GIVE THE KIDS SOME CREDIT

DEAR ANNIE: I just wanted to share my perspective on your review of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe [Dec 8]. I read all these books as a child and they were some of my most favorite. I was a freethinking child with parents who would probably label themselves as Christian but never went to church and never talked about Christian things. I had no idea as a fifth grader that these books had anything to do with Christianity. I only saw the adventure, the beauty of the story. I did not know until I was much older that there was any kind of intended Christian reference. Alas, I read the books, I loved them, I grew up, and I am NOT a Christian as an adult. Give the children enough credit to make up their own minds and find beauty and amazement in literature (and I guess the big screen).

My 8-year-old stepdaughter has a hard enough time actualizing the messages of selflessness, sharing, etc. from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My guess is her watching a Narnia movie will not turn her into a Christian.

Cammie Owen

LIKE UTAH, BUT WETTER

BRENDAN KILEY: Now that Washington has banned an otherwise legal activity, you scooped the majors with your speakeasy article ["Secret Knocks and Passwords," Dec 1]. Now we can be like that other vanguard state, Utah, where alcohol consumption is severely restricted. Imbibing is only allowed at (wink, wink) "private clubs," where patrons pay $5 to be a member and bring their own. Also, hotels in Salt Lake City often have unadvertised, out-of-the-way cubbyholes where drinking is tolerated.

Roger Clarke-Johnson

LEAVE THE GOTHS OUT OF IT

DEAR EDITOR: Regarding the speakeasy article written by Mr. Kiley. I believe that I am the James he quoted in the goth club. Here is some clarification: First off, the club is not a speakeasy per se. The establishment is fully licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages to those of legal age. Second, minors are not served there. Third, last call for alcohol is at 1:50 a.m., like every other bar in Seattle. Fourth, while girls and boys dance nearly topless, the girls do have to cover their nipples. I was told by the door person that the club does use more electrical tape than any other establishment in town.

As far as the comment about the frat boys, I again will say it: It makes the atmosphere much more relaxed.

It's not to say I don't like a good speakeasy; I've been to a couple good ones here in Seattle. I just don't want the liquor board or police harassing this club.

James

DON'T MESS WITH GEORGETOWN

EDITOR: In Erica C. Barnett's piece on Mayor Gridlock's proposal to create a strip-club zone in SoDo ["Sin City," Dec 8], numbskull Mike Peringer (whose business is located in the proposed zone) generously offers up Georgetown as a more suitable location for the city's new red-light district. Uh, thanks, but no thanks, Mike. We in Georgetown are already bearing more than our fair share of urban blight. And besides, ya moron, people live down here.As for you, Mayor Gridlock, if you even think about considering Mike's harebrained idea, here's a suggestion: Talk to Southwest Airlines. Georgetown kicked their fat, corporate ass all the way back to Sea-Tac. Mess with us and who knows where yours will land.

Joel Ancowitz

WE MAKE DAMN FINE SHELVES

STRANGER: My house owner uses old copies of The Stranger to make shelves. It is made of only The Stranger and flour glue.

He told me The Stranger is the best paper to make a shelf. You guys are way better than Seattle Times or whatever in this way.

Nomuraka Zutaka

FROM THE FORUMS AT WWW.THESTRANGER.COM

POSTED BY MICHAEL CRITES ON DEC 8: I couldn't help but notice the absence of any letters to the editor that were critical of your piece on the Tacoma Mall shooting, including mine. I doubt two things:

1. That mine was the only letter critical of what you wrote. And 2. That if the shooting happened in Seattle you would have covered it in a manner similar to the way you covered the Tacoma shooting. Apparently only white-collar communities are deserving of quality journalism.

Here is my letter to the editor:

I'm disappointed in the article about the shootings at the Tacoma Mall. The Stranger has always seemed an enlightened and progressive paper. The mall shootings seemed a perfect time to explore the link between violence, the underfunding of social services, lack of sensible gun control, poverty, and a heavy military presence in a community. A progressive agenda if I've ever heard one. Instead of running a thought-provoking, progressive, informative piece that could have helped to improve our community, The Stranger chose to run a poorly written cheap shot.

Don't wait for us; self-publish your letters at forums.thestranger.com.