Letters to the Editor

Over there

Jack Lessenberry: Truly enjoyed this week's article on America losing its way ("What are we for?" Metro Times, June 7). Well, we Canucks aren't doing so hot these days either. As you're likely aware our Bush-lovin', America-cuddlin' Prime Minister Harper has sent almost 2,400 troops to Afghanistan to — guess what? — protect "our" freedom. But we're lucky, only 17 killed so far.

Remember when the fall and capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of his sons were heralded as great victories? The war would end soon. Now al-Zarqawi is dead. Maybe this is the "final victory" your president has been waiting for and your troops can go home.

And while we're at it, Harper should declare victory in Afghanistan too, and put an end to that fool's mission. Enough Canadian soldiers have died for no reason other than some politicians' egos. —Tom Henderson, Windsor, Ontario

Mr. Lessenberry: When you ask, "What if the Democratic Party were to return to the idealism of the Kennedy era?" — I respect what you are trying to say. But things are not worse; things are only the same. When Kennedy was president, he showed very little regard for the deaths of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robinson, Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware on Sep. 15, 1963. He accepted the weak investigation of the FBI. He sent an Army football coach to Birmingham, Ala., who basically reported nothing and solved nothing.

Later, in October 1963, his attorney general, who just happened to be his brother, authorized a wiretap on Martin Luther King Jr.

That's wire-tapping private U.S. citizens as if they were enemies of the state, disregard for the bombing of a church on U.S. soil, disregard for the shooting down of two children.

Funny how, at the time, in November 1963, more black people cried for the death of the president than the death of six black children.

I am not trying to defend George W. Bush, but Kennedy was for the status quo as well. In 2006, maybe things should be better. But where is the example for George W. to follow? —Lawrence Bentley, Huntsville, Ala.

Dear Mr. Lessenberry: I read your article on the compromise vote for Granholm ("Needed: A third party," Metro Times, June 1). I must say I agree. Our governor, though quite pretty for a high-ranking politician, is a jellyfish. I have been quite disappointed with the economic initiatives and political climate that we have fostered as a state. For example, if only Detroit and the surrounding metro area would only cooperate, the rewards for the state would be immeasurable.

At the same time, I don't want someone who will equivocate on social issues. I, for example, would very much enjoy being involved in the local political scene, but my sexual orientation provides an obstacle, one that I thought I could overcome until the voters overwhelmingly approved a discriminatory and venomous amendment to the state constitution. —Roderick Thompson, Detroit

Re: Jack Lessenberry's "Are we ready for democracy?" (Metro Times, May 24), there is no doubt the democratic process is broken — and it will be until people realize that what the founding fathers set up does just a little of what it was meant to do. Those founding fathers that we seem to view through such a rosy shroud were wealthy businessmen who owned slaves and didn't think women or men without land holdings should vote. I'm not sure their intentions were driven by the common man. So until we clean up the electoral system, start having publicly financed elections, reduce the number of lobbyists and eliminate the crossover jobs between lobbyists and elected officials, then our government will continue to be for the corporations, of the corporations and by the corporations. —Dan McClelland, Farmington Hills

Some comments on the latest issue of the Metro Times (May 31):

Sean Bieri's "X-Men" movie cartoon on the lead cinema page is the best review of that movie I've seen!

Tell Jack Lessenberry that "Slavelaboristan" is now in my vocabulary. The company I work at opened a new design center in Eastern Europe. The new hiring philosophy is if someone quits or retires here in Michigan that person will be only be replaced by someone in Eastern Europe (if at all).

As for the "Perry Bible Fellowship," the last panel says it all. I wish Metro Times would bring back Tom Tomorrow's "This Modern World." It says everything "Perry Bible Fellowship" and "Boiling Point" say — only better. —Allen Salyer, Royal Oak

Re: Great review regarding the pizza at Loui's ("Going deep," Metro Times, May 31). I've been going there for many, many years (at least 25) and have never been disappointed. Now my kids are taking their friends there and some day they'll be taking my grandkids there as well. Thanks for such a well-written, precise review on the best pizza place in the country — right here in our own backyard. —Gary A. Mancuso, Harper Woods

Errata: In Vince Carducci's article, "Play Right" (Metro Times, June 14), we misidentified artist Denise Fanning as Deborah Fanning. We also misspelled the first name of artist Jacque Liu. In the same issue, in "Cyber games get personal," we gave an incorrect Web address for iGames. The correct address is igames.org.

Also, the June 14 issue had incorrect listings for Chene Park concerts. This is the correct list: June 30: Teena Marie and Keith Washington; July 5: Jazz Fusion with Roy Ayers, Jon Lucien, Bobbi Humphrey, Jean Carne, Ronnie Laws, Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders, Lonnie Liston Smith; July 7: Brian McKnight; July 12: Soul Express with Jody Watley, Jeff Lorber, Chris Standring and Alexander Zonjic and Friends; July 14: India.Arie and Musiq; July 19: Summer Storm with Norman Brown, Alex Bugnon, and Paul Taylor and Justin Young; July 21: Will Downing; July 26: Sax Pac with Kim Waters, Jeff Kashiwa and Steve Cole and Jerald Daemyon; July 28: Yolanda Adams and Take 6; August 2: Joe Sample, Tim Bowman and Serioux; August 4: Dramatics, Rose Royce and Heat Wave; August 9: Jeffrey Osborne; August 11: Chaka Khan and War; August 16: Pieces of a Dream and Gerald Albright; August 18: Charlie Wilson and Vivian Green; August 23: Jean-Luc Ponty and Straight Ahead. Call 313-393-7128 or visit cheneparkdetroit.com. The correct schedule is part of our Summer Guide events calendar, available as a PDF at www.metrotimes.com.