No Laughing Matter

Re “Why I Gave Lots of Deodorant for Hanukkah,” Opinion, Jan 16: Joel Stein writes, “Now I’m secretly hoping my show doesn’t make it on the air” (that makes two of us!), “or that my parents develop severe forms of Alzheimer’s before autumn.” It’s a sad day when a columnist in an esteemed newspaper utilizes someone else’s tragedy in a tasteless attempt at humor. Ask any family who has lived the nightmare.

There is no shortage of relevant topics of substance upon which to hold discourse, so why print this foolishness? Will somebody please tell Mr. Stein that, although humor has its place (and thank God for it!), he misses the mark by a mile and then some.

Marjorie Loring

Newbury Park