Jeremy Voas was kind enough to offer the shield of anonymity to his polyamorous interviewees in "Lovers leap" (Metro Times, Feb. 13-19). Unfortunately, their families were offered no such protection.
One of your subjects, my daughter, is well aware of our feelings on premarital sex. She also knows that we and some of our friends are occasional Metro Times readers, and could easily have stumbled across this article.
That she has decided to proudly display her libertine lifestyle for public consumption in print and over the Internet may be amusing and perhaps even informative to many. But by opting not to remain nameless, she has devastated us.
Her insensitivity to the inevitable shame and depression she has brought her family is bad enough. But a responsible writer — and editor — should know better than to put innocent third parties in the line of fire. Anonymity should have been a mandate, not an option. —Anonymous
Freedom spoken here
After reading a recent letter to the editor concerning Jack Lessenberry's column (Metro Times, Feb. 27-March 5), let me just say that I hope Jack continues to "vomit journalistic puke" our way.
As untidy as that sounds, Lessenberry is about the last bastion of a free press available to Detroit area readers. I'm just afraid that he hasn't been told yet that it's now apparently illegal to criticize our eminently unqualified, war-mongering, inarticulate prez. Even more scary, it sets off those flag-draped rightist zealots who would probably like to get back to the good ol' days of lynch mobs and frontier justice. Keep it going, Jack, and be careful, for your sake and that of your readers too. —Nancy Hirabayashi, Detroit
Good and crazy
Sometimes when you live work and play in a place, you get lost in the greatness. Then you read an article like yours and it’s a slap in a face — a really great slap in the face ("Detroit confessional," Metro Times, Feb. 27-March 5). I really appreciated your article. Sometimes I think Detroiters are too bogged down in big-city envy to believe that other people actually choose to live here. Crazy! Thanks so much. —Tiffany Dantzler [email protected], Detroit
Homesick blues
What a fantastic piece of writing. It seems I'm a bit envious of the fact your crawling around my hometown ... but, my God, I am elated that you have written the words I have spent so much time trying to convey to those here in this dusty hell. The thought of another blazing summer in this cultural doldrum is unbearable! I can't tell you how happy I am that you have found in Detroit what I have known since 1979 (my first trip downtown). —Keith Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz.
Love for the "D"
I would like to welcome Jeremy Voas to Detroit. I run the independent label Static Records here in the "D," as we call it.
It's great to see a new editor with such an interest and passion for our local music scene. You seem to be interested in many styles of music, which is also good to see. I hope this refreshing attitude will bring a much-needed overhaul to the Metro Times local-music coverage, which tended to focus on one or two music communities and not the rest which struggle for recognition just the same. —Sue Summers, [email protected], Detroit
Seek and you’ll find
Kudos for your comments! I moved to Michigan almost 10 years ago and I have yet to meet another crazy bastard who loves Detroit as much as me. Though I live in the dreaded northern suburbs, I love going downtown for concerts and whatnot. Find me a cooler place to see some ass-kicking bands than St. Andrew’s.
The great thing about Detroit is that you have to work to get to the cool places. Anyone can go to downtown Chicago and stumble into a good time. Here, you've got to earn it.
Welcome to town, see you around. —Drew Shemenski, [email protected], Royal Oak
Eyes wide open
Amen to your article, but you’re letting the secret out. It's OK, though, because only the knowing will understand anyway. Glad to see you have open
eyes. —Rebecca Dorn, Detroit
