SHEENS' BABY TALK
The photos of little Sam and her parents, Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, are absolutely gorgeous. The photographer perfectly captured the feeling of having a precious newborn. I'm not usually envious of celebrities but wish I had such beautiful pictures of my children. They will be able to savor those moments for years to come.
Kimberly Wedgwood
Palm City, Fla.
I was so delighted and moved by Charlie Sheen's words about not letting their baby cry herself to sleep: "There's a time when compassion outweighs everything else." What a good and loving daddy. In a time where everyone buys into everything they read, this gives a much needed cry for love and human touch. Sam is so lucky to have parents in tune with her. I bet Denise is beaming with pride. I know I am.
Christina Marie Waters
Clovis, Calif.
Heartfelt congratulations to the Sheen family. However, I find the references to his new experiences with fatherhood troubling when you consider Charlie has a teenage daughter.
Donna L. Minder
Grand Junction, Colo.
Your story and photos of Charlie, Denise and Sam were beautiful. What a cute baby! I hope Charlie gets on his knees and thanks his father, Martin, whose tough love put him on the straight path.
Liz Palumbo
Long Valley, N.J.
OY VEY!
I read with disbelief your article "The Rite Stuff" about faux mitzvahs. If parents want to spend $10,000 on a child's birthday party, it's their choice. But to associate it in any way with a bar or bat mitzvah is insulting to anyone who has prepared for this important day in the life of a Jew.
Sheila Kreditor Lobel
Delmar, N.Y.
The title of your story "The Rite Stuff" should be followed with a question mark. Exactly what did these nouveau teens have to do to deserve these elaborate parties? Instead of encouraging their children to have extravagant affairs for no reason, maybe the parents should encourage them to learn about and celebrate their own culture.
Lisa Kenny
Leesburg, Va.
I worry about the message sent when parents such as Bob Bruyere spend thousands on a party so their child will be popular. Mr. Bruyere may want to question his daughter's friends if a good party puts her on their social list.
Michelle Benedetto
East Northport, N.Y.
Rabbi Irwin Kula says, "You don't have to be Jewish to want a party." But Jews understand the point of a bar or bat mitzvah is to be connected to Israel and the Jewish community, not to have a huge party. Strange how the minority suddenly becomes the cool crowd.
Whitney Goodman
Portland, Ore.
AGATSTON'S POUND OF CURE
Thank you for your feature about Dr. Arthur Agatston and his South Beach Diet. I've lost 34 lbs., and it's the way I'll eat for the rest of my life.
Nancy Horka
Parkville, Md.
While living in Miami, Dr. Agatston was my mother's doctor (who I'm convinced helped her live for 98 years), my late brother's and mine. His dedication to better heart health has always been a vital part of his vision. I'm proud and pleased Agatston has achieved the recognition his theories on diet have brought him. Go, Arthur!
Joy Moos
Los Angeles, Calif.
BEYOND BELIEF
In your story on Left Behind series author Tim LaHaye, he makes a crass comment about Catholicism being a false religion. He needs to be reminded that although we may work for different companies, we all have the same employer-God. I've never read one of LaHaye's and his coauthor Jerry B. Jenkins's books and don't ever plan to either. End of story.
Marinelle K. Szenasy
Midland, Texas
It's sad to see so many people with so little intelligence falling for this insane nonsense. It makes one shudder. Christianity has a 2,000-year history of this kind of apocalyptic hysteria.
Rob Cantin
Inglewood, Calif.
ROMUN MINUS STAMOS
Shame on John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, who are obviously in love with one another, for giving up on their marriage. Don't separate because it gets hard or you grow apart. Make a way for it to work.
Melissa Casby
Shawnee, Kans.
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