incorrect when labeling people and "should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally. " The change, proponents argue, is necessary because labeling individuals as "illegals" or "illegal" is an unfair designation that no other criminal or civil offender in this country receives.

On October 8, 2005 GEROME JONES of Comet St. On Thursday, friends may call at Locks Funeral Home, 1304 N. Central Ave. from 5 to 8 p.m. On Friday, family will receive friends at 10 a.m. discourse 10:30. Services entrusted to HARI P. CLOSE FUNERAL SERVICE, P.A. 410-327-3100.

Councilmembers Ball and Sigaty provide excellent reasons why we should be in favor of a plan for improving Symphony Woods ("CA's Inner Arbor Plan is 'bold vision' for Symphony Woods," Letters, Jan. 31). Unfortunately, the plan they favor fails to provide almost all of the elements to which they refer, while the currently approved plan for Symphony Woods does. They mention the need for "walkability" in our new downtown. Yet the "Inner Arbor Plan" (IAP) removes three points of walkable connection from the woods across LPP to the rest of downtown that are provided in the Paumier Plan and requires patrons to drive to a parking structure and walk up to 1,000 feet on a steep slope to get to the amenities it provides.

As the dust settles in the wake of the latest presidential election, where can the open-minded voter turn these days for reasonably unbiased analysis and commentary on the state of political affairs? It's a challenge in this era of talk radio and cable chatter in which committed partisan political operatives, with an occasional allegedly nonpartisan journalist thrown in for cover, are given free rein to spread their slanted pitches and propaganda. The problem was emphatically illustrated in the appearance of conservative Republican guru Karl Rove on Fox News on election night, disputing the network's call on President Barack Obama's carrying the state of Ohio.

One may wonder what role God plays in the eyes of those proportionally few extremists among the Christians as well as the Muslims if everyone considers himself both judge and executioner and feels impelled to predate the Day of Judgment. It is those very violent extremists, associating themselves with the religion of Islam, who through their actions insult their prophet most. Because the Quran does not imply any worldly punishment for blasphemy, let alone condone vigilantism. Quite the contrary, the Quran states repeatedly "Bear patiently what they say" and also "And when thou seest those who engage in vain discourse concerning Our Signs, then turn thou away from them until they engage in a discourse other than that.

It was in 2008, the debate between vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Mr. Biden had just scored his opponent for failing to directly answer a question from moderator Gwen Ifill. But Ms. Palin was hardly apologetic. "I may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you want to hear," she snapped, "but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also. " In other words, she felt no particular obligation to answer the questions she was asked.

With the national spotlight turned to civility, some folks in Maryland might be letting loose a few fist pumps — albeit very polite ones. For the Johns Hopkins University professor who literally wrote the book on the subject and the Howard County group that has brought the message to car bumpers across the region, it has been both heartening and refreshing to hear the golden rule invoked by the president of the United States and on the lips...

Thanks to that latest Internet spawn called WikiLeaks, the world now knows that diplomats, like all other human creatures, gossip, tattle on each other and even on occasion bend the truth to their own purposes. This disclosure calls to mind that delicious scene in "Casablanca" wherein Claude Raines closes Rick's Cafe for permitting gambling, even as the house croupier slips the Vichy official his latest roulette winnings. A significant element in the art of diplomacy has always been dissembling.

On December 12, 2003, ROSIE also know as Lucille; beloved daughter of Charles Hodge and Mary Nelson. Also survived by nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at Wylie Funeral Home, P.A., 638 N. Gilmor St., on Monday 4 to 8 PM. Family will receive friends on Tuesday 11 AM. Discourse 11:30 AM at Kingdom Hall, 5524 Liberty Heights Ave. Interment following. Inquiries at www.wyliefuneralhome.com.

For years I would carefully craft letters to the editor of the Sunpapers, feeling that the letters section was the appropriate place to have reasoned and civil discourse about the content of the paper. The process of having letters edited was at once frustrating and instructive. Sadly, today's paper mirrors the problems infecting much of the media, allowing a no holds barred, "democratic" approach in which equal weight is given to each opinion regardless of how ill informed the opinion is. While instructive at showing a "diversity" of opinion, the result turns the editorial page into a barroom brawl.

I like the whole ritual of voting. I get attached to "my" polling place, whether it's a school, a firehouse or, as when I lived in Fort Lauderdale, the International Swimming Hall of Fame. (You may have your own idea about what patriotism smells like — maybe a barbecue on the Fourth of July, or even napalm in the morning — but for me it'll always be the scent of chlorine.) I like the cheery efficiency of the poll workers. I like chatting with neighbors I know and trying to place the ones I don't.

Tim Eastman ( "The unruly mob comes to the editorial page," April 6) got it only half right. If he wants to see an unruly mob, he should peek in on a comments section on a sports related topic. And if the author of that piece happens to touch a nerve with the sports community, he'd better have a strong stomach because he will witness the most intense wailing and gnashing of teeth to be seen anywhere this side of Hades. I wrote an opinion that was published in this section on April 6 that the Sunpaper (not me)