Not laughing
Re: Curt Guyette's blog post, "WTF?: Planned Parenthood, protesters and the Pontiac show" (July 12), only someone with a warped sense of humor and one-sided reporting — who thinks dropping "F-bombs" on Republican presidential hopefuls, the Tea Party, traditional marriage, chastity, Catholics, pre-born babies and even God — could report that Lizz Winstead was just "poking fun" at them. I was present at this profane comedy routine and heard it myself!
For the finale, Lizz told her sad story of having an abortion at age 16, leaving the impression that the abortion enabled her to become the "success" she is today. She came across as angry at God for getting pregnant (what about my life?) and a woman still in pain about her abortion. The attendees (171) left somber — probably not knowing why.
Outside the theater, a large youth group celebrated "the Gift of Life" with streams of yellow balloons, singing, dancing and prayer. Their message: "Abortion is wrong. Planned Parenthood kills human life. Chastity is normal and safe — not sexual promiscuity." Other protesters showed the humanity of pre-born babies and how abortion is a violent act. But it seems "logic is lost" on those who believe that an unborn child can be killed and treated like trash.
While Planned Parenthood is prohibited from using taxpayer money to facilitate abortion, our money pays for Planned Parenthood's staff, facilities and equipment — just not actual abortion procedures. Other federally funded health care clinics for low-income individuals are located in Michigan. Abortion is not health care. —Mary Ann Pryce, Garden City
Displeased
As I sat in court and read Lessenberry's column ("Titanic's dance band," July 13), I was dismayed that the column reflected a certain amount of ignorance on his part. I was not surprised when he spoke of how some whites felt about blacks, but I was shocked when he stated, "There's some truth in both those stereotypes." I asked four attorneys to read that section of the article; two white males, one white female and a Jewish man; they all shook their heads and said it was quite offensive. What I want to know is what "truth" is in those stereotypes. Blacks lack a work ethic? I don't see a great work ethic in the average white person. Is this a black thing or an American thing? Secondly, blacks don't take care of their property when they can afford to? That is utterly ridiculous. If there is truth in those stereotypes, it's due to the fact that some blacks picked up and learned these habits from their white slavemasters. Read Thomas Sowell's Black Rednecks and White Liberals. In it, he states, "The cultural values and social patterns prevalent among Southern whites included an aversion to work, proneness to violence, neglect of education ..."
Next time before you start speaking about truths, know the truth. I know it makes your job easier when you don't have to be nuanced in your analysis, but an intelligent person does not deal in simplistic, overly broad statements that only continue to perpetuate and foment negative perceptions that are not based in fact or reality. —Kimberly Brown, Esq., Detroit
Swearing mad
I'm just leaving you this message to inform you that you know your article on Kwame Kilpatrick ("Still spinning," News Hits, July 13) was very insulting and very ignorant. Why don't you, the white motherfuckers like you leave Kwame Kilpatrick up to the people who love him the most: Detroiters. We love Kwame with his flaws. Why don't you take your white ass somewhere and find some white people to talk about. Like George Bush or somebody of that nature. You know, you white people kill me, passing judgment on black folk all the time. So what he ain't perfect? Your white honky ass ain't perfect either, are you? So the next time you decide to write an article about somebody, why don't you go find one of those white crackers to write it about? Somebody who looks like you and thinks like you. Stupid white motherfucker. —Anonymous message on voice mail
Metro honors
We at Metro Times are pleased to announce that we picked up a second place award and two thirds in the annual Association of Alternative Newsweeklies editorial contest. Staff writer Sandra Svoboda won second place in the "Format Buster" category for her Shakespeare-inspired news piece "To Bobb or Not to Bobb." Larry Gabriel took third place for his political column Stir It Up. And former music editor Bill Holdship took third place in the Music Reporting and Criticism category. Congratulations!
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