DARE TO ASK: Then we'll put our heads together ...
By PHILLIP MILANO, The Times-Union
Ah, fall. Time again for us to think about melting Arctic ice, children who
test poorly, large deficits, an appalling housing market and dark energy aiding
the universe's unabated march toward cold, black oblivion.
Oh wait, we can think about that stuff any time.
Instead, let's think about answering Dare to Ask questions. Below are some
happy ones for you to ponder. Reply at www.yforum.com by typing "newspaper
column" (no quote marks) in the keyword field on the search page. Up will pop:
Question
Why do girls always think guys are only out for sex?
Robert, 17, Cromwell, Conn.
Question
You know how Islamic people wear turbans? Do they ever make a fashion
statement with them? Do they have Louis Vuitton turbans, or turbans with
checkered or plaid patterns?
R., 15, male, Fleming Island
Question
Why do some white people get tans?
Dorothy, black, Jacksonville
Question
Is it rude to go to a gay bar if you are not gay?
Molli, Sioux City, Iowa
Question
I wonder why every time I read about a Jewish person, the sentence always
contains "nice." For instance, on (former History Channel host) Josh Bernstein:
a "nice Jewish boy from New York." Or (Comedy Central's) Sarah Silverman: a
"nice Jewish girl from Connecticut."
Sharon, Keystone Heights
Question
I have noticed among Indian people that the little toddler-age girls very
often have their hair cropped short. Why is this?
KS, 47, female, Jacksonville
Question
If Catholics don't believe in contraceptives, how do they keep from having a
lot of kids?
Linzi, 17, Selinsgrove, Pa.
Question
Girls: Would you want to know what guys you know have fantasized about you?
Jayarby, male, Philadelphia
Question
Why do a lot of Hispanic women pluck their eyebrows and then draw them on
with an eyebrow pencil? And why do they draw a hard lip outline and paste their
hair flat with gel?
Ellen, 48, white, Broomfield, Colo.
Question
How come you don't see minorities in love scenes in the movies and on TV? Is
it too taboo?
M.B., male, Pittsburgh
Question
Why are younger teenagers so obsessed with "who likes whom" and call sensible
people who don't care about anything like that gay or geeky?
Brandon, 13, Jacksonville
Question
Why are Southern Christians so nosy and why won't they take a polite "I'm
sorry but I don't discuss religion" seriously?
Mary, 42, agnostic, Atlanta
Phillip Milano, author of I Can't Believe You Asked That! (Perigee),
moderates cross-cultural dialogue at Y? The National Forum on People's
Differences. Visit www.yforum.com to submit questions and answers. Send general
column comments to phillip. milano@jacksonville.com. You can also hear his
podcasts or watch his
TV spots.