Pushing Good Taste?
I’m all for freedom of speech, and I don’t even think a pretense of impartiality is warranted when the publishers of a periodical believe certain views and want everyone who reads their periodical to know and believe their views as well. When the Republicans want to publish a free magazine they are free to say whatever they want. Such is the beauty of our country. What gives the man the right to publish their views gives another man the same right to ignore it and disregard it. But c’mon, having a cartoon (“Photo-Op,” September 11) that has our president doing nothing but playing golf while all the sympathetic people (i.e., Democrats) are hurting from 9-11 and having Sheriff Ashcroft interning children in Cuba for interrupting Bush’s golf game? Isn’t that pushing good taste just a little?
–Gary Quinn, Charlotte
Regular Folks Aren’t Being Served
Having read your paper since its Charlotte debut, I must say that your cover piece “Photo-Op” was one of the best I’ve seen y’all put out in a long time. After years of disgust at your narcissistic, whiney columnists, I feel this captured what I think is really the heart of Shrubya’s policymaking formulas. The American public should know whose interests and needs really are being served. And it ain’t the regular folks. Hopefully this is a sign you are returning to your independent roots, and not just catering to the nuevo-hip anymore. Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?
–Richard Bilger, Charlotte
Listen Before You Leap
Mr. Kirsch, (Letters, “Earl Makes Him Hurl,” September 11) if you’d never heard of Steve Earle or heard any of his music before Don Hazen’s article, how can you have any idea what kind of artist Steve Earle is or what his motivations are as a writer? Do you presume that all artists you know nothing about would only do something to be “taboo” or “controversial,” no depth or sincerity, only a gimmick to sell records? You obviously only take popular, big-selling artists seriously (a reasoning I can’t understand at all) since it was the first thing you pointed to in your letter. Maybe you’re right, maybe the guy’s a total sell-out hack. But don’t you think you should at least give a listen or two to some Earle tunes before dismissing him?
–Michael McDonald, Mooresville
Music May Surprise You
Just a quick note to respond to Mr. Kirsch’s letter re: Steve Earle. The old adage concerning speaking up and removing all doubt seems to be in force with him. As a long time fan of both Steve Earle and Bruce, I find it rather interesting that Steve is the only one that has the stones to actually voice an opinion that isn’t very popular or PC these days. But to say that Earle is doing this to sell CDs is totally off-base, and shows that Mr. Kirsch obviously has not listened to much else other than FM-spoon fed crap for the last couple of decades. Steve’s music has always been about taking chances and making you (shudder!) actually think for yourself.
Oh, by the way, Mr. Kirsch — perhaps you should actually listen to some of Steve Earle’s music one day. It just might surprise you.
–Rick Shrader, Concord
Don’t Make Assumptions
Mr. Kirsch claims to know the motivation behind Steve Earle’s release of the song “John Walker’s Blues.”
He expresses his knowledge that Mr. Earle is using this as “a publicity stunt” in order to sell more CDs. He dismisses any other possible intent. He goes on to criticize Mr. Earle because he “sold out by being controversial for the sake of being controversial, not for the sake of speaking his mind.” Interesting how Mr. Kirsch can make such astute assumptions about Mr. Earle’s motivations and his use of controversy. He readily admits that he had never heard of Steve Earle prior to reading the article.
If we allow our pain, our anger and our fear to cause us to be less tolerant and accepting of other opinions or points of view then we have already lost. If we take 9/11 to be an excuse to be more reactionary, to flex our military muscle as the only way to respond, rather than working harder to find ways to open doors of communication and to assure justice for everyone, then we are just adding more crap to the garden to grow more hatred and terrorists.
–Clarence Boshamer, Gastonia
Food Finds
Just looked at your “Best Of” issue (Sept-ember 18) on the Internet, and what struck me the most was the food section. Judging from the various selections — Katz’s Deli? Manila clams? Cuban? South Indian? — it’s clear that I left Charlotte at the wrong time. I’m betting the food there is every bit as good as it is here in pricey L.A. — and a hell of a lot easier to get to by car.
Still miss Spoon’s barbecue and Price’s Chicken Coop, though. My soul for a 1/2 chicken dinner from the Coop…
–Vance Cariaga, Los Angeles
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This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2002.
