Letter: Holden Caulfield was no Henry David Thoreau

Opinion

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus

February 4, 2010

Anonymous The Salem News Thu Feb 04, 2010, 12:08 AM EST

To the editor:

The Salem News recently carried an informative obituary on J.D. Salinger, author of "Catcher in the Rye."

Something might be said about the teenage hero of this successful novel. While he is acclaimed as a free-thinking "rebel," examination of his youthful exploits may show he was a moody pop-off and no way a serious critic such as Thoreau or the heroes, say, of the novels of D.H. Lawrence or Dostoevsky.

The novel's commercial success may be explained by the fact it gives society a safe, cute substitute for rebellion.

Malcolm Miller

Salem

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

Our View: GOP's dithering a boon for Obama

New England will once again be the focus of the Republican presidential sweepstakes tonight when the party announces the results of city and town caucuses in Maine. But they are unlikely to bring much clarity to a race in which Mitt Romney, despite a few key victories and a decided advantage in money and organization, has failed to close the deal with voters.

Feb 11, 2012 4:38 am
David M. Shribman: Eisenhower statue should reflect role he played in nation's history

In World War II he tamed America's allies and conquered its adversaries. As a conservative college president, he defended liberal professors caught in a virulent red scare. As NATO commander, he projected strength without projecting force. In the White House, he presided over the sort of peace and prosperity that today's presidential candidates can't plausibly promise.

Feb 11, 2012 4:37 am
Quips & Quotes

" Right now costs are not sustainable. I would feel like I was not doing my job if we did not pursue this. "
Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt defending his effort to get the city to adopt a state law giving him greater flexibility in negotiating health benefits with city unions

Feb 11, 2012 4:36 am
Our View: Mountains of mulch need close monitoring

On the one hand it's an encouraging sign of spring's approach when landscapers start stockpiling mulch to spread around homes and office buildings when the threat of snow has vanished. But such piles become problematic when they catch on fire as happened on Farm Avenue in Peabody Monday.

Feb 10, 2012 4:36 am
Our View: Arbitrator's ruling reflects giveaways of the past

Salem's Kim Driscoll is simply the latest municipal chief executive paying the price for labor giveaways of the past.
More than a third-century ago, someone at City Hall apparently thought it would be no big deal to provide retiring superior officers in the Police Department with a parting gift in the form of benefits they would have earned through the remainder of the fiscal year.

Updated Feb 10, 2012 1:39 pm
Nelson Benton: Health bill will take time Feb 10, 2012 4:34 am
Project for PEM: Restoration of the Grimshawe House Feb 10, 2012 4:33 am 1 Photo
Letter: Autistic son denied opportunity to skate Feb 10, 2012 4:32 am
Letter: Philharmonic one of Salem's gem Feb 10, 2012 4:31 am
Letter: Taxes on top of taxes Feb 10, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: Flashing light sends mixed message Feb 9, 2012 4:36 am
Our View: Health reform vote a key test for Peabody council Feb 9, 2012 4:35 am
Analysis: Mitt still struggling Feb 9, 2012 4:34 am
Letter: Hiring of regional 911 director doesn't smell right Feb 9, 2012 4:33 am
Letter: Bloomberg for president? Feb 9, 2012 4:32 am
Letter: Report shows nothing to fear from wind turbine Feb 9, 2012 4:31 am
Letter: STOCK Act could create more problems than it solves Feb 9, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: New police HQ should be top Beverly priority Feb 8, 2012 4:46 am
Our View: Requests for road restrictions deserve careful scrutiny Feb 8, 2012 4:45 am
My View: Unified community college system could help close 'skills gap' Feb 8, 2012 4:44 am
Barbara Anderson: Speedy Registry visit leaves less time for reading, more for thinking Feb 8, 2012 4:43 am 1 Photo
Letter: Public streets are for the public's use Feb 8, 2012 4:42 am
Letter: Public transportation vital to Boston-area communities Feb 8, 2012 4:41 am
Letter: Obama-Clinton ticket no solution to nation's problems Feb 8, 2012 4:40 am
Letter: Friends of Peabody COA seeks new members Feb 8, 2012 4:39 am
Letter: Blames Brady for Pats' loss Feb 8, 2012 4:38 am
Running club provides lots of benefits to members and community Feb 8, 2012 4:37 am
Letter: Lapse of judgment can occur at any age Feb 8, 2012 4:36 am
Letter: Late physician was dear family friend Feb 8, 2012 4:35 am
Our View: Regional projects still must prove themselves Feb 7, 2012 4:34 am

Click here for more Opinion stories

Nelson Benton Twitter Updates

Follow me on Twitter

Salem News Opinion Poll

AP Video

Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate

US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany

Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords

Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria

Comments Tracker

Roll Call

Brown bucks GOP, votes to appoint Cordray as Consumer Protection chief: Roll Call for week of Dec. 5
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Dec. 5:

December 12, 2011
Kerry, Brown split on payroll tax cut: Roll Call for week of Nov. 28, 2011
WASHINGTON -- Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Nov. 28:

December 5, 2011
Congressional roll call for weeks of Sept. 19 and 26, 2011
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the weeks of Sept. 19 and 26:

September 29, 2011
Congressional roll call for week of Sept. 16, 2011
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Sept. 12.

September 21, 2011
Here's how N. Shore House members voted on casino bill
BOSTON -- The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 123-32 Wednesday for final passage of a bill authorizing three casinos and one slots parlor in the state. Here's how members of the North Shore delegation were recorded.

September 15, 2011

Helium debate