Propaganda
I always look forward to reading Matt Brunson’s movie reviews, not because of any astute film criticism, mind you, but because I can’t wait to see how he will manage to shoehorn his political views into the review. I can always rely on Matt to tell me that he thinks George W. Bush is the devil in his review of The Heffalump Movie, or that this administration is evil incarnate somewhere in his critique of Big Momma’s House.
Matt, while it’s admirable to be passionate about your opinions, it’s equally important to be professional. Try and remember that the next time you feel compelled to work in an anti-Bush rant in your review of, say, Weekend at Bernie’s 3. I produce videos for a living, but I can assure you that I have never edited a shot into a project that says Matt Brunson is a putz, no matter how strongly I feel that to be the case. There is a proper forum for political discourse, but it’s not in your review of the next Rugrats movie.
— Kevin Dennis, Charlotte
Brunson replies: Apparently, Mr. Dennis is unfamiliar with the tenets of alternative newsweeklies, whose writers are allowed — expected, even — to move beyond the parameters of their respective beats and offer commentary on the world at large. Just take a look at (to name but two) LA Weekly and the Village Voice, whose film critics have been so brutal they almost make me look like a Bush apologist by comparison. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to contemplate the manner in which the new Poseidon is really a thinly disguised look at this administration’s sinking policies in the Middle East.
Irresponsible
I took issue with Tara Servatius’ idea of using land mines along the US and Mexican borders (“Give Newcomers Real Rights,” May 3). Since 1975 land mines have exploded under more than 1 million people and are currently thought to be killing 800 people a month (UNICEF). I also want to add that Tara makes the statement “that we could do all of this for about what we spend in six months defending the borders in Afghanistan.” What Tara missed is that Afghanistan is one of the most devastated countries due to land mines. It has 10-15 million mines in place (UNICEF). Land mines can cost $3 to make and $1,000 to remove. Some look like stones, others look like butterflies.
That point being made, I had another issue with Tara’s boarder concept. When most of the advocates of land mines seem to lurk on White Power Web sites and you read Tara’s views, they are exactly the same. I am at a loss. I am a conservative Republican and have spent a lot of time photographing both pro-immigration rallies here in Charlotte. I admit there is a problem with the borders and immigration, but the thought of one of the children having their leg blown off because they didn’t or couldn’t read a sign makes me sick, and Tara must have been possessed by Hitler while writing this article. Good job, Tara.
— Jonathan Jones, Charlotte
Servatius replies: I wasn’t seriously suggesting we mine the borders and maim children. My point was that if the US really wanted to stop people from illegally crossing the border, it could.
Reverse Racism?
In regard to “What is a Hate Crime?” (April 26) by Tara Servatius, I would like to first commend her for her consistently unbiased, “present the facts” and well-researched articles, which I always excitedly turn to every issue of Creative Loafing. One thing I would add and point out is that the alleged perpetrators are not Southerners. This is a very relevant fact in light of the fact that the South continues to be the scapegoat for all the racial evils of America. It just goes to show that crimes with a racial slant are not always so “black and white” (no pun intended). And I agree that hate crimes of “reverse racism” are under-reported.
A case in point: My first cousin (we are both of Caucasan background) who had been attending college in Savannah, GA, was shot in the back and raped by an unknown black man. The crime was not in the news in Savannah, and to this day the man has never been apprehended. (The doctors were able to remove the bullet without her being paralyzed, and she is mostly OK after a few years of therapy.)
And one more thing, a stripper working for an escort service should not expect that she will be treated like a lady. Granted, no one has a right to touch anyone else unless invited to do so, nor should anyone expect to have any prerogatives just because their parents made a certain income, they grew up in a particular neighborhood or are fortunate enough to attend one of the most prestigious schools of the South in America.
— Richard I. Sisson, Charlotte
This article appears in May 10-16, 2006.
