> I wouldn't really call this a point of dissent, since I happen to agree wholeheartedly with you that to simply raise a question is not to answer it. American society presently is very good at the one, and pretty lousy at the other, if you'll pardon me for making a blanket generalization like that. Doing the hard work of sorting through issues and comparing values and principles requires more patience and maturity than we usually seem to have, but answers to complex problems only come with a great deal of effort, including discussion and often compromise.

I guess I just took your statement the wrong way. Sorry. :-}

> I double-majored in English and Religion in college, and completed a Master of Divinity degree in May this year. I'm intensely interested in the task of doing ethics in the modern (or post-modern, or whatever) social and intellectual climate. That's probably why I automatically latched onto Diane's little opinion piece about the microwave oven, although she probably didn't intend for it to be taken quite so seriously. :-)

Congratulations on your degree!
I believe you are correct - she probably had no idea what chaos that innocent little letter would cause. :-}

dkd1