EDITOR: I have been a longtime reader of The Stranger but have never felt compelled to write to you before.
That changed today when I read Emily White's article, "Escape from South Dakota" [April 13].
I had goose bumps while reading what she wrote. I won't include any boring personal details, but I had to write and tell you that Emily spoke THE TRUTH in that article. It should be required reading for every high school student, boys and girls alike. I printed the article and plan to save it for my daughter and son to read when they are old enough. I sent it to everyone I know who is capable of handling that level of truth.
Please pass on my heartfelt thanks for writing the most important and truthful article I have ever read on the abortion debate. She is a courageous writer and deserves to know the impact her words have (and will continue to have) on all intelligent people who read this article.
Emily, your article kicked ass and I cannot thank you enough for writing it.
Angela Bean
KARMA COMES AROUNDEDITOR: I enjoyed Emily White's article on abortion. As she indicated, it is important to put a face on the impending abortion ban. It is not all doom and gloom, however: We blue staters can enjoy a very small bit of solace in knowing that crime rates have been closely tied to the legalization of abortion and that, in 16–18 years, those overly conservative South Dakotans will see a crime wave the likes of which has not been seen since the Reagan '80s unleashed upon their holy state. This is small solace indeed, but in dark times like this, I'll take it.
Josh Hanson
CAN DRUG LAWSBE TO BLAME?
TO THE EDITOR: For weeks I have been searching the local papers, including The Stranger, looking for an answer to a nagging question: Why did a Montana judge return Kyle Huff's confiscated shotgun and pistol to him?
Given that the firearms in question were later used to commit mass murder, I was hoping that someone had a different explanation than mine—one that would exonerate the criminal-justice system, because to this former probation officer, that fatal restoration looks like one more unintended consequence of the war on drugs.
There is space in our criminal courts for only 4 or 5 of every 100 cases filed. As a result, prosecutors and judges are forced to play "let's make a deal." The sheer volume of drug cases, and the nonnegotiable status of many of them, makes the need to barter with other defendants intense. Too often, criminals who have committed violent felonies are encouraged to "plead down" to misdemeanors. Kyle Huff being allowed to do so, and then having his guns returned, shows where such bargaining can lead.
Matt McCally
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
MORE PROPS FOR'BLEAK HOUSE'
CHRISTOPHER FRIZZELLE: Kudos for your opus in the April 6 Stranger ["Bleak House"]. It was an eye-popping journey for a humdrum heterosexual such as myself. But really, it was an excellent job of writing, and the exhaustive research you did about previous owners of Club Z revealed an unexpected story of great pathos regarding Yoshinobu Hasegawa.
John
GOOD LUCK, GUYI both love and hate Christopher Frizzelle for his story on Club Z.
I love Christopher for his story because it was so good. If I had a hard copy of it still, I would insist that all of my friends read it. But I would never actually lend them my copy.
I hate Christopher for his story because right now I would rather be ignorant of Club Z and the existence of such places.
I had to find out for myself. I had to see if he was describing truth or imagining it. Add my curiosity to my confusion over my sexuality...
I had questions that needed answers, and I got them there, but I hate the answers (because they beg more questions) and I hate the methods by which I got them.
For good or ill, the story profoundly changed my life, exposing me to a world in which I don't belong. I have so many more questions now, so many things I need to forgive in myself, so many things I need to accept or change.
Please tell Christopher that he changed somebody's life with his story, and for that I both love him and hate him.
Name Withheld
FROM THE FORUMSPOSTED BY DANDYWARLOCK ON APRIL 13: That this article ["Pander to the Kids," Bryan Keplesky, April 13] uses the author's limited exposure to music and taste (guaranteed he's under 25) to hit others over the head with lame cynicism or some hipness hierarchy is depressing. Isn't that beside the point of music?
Note to Stranger staff and Bryan Keplesky: You are not hipper than your readers. Exactly the opposite is true. Entertain us, sure, but try to avoid social tyranny. It only underscores your paper's (and Seattle's) provincialism and collective insecurity.
