I had my class of first graders write to President Bush to tell him whether they thought the war in Iraq was a good idea. It was all over the news at the time and it was a good way to work our way through a conversation about war and what it means to be a citizen in a country at war. I can't remember how many of…

It's like a real city that someone stepped on. Everything is a 20 minute drive from everything else. You could get a scooter if you aren't planning to go far.

It was a spa-day shower and I planned to send over food for her after her massage but I thought my other friend was coordinating it. She didn't. But hopefully no one told her to expect it so there weren't any disappointments.

Yeah, I feel like maybe someone mentioned that I was sending something and then there was nothing. I'll send her a quick note so she doesn't feel sad about it.

It's actually not a slippery slope at all. Context matters. There are some commonly accepted standards for proper dress in an American office. It doesn't mandate burqas. It also doesn't include bare chests. Mature adults who care about their jobs recognize that clothes that make other people uncomfortable should…

I had a misunderstanding with a friend about another friend's baby shower today (we both couldn't make it, I thought that she was coordinating the gift) that resulted in me not sending a gift at all. Should I apologize today now that I've realized - and she may have expected something from me that didn't ever arrive?

Well, as far as Judaism goes the risk doesn't exist because one cannot leave the faith. Once a Jew, always a Jew. So a parent making the decision wouldn't concern themselves with that because even if their son later didn't like being a Jew, it's not possible to stop being one (physical changes aside). He is a Jew…

I think it's important to be kind to your partner when they're not around and I like it when people tell me that they're really happy when it's relevant. That's the difference. If it's part of the conversation, go for it. So long as you're not turning unrelated conversations into opportunities to comment on how…

Maybe it's an early form of "Oh shit, what I have I just done? Will he ever forgive me?"

I might be getting one of these soon (long story). I talk a big baby-hating game but maybe they're not so bad, right?

Your argument is premised on a belief that the spiritual existence is something objectively different from the physical existence. I confess to my ignorance here but I would believe that many devout practitioners of other religions perform rituals (Baptism? Marriage?) that they believe to be irreversible - regardless…

Luckily, there's a constitutional amendment for that.

Are you asking why Jews circumcise their infant boys? I'll google and copy/paste for you but you could do some research of your own if you don't find this answers your question.

But they don't. My ear piercings have not and will not close (upwards of 10 years now without any jewelry). I actually got them done when I was older (like, 7) - now I sort of regret it but it can't be undone. While agreed, my ears are not recognized by my culture as some defining aspect of my person, I don't feel…

There's a big difference between a public education campaign and outlawing an essential religious practice.

I think that sexually suggestive clothing in the workplace is distracting and therefore disrespectful to the people that you work with. Like I said upthread, it makes me uncomfortable to speak to him face-to-face and therefore disrupts our work. It's bad for business and I think that's a good reason.

Got it. I can't think of a good way to deal with it - he's kind of awkward but his clothes are almost always very nice and I can only conclude that he thinks that he looks good.

Yeah, we don't really have bosses. And I wouldn't be interested in policing his clothes if they didn't really make me uncomfortable. I collaborate with him a lot but I don't like talking to him face-to-face because it's so distracting and I think that interferes with our work.

Is there any polite way to tell my male co-worker that he needs to button his shirt up more? He always wears his shirt unbuttoned one too many (hairy chest, no undershirt). It makes me genuinely uncomfortable but I can't think of a way to get the message across without crossing the line myself. I'm in a very…

I don't know what you should do but I do know that sometimes, life is hard. Really hard. Like, sometimes your kids have disabilities or your mom dies or your brother goes to prison. And I think that people show their true character when things are hard or when they don't get what they want. Can you trust that…