As mentioned on another Ross Rant page, I am a member of an opinion think tank that answers questions posed by editors of San Francisco Chronicle. While the questions are often inane, I was especially offended by the following one - and told them so...

San Francisco writer Carol Queen would like to hear whether the Sept. 11 attacks affected people's sex lives. If you would care to comment on this topic, your response should address whether and how the attacks affected your sex life — either at the time or as the event recedes into history.

Dear Editor,

Yes, I would like to comment on this topic.

Thousands of people die in the World Trade Center, and the Chronicle is concerned with whether I can still get it up as a result? That question is inconsequential at best and grotesquely insensitive to 9/11 victims at the very, very worst. Unquestionably, the latter.

Not to mention that it's THREE YEARS after the fact! Is this the timely and relevent award-winning journalism the Chronicle is known for? Give me a freaking break.

What's next, "Edward R. Murrow"? Are you going ask if my weight was effected by Hurricane Ivan? Or, if my acne worsened following the Kennedy assassination? What is the possible correlation? And, who cares?

I don't mind the occasional pablum questions from "Two Cents". Those are harmless and fun. But, pablum plus monstrous tragedy plus attempted relevence with a snickering peek at sexual dysfunction is the very height of bad taste - something I'd forgive from a satire publication where at least it would be intentionally tongue-in-cheek; black humor employed to make a scathing political point.

The only point the Chronicle seems to be making is that 21st century journalism has become a sad parody of itself. If "Sex and 9/11" is the best you can do, you'd better all quit and get jobs writing for The Onion.

Get back to the hard news, for God's sake and let our nation's dead rest in peace.

Dear Ross,

Thank you for your response to our question about sex and 9/11. I have forwarded it to writer Carol Queen. We realize this is a sensitive - and controversial - topic and appreciate your willingness to offer your comments.

Dear Editor:

Please accept this apology for my recent angry outburst regarding your proposed article on "Sex and 9/11". I did not realize that this, as you point out, is such a "controversial topic", carrying great weight effecting the future of this country; and that measuring our collective sexual arousal - or lack thereof - addresses the moral and ethical questions of terrorism and the decades-old imposed Western military and capitalist expansion into Muslim nations that directly brings about the flying of aircraft into skyscrapers.

I was wrong. Thank you for showing me the err of my ways.

Cowed and humbled,

Ross Turner

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