Calendar Letters: ‘Audrie & Daisy’ and the sad state of social media

The sad state of kids and social media

Regarding: “The Songs: Her Fiery Clarion Call” [Dec. 8]. After watching the film “Audrie & Daisy” one cannot help but sit stunned with a sense of despair for those in middle school and high school right now. As I contemplate this film and song as a 33-year-old gay man who was bullied in grade school, I wonder if I had to face the cowardly, incessant acts of hate that are now weaponizing social media, would I have survived to see today, happily married for many years, a loving family, with a wonderful personal and professional life

Ryan Hohman

Washington, D.C.

Relishing the gift of music, words

Bravo, Mark Swed, you have written the most beautiful and moving music review that I have ever read [“Distinct Takes on Handel’s ‘Messiah,” Dec. 12], and I read it while tears rolled down my cheeks. I hope the world gets a chance to hear Tenor Don Garza, the Desert Storm Trooper, sing someday as you did. Music is a gift for the heart, but then so is writing. It moves people, and so did you.

Harriet Pollon

Malibu

Coverage of the arts a joy to read

I simply want to compliment the contributions to The Times of Charles McNulty and Mark Swed.

My husband and I are retired theater professors (San Diego State University), and The Times is a joy to read each morning, but it is the coverage of the arts that is especially outstanding. Your reviews and think pieces are informed, moving, intriguing, uplifting, daring, humane. They describe events so that you almost think you are there — or were there. I swear, I think I have seen Dudamel conduct by reading Mark Swed or seen the two current “King Lear” productions in London by reading Charles McNulty.

Thank you for providing such sustenance.

Anne-Charlotte Harvey

Lemon Grove

But what drove them apart

Tyler Malone’s review of Alex Beam’s book “The Feud: Vladimir Nabokov, Edmund Wilson, and the End of a Beautiful Friendship” [“Writing Tied and Split Them,” Dec. 11] tells us more about views of what friendships are and nothing of what caused the two brilliant men’s falling-out. Surely something important and hidden drove Wilson to such an unethical lapse of judgment

Jascha Kessler

Santa Monica

‘Colbert’ was funny, not this

Regarding “Trump Moves Into Colbert Role” [Dec. 9]. “The Colbert Report” was very funny satire. But this isn’t funny anymore.

Nate Tucker

Costa Mesa

On language, Orwell said it all

Regarding: “The New Lines in Our Language” [Dec. 11]. Linguists contend that language is not just descriptive; it is also prescriptive. Words shape our thinking, thinking informs our feelings, and feelings are often a prelude to our actions. As George Orwell wrote in “1984,” “...if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

Ben Miles

Huntington Beach

Ronstadt tribute hits right notes

Thanks for your terrific dispatch from the Linda Ronstadt tribute event [“A Heartfelt Thanks for Her Fine Musical Ear,” Dec. 13]. I’m sure you could have written five times as much, given such a rich subject.

Ron Thibodeaux

Baton Rouge