DEAR EDITOR: When those [thousands of] people died on September 11, no one was thinking of taking a census to see the racial breakdown of victims ["Black Flag," Charles Mudede, Oct 25]. The grief expressed in those "images of weeping and praying blacks," as Mudede writes, was a human response, not one that is especially unique to a particular group of people. Furthermore, the grief wasn't just for a select group of victims, the grief was for everyone who was lost.

"Now, dear reader," Mudede continues, "if blacks are crying, can you imagine what white America is feeling at this moment? Yes, that is how bad things are." Anyone can see how offensive that statement was. My God, even they are moved!

I'm not sad because I'm black, or because some blacks were offended. I'm sad because even a basic human emotion gets a racial spin. That is sad.

Stacie Bonnelle, Los Angeles, CA

EDITORS: Very interesting letter last week [Letters to the Editor, Nov 8], taking Charles Mudede to task for perpetuating black stereotypes in [his article] "Black Flag." Unfortunately the author of the letter is anonymous, and apparently unaware that Mudede is African, and perhaps now an American. While Mudede appears to be a bigot in this article, it is his anti-white stance that should be questioned.

Still, it is his constitutional right to [express] his own opinion. It is [this] difference of opinion that makes Mudede thought-provoking, if nothing else.

Lastly, his articles might be a bit better if he lost his thesaurus and found his own voice.

Ken Storkson, Not Anonymous

EDITORS: Where the hell have you been?! ["The Patient Fuck vs. the Exploding Orgasm," Charles Mudede, Nov 8.] East End X Yuri is one hell of an outdated reference to mention in regards to Japanese hiphop. The band was basically a pop group that had one big hit and a number-one album in 1995, then split shortly thereafter, never to [appear on] the [Japanese pop] charts again. To hold them up as a current band (I know, it's never explicitly stated, but the context in which they are mentioned suggests they are still active) against which "serious" hiphop is measured is to paint a misleading picture.

Kevin J. O'Conner, via e-mail

EDITOR: Okay, no one is expecting Sean Nelson to be some kind of hippie-Garcia-Grateful Dead fanatic, but for chrissakes--show a little respect! ["Player's Club," Sean Nelson, Nov 1.] The first thing he says to [filmmaker] Gillian Grisman in their interview is "I just have no time for the Grateful Dead at all." Then why the hell are you interviewing Grisman, who made a movie about Jerry Garcia? Why the hell did you watch an entire movie about Garcia and David Grisman?! Because it's your job? Your opinion already means nothing to me, because I see you are blindly against anything that comes close to the whole umbrella of the Dead.

Grateful Dawg is about Garcia, not the Dead. Nelson also claims that the Dead shows were more about the "gathering" than the music. Fuck you! The whole point in gathering was to enjoy the awe-inspiring music with friends you know and friends you don't know. The music was literally divine. Go listen to "Victim" or "Wharf Rat," and tell me that the best thing at a Grateful Dead show was the crowd. A live performance of these songs would even leave Eddie Vedder blushing and embarrassed. All the band really cared about was the music, not increasing their own power or stature. They did it for the music, and they did it for us. By "us" I do NOT mean hippies or Deadheads. I mean music fans, something I would classify all of The Stranger's wonderful wordsmiths [as]. The Dead changed the atmosphere and the meaning of a live show forever. I could care less if they stank or did heroin.

Mason, via e-mail

CHARLES MUDEDE: I love reading crime reports in newspapers, but yours are always the best. You obviously don't swallow everything you're told by the police department, and you add a nice literary zest to what you report. What a wonderful job you do with "just the facts."

Today, however, I found your "Death at Ye Olde SeaFaire Inn" [Police Beat, Nov 8] and its accompanying "notes" to be particularly exquisite. Congratulations on some wonderful writing.

Chris, via e-mail

DEAR EDITOR: The last party at the now-defunct Rendezvous was a benefit for the Seattle Peace Concerts in memory of Tom Wales. Kurt Bloch did not donate any money to this cause, and was not invited onstage [It's My Party, Kathleen Wilson, Nov 8]. As a member of the last band to ever play the Rendezvous, the Mindless Thuggs, I am certain of this. Bloch kept sneaking up onstage. We asked him to leave four times.

Since it was OUR party (the Mindless Thuggs rented the space and donated all proceeds to the Peace Concerts), and Bloch didn't pay the cover, he wasn't invited onstage.

Caleb Schaber, the Mindless Thuggs, via e-mail

EDITORS: Since stumbling upon your Film Shorts three years ago, they have become an essential component of my moviegoing experience. Thank you for having the balls to call them like you see them!

Niko, via e-mail

KATHLEEN WILSON: I just read your review of Shallow Hal and I've gotta say, you come off as [just wanting to] vent your own frustrations with men rather than actually reviewing the movie ["Shallow Horseshit," Kathleen Wilson, Nov 8]. The experiences of your friends (no doubt yourself) with men have no relevance to the movie--since when is a wacky Farrelly Brothers comedy concerned with reality, and why should it be? Their films are notorious for eliciting laughs with gross-out, un-PC comedy. Why does it matter if, in reality, a man wouldn't change like Shallow Hal did? Would a man really see a morbidly obese woman as a slim Gwyneth Paltrow?

No offense, but it seems to me like you should concentrate more on reviewing the movie for what it is, rather than reviewing your personal life (or that of your "friends") and comparing it to the movie.

Mike, via e-mail

MADAME WILSON: I take issue with your review of Shallow Hal.

Why the male-bashing? Do you always review films with such a feminist slant? Sure, the movie was poor, and not an ego boost for those of us who have a weight problem. But the language you chose to describe your disdain was just awful. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing; however, along with freedom comes responsibility to master the medium. Do you really think that publishing curse words made you more hip? Did you think that it gave you or your medium a fresh vibrancy that has become the excuse for poor grammar and language? Shallow Hal is not the benchmark of masculinity or male thought. In the end, your article is no better than that film, as you accomplish your message through poor taste. Shallow, Kathleen?

Chris M. Scalia, via e-mail

HEY KATHLEEN! Thanks for your generous review of my book, Strip City ["A Stripper's Discourse: Into the World of Fantasy Flesh," Kathleen Wilson, Oct 25]. I appreciated your level-headedness and lack of invective, and wanted to let you know.

Lily Burana, via e-mail

EDITOR: Every year around election time, The Stranger publishes its endorsements. Every year, I look forward to it [in] earnest. Every year, I think to myself that I must write The Stranger and thank them. Well, this year, I'm finally going to do it.

THANK YOU! Thank you for telling me how not to vote. If ever I'm in doubt on a particular issue or candidate, I merely refer to your "Cheat Sheet" and vote exactly the opposite of how you recommend. This way, I can ensure I don't vote for some wacko candidate or asinine initiative, since I know I can rely on you to choose them.

Rest easy knowing your efforts at sifting through the issues have been put to good use.

Sean Keatts, Seattle

EDITOR RESPONDS: Um, Sean... for mayor, The Stranger endorsed Greg Nickels, the most boring politician in the universe--hardly a "wacko candidate." And we encouraged readers to vote "no" on Initiative 747, this year's "asinine initiative." But we're glad you used our Cheat Sheet. Thanks for writing.