Thursday, December 17, 2009

Cohen, After A Night Of Sleep



When I woke up today I realized I was far too nice on that piece about Richard Cohen. So here are a few additional gentle thoughts from the supposedly frailer of the supposed two sexes:

1. To write an opinion column does not mean checking out what interesting lint you might have in your belly button. Opinions totally unsupported by any study are not worth paying for and they smell bad, too. Besides, reading them feels like going through the homework of an elementary school student. To anyone who has actually read in the field or thought about it.

2. To write an opinion column does not mean that you can safely ignore the fifty-plus percent of your potential readers who are women AS READERS. At least don't start lisping and tickling them under the chin and thinking that if you change into French at the last moment they will be enchanted. You insult them.

3. To write an opinion column does not mean that you can leave all logic at home. You can't skate across all the changes in the relative position of women in this country and then argue that nothing has changed. Because you wish that nothing has changed.