Letters

From You

originally published April 7, 2004

OUTRAGEOUS INCEST
On Wednesday, March 25, George W. Bush attended the annual Radio and Television Correspondents' dinner, where the well-paid, out-of-touch members of Washington society get together to tell themselves how wonderful they are. Mr. Bush used the occasion to joke about not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq with a slide show showing pictures of him searching the Oval Office.
It's bad enough that the event itself showcases how incestuous Washington, DC has become: the cozy relationship between the media, the politicians, the lobbyists and the corporations they represent. But when a sitting President uses American soldiers as a photo-op and a shield against accountability, and almost in the same breath mocks the very reason they are risking their lives to begin with, is disgraceful. And to have the press, the people who are supposed to keep us informed about what our government and business leaders are doing, laugh along with the joke while those soldiers are still in danger, well, there are no words to express the outrage.
I am not a particularly religious man. I do not believe in supernatural retribution for sins on such a massive scale. But what is happening in Washington simply cannot be allowed to continue. There is a seething anger in this country, an anger almost no one in the Washington establishment is aware of or even cares about, being filled with their own ambitions and unconcerned as they are with the lot of the unwashed masses. It's an anger that's greater than the phony outrages generated by radio talk-show hosts. It's the kind of anger that, once unleashed, cannot be controlled, an anger that makes the kind of history that people will remember for thousands of years.
There is still a chance to prevent this. The American people are a forgiving people and would be willing to overlook the temporary insanity that has taken control of our political, corporate and media establishments. A good start would be putting an end to these dinners once and for all. But, being caught up as they are in their insulated little world, I doubt they will hear anything we have to say until it's too late.
Joseph Vecchio
Decatur

ALTERNATIVE?
Two sections in your current issue perturbed me. Though a publication that proudly proclaims itself as representing Athens, you seem instead to be representing the selective and exclusory yet dominant views of our country in regards to both race and religion.
In Chris Hassiotis' review of South by Southwest, he insularly classifies "faux NYC indie rock poodles with their production line 'hott'ness (strutting) the tired signifiers of the predictably hip (i.e. dual colored hair, off one shoulder sweaters, being half Asian)."
As an inveterate observer and participant in the fashion, music and the arts culture, I too become annoyed at "trends." I struggle with my inward fashion cop, longing to pass out citations to those sporting unfortunate dye jobs and awkward clothing, to convey to them that when everyone is sporting the current trend, it has the effect of diminishing one's individuality.
However, your cavalier inclusion of "half-Asians" in the aforementioned category struck me as not only insensitive, but as perpetuating sorely misunderstood stereotypes. One's race is not chosen; therefore it is absurd (and demeaning) to classify such as a mere fad. To do such reflects a limited worldview. Did you ever consider that the above average representation of individuals of Asian-American descent in the arts industry might possibly reflect a sensitivity resulting from being a product of two cultures, of being American by birth, yet perceived as an outsider by appearance?
Such slurs trivialize the struggles and the accomplishments of Americans not of European ancestry. To put it basely, your unthinking jests immortalize such base ideals as "if you ain't white, you ain't right."
Secondly, especially in light of this issue's letter protesting Patrick Franklin's ethnocentric and "self-righteous" review of the Passion of the Christ, I thought it exceedingly insensitive that you reprinted said blurb in Movie Dope verbatim! Yes, we are located smack in the Bible Belt where the majority of us (though some may deny it) were exposed to a fundamentalist literal translation of the Bible, and therefore believe that Mel Gibson's representation of Christ's death is accurate. However, such a view is not only provincial and ethnocentric, but not Bible based, because if one actually perused the Ten Commandments (moral guidelines shared by not only Christians, but Jews and Muslims, located in the Old Testament), one would recognize that said movie is in direct violation of the second Commandment, in which God (AKA Jesus' dad) stated, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:4-6).
I believe a movie representing God's son can be classified as graven. Maybe my views are fallacies of my interpretation. I wish that some pastor would address the seeming disconnection between the Passion and the Ten Commandments.
As for Christianity's beauty celebrating "love and kindness in the face of savagery, etc." since when was the Movie Dope ordained to lead Athens multi-cultural flock? Such sentiment is dangerous in these polarized times, where innocent (often indigent) Americans, Iraqis, Afghanis, etc. are being both massacred and mutilated under the banner of God's righteousness, which hideously is tied to corporate interests.
As a publication proudly proclaiming to be the Colorbearer of Athens Arts and Entertainment, please decide what part of Athens you are representing, or if you are representing Athens as a whole. Are you seeking to emulate a dying monoculture that is currently dividing the globe into factions (seemingly hell-bent on causing its Apocalypse), or are you representing the arts, entertainment and culture, which historically has been driven by social change and attempting to expose one's mind to alternative views?
D.S.
Athens

GLBT SCORECARD
The debate for the right to represent Democrats in the race for the 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives was incredible: Haines, Cortellino and Center all came OUT in favor of same-sex marriage.
And, Barrow, a vote for John Barrow is a vote against all glbt people.
Chad A. Munsey
Athens

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