A sample of your thoughts found in my in-box:
Steve P.–I had never heard Rod Blagojevich deliver a speech until a few days ago, and it sounded almost like a JFK impersonation in the tenor of the voice and phrasing. I would even swear he gave a New England pronunciation to a few words–saying four as “fowa,” for example. … Look for less Elvis and more Jack in Rod’s progress.
R. Behnke, Chicago–How dare you defile Jeanine Nicarico’s burial place (column of Nov. 5) just to gain tone for your column? You are a cruel person. There are many guilty people in this matter: Those guilty for the events leading up to her death and those who are guilty for the appalling acts after her death. You are right up there.
I cannot believe your editors allow this to proceed. I truly hope that someone on the Tribune staff, especially the editorial staff, read this column and at least flinched. So when does this end for the Nicaricos? Are they to be forever damned to relive this because Eric Zorn has found his career niche? You went to her gravesite! This is revolting and ghoulish, and I think we’ve all heard enough of this tragedy and the families of those involved should be allowed to live in peace.
Glenn R., Oak Brook–Please always remember that your vigilance in keeping the integrity questions concerning (Illinois Atty. Gen. James) Ryan & (DuPage County State’s Atty.) Joe Birkett certainly helped.
A number of co-workers had followed your writings, as did I, and made a vow that, as long as we could vote, neither man should hold elective office again. Their actions in the Jeanine Nicarico case make that abundantly clear.
I offer a sincere thank-you for the courage to put in print a truth that was too-often forgotten–that there are certain moral absolutes in this world. Some things are simply wrong and should not be forgotten.
Jim L.–After the election, I expect that Ryan and Birkett can now focus all their energy on finding the real killer.
Mac M.–Re your joint column with Mary Schmich “Is sex with teens different if adult is a woman?” (Oct. 31): I had to read it twice to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating or dreaming.
If you weren’t kidding, you’ve suddenly become the most sheltered, ignorant, naive newspaper columnist in recent memory. You’re totally out to lunch on this one. “Kinda sleazy … kinda cool”???!!!
And Mary Schmich is even worse: “Men who have sexual relations with teenage girls are predators”???!!! But not the reverse???
You two make me sick, and I’m not kidding.
That library aide should go directly to jail.
Mark A.–Should the sex of the victim matter? If so, if a female teacher sleeps with a female student, is that as bad as male teacher/female student? What about the sex of the teacher? Is male teacher/male student as “forgivable” as female teacher/male student?
Is female teacher/male student okay because all teenage boys fantasize about their teachers? I may be wrong, but I think that teenage girls fantasize about sleeping with their male teachers; that doesn’t make it okay.
The more I think about it, the more I think it’s just wrong (and probably equally wrong) in every circumstance. But I’m not quite sure.
“CB”–What if the teen were a boy and the adult was a man? Even if the teen were consenting, it would be all over the newspapers and the man would be jailed for a long time. So your argument that it’s different for boys becomes shaky when applied to male-male contact.
However, I would think the reverse of this situation, a woman and female teen, would not be viewed as badly as that of a man with a male teen. Interesting problem, isn’t it?
Joe J., Wheaton–I am shocked, shocked I say, at your column about the Lombard library aide and her teenage paramours! Raising questions with no simple answers! Questioning the accepted wisdom of the day! Acknowledging social and cultural reality (namely that, like it or not, those three boys are not harmed in the way and to the degree that three girls would be) does not match political or ideological rhetoric! And worst of all, by your thoughtful, non-knee-jerk, conversation that acknowledges the ambiguities and complexities of the situation, encouraging people to (gasp!) think!! And you call yourself a family newspaper!
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For my replies and more letters, visit ericzorn.com/forum on the Internet.
