Michael Kinsley is People, Too!
To the Editor: I understand why you might suggest that Michael Kinsley
has no influence now that he has moved to Slate, but I can’t believe you
suggest that no one reads The New Republic [“The 37 Least Powerful People
In Seattle,” Feb 18]. Perhaps none of your staff or friends read TNR, but
a lot of powerful people in this country do. It might do you some good to join
them.One recent example of the influence that TNR has is the recent
firing and rehiring of David Howard, a Washington, D.C. city employee who used
the word “niggardly” in a conversation with a black co-worker. After resigning
under pressure from Mayor Anthony Williams, the editors of TNR wrote an
editorial that both explained the etymology of the offending word and pointed
out the mistake that was being made by forcing Howard’s resignation. Days after
the article appeared the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. city government saw the
foolishness of the action and Howard was asked to reconsider the resignation.
I believe he is now back at work. Had the same editorial appeared in The Stranger I’m sure that D.C. would still be looking for a new head of the District’s Office
of Public Advocate.
By the way, how many of your staff can properly define the word niggardly? 50 percent? I didn’t think so!
Ben Sturgill
Scientists are People, Too!
To the Editor: I happened across your “37 Least Powerful People in Seattle”
piece and saw the bit on Mr. Science. You got his name wrong unless he’s changed
it, and he may not be politically powerful (what real person is?), but he’s
one of the best tube electronics technicians I’ve ever encountered. He built
me a guitar amplifier, his own design, about eight years ago when he had a shop
on Capitol Hill. Musicians are always marveling at the sound of this amp. One
jaded old pro in L.A. said it was “the best amp I ever heard.” A woman running
the sound system at Sweetwater in Mill Valley literally ran up to me and asked
if she could take the amp to have it dismantled and cloned.Is Mr. Science
a “character”? Certainly. So was my grandmother, that’s what made her interesting.
Is the powerful Gary Locke interesting? Slade Gorton? I rest my case.
Name Witheld
Gynecologists are People, Too!
To the Editor: Regarding David Schmader’s response to Lisa Shaftel’s
letter to the editor [Suite 1225, Feb 25], Lisa very eloquently spelled out
to Mr. Schmader that journalists using the terms “abortion doctor” for gynecologist
and “abortion clinic” for family planning clinic, as Schmader did, send a very
inaccurate and harmful message to their readers.The terms “abortion doctor”
and “abortion clinic” were coined by the Right to Life movement as a tool to
help convince society, quite wrongly, that all gynecologists and family planning
clinics do are abortions. And this tool has unfortunately worked quite well.
Well enough, it seems, that even writers who work for liberal newspapers are
duped into using these terms and pissing off readers who spend their time fighting
to protect a woman’s right to choose.
Max Feline
‘Tards are People, Too!
To the Editor: Regarding your review of the film The Other Sister,
I call bullshit on your disclaimer about your use of a “slang” term being commentary
on the movie and director [“Two Looks at ‘Tards,” Feb 18]. Calling someone who
has a developmental disability a “‘tard” or “a retard” is not slang. It is a
derogatory, offensive label.If you have commentary you want to express,
then just make your point. Don’t try to make a joke out of it and pretend like
you had good intentions behind it.
These “‘tards” are people who, like all people, feel pride, sense the reactions and judgments of others, feel embarrassment, and feel shame. I don’t know what stereotype you had in your minds when you published this, but anyone who has had the unfortunate, undeserved circumstances of being called these names all their life probably won’t find your “enlightened sarcasm” very entertaining, informative, or justified.
Just because society’s respect and political correctness has not been instituted for people with mental retardation, does not mean they don’t deserve your sensitivity.
Vicki Lewis
Movie Audiences are People, Too!
To the Editor: In the review of 8mm [Feb 18] I believe Andy Spletzer
forgot some details. Shouldn’t you mention that 8mm is exploiting the
very thing they are supposedly “raising awareness” of? Shouldn’t you mention
the feeling of nausea that formed like a cloud in the theater?Andy Spletzer’s
tangent on how Joel Schumacher is “such a nice guy,” does not make me feel better.
There were things in that film that I had never planned on seeing, and those
images will be cemented in my head forever. 8mm should have a detailed
warning like porn websites.
Kris Avis
Olympians are People, Too!
To the Editor: HAVING SPENT MOST OF THE LAST TWO YEARS IN OLYMPIA, I CAN
SYMPATHIZE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WITH COURTNEY LOVE’S ANATHEMATIZATION OF THE
TOWN [“Courtney Love vs. Everett True,” February 25]. Beyond Courtney’s gift
for hyperbolic overstatement calculated to incite controversy and backlash,
there is truth in her assertion about Olympia being full of elitist manifesto-driven
scenesters. (Don’t quote me on that.) I lived with people who conformed to a
rigid code of behavior and opinion that was as strict and disheartening as anything
I broke away from in “mainstream” society. They were vegan, PC, scornful of
all but independent (preferably local) music, and obsessed with their self-congratulatory
“work” in feeding the poor and promoting their supposed Utopian doctrine of
Anarchist society, which in fact amounted to a bunch of privileged young white
kids holding vapid meetings and debates decrying the wickedness of the police,
and otherwise creating for themselves the illusion that they were investing
their energies in a worthwhile cause. (Meanwhile, they freaked out if one of
their roommates ate their leftover Chinese takeout food.) Unfortunately, being
a non-vegetarian, hopelessly un-politically correct, Sleater-Kinney and Bikini
Kill-bashing anti-cutie-pie pro-talent MALE who occasionally voiced opinions
contrary to theirs, I never quite fit in.
Don’t get me wrong¯this letter is not written out of bitterness. I had
some great times and met some great friends in Olympia. The above holds true
only for a segment of its population. But I can see what Courtney was talking
about. And I think that Hole song making fun of Olympia is damn funny.
Joseph Anthony Schlottman
Tully’s Are Not People, They’re Just Ridiculous
To the Editor: “My-oh-my! It’s a triple grandé no-foam salami!”
Seattle Mariners sign Tully’s Coffee as their newest player.The Seattle
Mariners announced today that they have signed Tully’s Coffee as their official
coffee sponsor. Beginning in July 1999, Tully’s Coffee will be the exclusive
coffee sold at espresso kiosks and food beverage concession stands throughout
SAFECO FIELD.
Tom O’Keefe, Chairman and CEO of Tully’s Coffee, said, “This partnership is a home run for Tully’s; it will increase the company’s national exposure. We may not be the biggest player in the coffee world, but it’s obvious we’re the ones who will take the M’s all the way.”
In honor of the new partnership, during the work week’s “seventh-inning-stretch” from 3-5 p.m., anyone who visits a Tully’s Coffee store and says “Take me out to SAFECO FIELD” will receive a complimentary espresso beverage of their choice.
Chuck Armstrong, President of the Seattle Mariners, said, “Teaming up with Tully’s is a great move for the Mariners. With the new ballpark, new attitude and new coffee, the Mariners are set for an exciting 1999 season.”
Seattle Mariner Jay Buhner expressed his and the other team members’ excitement about Tully’s joining the team. “Now I can enjoy my favorite coffee without having to sneak it into the dugout. I’ll have a ‘Buhner Buzz’ on my head and in my coffee mug.”
[A Buhner Buzz is a mocha with four shots of espresso which was named after Seattle Mariner Jay Buhner, who is recognized for his “buzz” haircut.– eds]
Founded in 1992 by Tom O’Keefe, Tully’s Coffee Corporation is the second largest company-owned specialty coffee retailer in the Seattle area and the third largest in the nation. Tully’s currently has 81 locations in Seattle, San Francisco, Japan, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Tully’s corporate headquarters and roasting facility is located in the former Starbucks headquarters and roasting facility located at 2010 Airport Way South in Seattle. For more information call (800) 96-TULLY or visit Tully’s Internet home page at www.tullys.com.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Tully’s