The Ethicist lays the smack down

I always read Randy "The Ethicist" Cohen's column in The New York Times Magazine. But a mere five months ago, I was privileged with the hard copy courtesy of my Manhattan-born roommate Amanda, now, alas, the e-version will have to do. I usually work myself up to it by reading half a dozen other articles before allowing myself this cherry on top.

I must assume that my appreciation of advice columns came from years of reading Dear Abby and Ann Landers in my parents' kitchen before heading off to school in the morning. I like Slate's "Dear Prudence" (this past week's "My Mourning Jacket" was noteworthy actually), but Mr. Cohen is closest to my heart. He answers questions of ethics (so it's not just a clever name!) rather than of manners per se, and his writing style is oh-so-witty and utterly enjoyable. On to the Article Du Jour!

This week's "Visiting Justice" advice seeker was, ironically, from Pleasant Hill, CA (which borders my home town of Concord), and he wanted to know if he was right in refusing his sister-in-law's invitation to come visit because he did want to "give the appearance of approval" of her new boyfriend. The Ethicist lays it down accordingly:

You should accept her invitation. Whom are you giving “the appearance of approval” to? Your wife knows your views. Your sister-in-law is unmoved by them. The American people? This visit is unlikely to get much television coverage. Not even local news is this local.

The Ethicist rocks.

UPDATE: Wikipedia just informed me that The Ethicist was married to Katha Pollitt, a feminist writer and activist, who also totally rocks -- don't be surprised if she has her own Article Du Jour. What a duo.