The search for certainty won’t end with the Higgs boson; there are others in the same family to be discovered (“Does This Higgs Boson Make Me Look Fat?” Christopher Potter, PostScript, July 8).
The Higgs Boson does not make matter, it allows it to be made; science proceeds by closer approximations to the truth, and there is no absolute, unassailable truth.
Each advance grows with fuzzy boundaries and is accepted by consensus.
Yes, science opens doors, but often there are others who wish to nail them shut through ignorance, misinformation or because it threatens public policy.
Morton Rosoff, Yonkers
Plug for patriotism
Michael Walsh’s article, “A Land of Bounty,” (PostOpinion, July 4) sparkled brighter than the fireworks that graced Independence Day.
It was a refreshing perspective of America and a beautiful piece of writing.
Steven Murphy, Newark
Up Zee pressure
Touting the fact that Gov. Cuomo’s secretary, Larry Schwartz, will be “applying pressure” to rally support for the Tappan Zee Bridge plan confirms that our state’s leadership is continuing to strong-arm the public into accepting a proposal that fails to consider alternatives that could better serve communities, cost less and prevent extensive damage to the Hudson River (“Cuomo’s Top Aide to Manage $5B Tappan Zee Bridge Project,” July 9).
This rush to build is dismaying in a modern democracy and especially from a governor who pledged to make the state of New York transparent and inclusive.
The governor must understand that no amount of strong-arming will make his flawed plan right.
John Lipscomb, Program Director, Patrol Boat & Water Quality, Riverkeeper, Ossining
When love hurts
I am a clinical psychologist, and I worry about young girls reading the “50 Shades of Gray” trilogy and thinking that a disturbed, sexual sadist is the ultimate romantic hero (“Dirty Girls,” Maureen Callahan, PostScript, July 8).
Love cannot cure a controlling, sadistic man. I fear that these unrealistic ideas about the power of love will lead young girls into danger.
In my practice, I have seen many women endure abusive relationships because they believe their love will change him.
I call this “the Love Delusion,” and it can have fatal consequences.
This idea that love is only romantic and exciting if it is dangerous pervades our culture. A domineering, dangerous man is not a nice guy waiting to happen.
Louise Deacon, London
My pal Ernie
A few years ago, I wrote Ernest Borgnine a fan letter after I saw his wonderful performance on “ER” (I am not given to writing fan letters, but I always liked his movies, and especially “McHale’s Navy.”) (“Oscar-Winning Actor Ernest Borgnine Dies at 95,” July 9).
Two or three days later, my cellphone rang and it was Borg-nine calling me from California to thank me for my nice letter.
I was dumbstruck. After he insisted that I call him Ernie, we chatted for 20 minutes. I’ll never forget it.
You can’t invent class and style, and he had them both in spades.
Rest in peace, Ernie!
Tom Cahill, Manhattan