REAL SOLUTIONS

No doubt many of the panhandlers downtown are in dire financial need. Nevertheless, their system of asking individual shoppers and strollers for money is a distraction at best and a threat at worst. Would-be shoppers may avoid downtown, anticipating a confrontation that could result in conflict if they do not comply with panhandlers' requests.

If a person is asking strangers for money, we can make the optimistic assumption that he or she really does not have the money to buy food, retain housing, or purchase medicine. Yet, when someone who is hungry is faced with two choices - stand downtown for six hours a day to gain perhaps five dollars, or walk four blocks to Our Daily Bread on Oconee Street for a free lunch, which option makes more sense?

Outreach centers in Athens provide abundant services to the area's homeless, and centers work in conjunction with one another to address the myriad of obstacles the homeless face - lack of shelter, mental illness, loss of income, insufficient job or life skills, drug or alcohol addiction. No amount of "hand-out" money could solve the issues surrounding homelessness, if not paired with professional guidance and care.

Certainly, Athens residents ought to demonstrate concern for homeless persons. Why not then donate to local service providers, or volunteer to hand out fliers downtown that detail the plentiful resources available? The opportunities, and the need for skilled help, in the pursuit to ameliorate homelessness abound.

Downtown business owners should be lauded for encouraging real solutions to a persistent problem. To be fair to them, they should not be expected to endure the deterrent of panhandlers to their businesses, lest they give up in frustration and relocate to detested strip malls.

Marie Carmody

Athens

THE WRONG BATTLE

In these dark days of Ashcroft one thing that those of us who value free speech do not need is someone like DJ Hammond taking the First Amendment in vain trying to defend a clearly inappropriate flyer, or the Flagpole defending him ["XXX Hardasses?," Jan. 15]. You printed the thing, did you not look at it? It may be inside the bounds of the letter of the law by a baby hair, but it is clearly the sort of thing that many, many people would find patently offensive if posted in public, not to mention the potential harm to children who might see it. I don't have any qualm about seeing it in a private business or club, but Lieutenant Epps of the ACC Police is absolutely correct to ask that it be removed from public.

Come on, guys, the right-wingers just LOVE to point to that sort of thing and bleat about liberals destroying the moral fiber of our country. We're going to need all the credibility we can get speaking out against the upcoming oil war. Freedom of speech should be evoked responsibly to defend actual political or artistic expression, not whined about when a disgusting flyer for a commercial money-making show gets the kibosh.

Bryan P. Sorohan

Athens

JUST THE FACTS

Athens has come to rely on the Flagpole for "the rest of the story" of local news coverage. But, please just give us the facts, and "hold the vinegar" as suggested by Terrell Austin [Letters, Jan. 22]. I believe you have a fairly intelligent, liberal and faithful readership. Your impact for years has been invaluable in keeping us informed. But the vitriolic personal mudslinging will, in my opinion, diminish your ultimate effectiveness in trying to keep as many people faithfully reading and/or believing The Flagpole.

Angela Meltzer

Athens

JUST THE TRUTH

In response to the "Hold the Vinegar" letter by Mrs. Austin. Brad, it may help not to tell the truth. Then people will like you more. But I hope you keep telling it like it is.

Lena Grace

Athens

GESTAPO GAMES

What answer does George W. Bush and the Republicans have for a dismal economic performance, environmental pillaging, failing schools, a dysfunctional health insurance system, corporate greed, drug company price gouging, antiquated mental health programs?

Attack Iraq!

If you read any history of that time, you will read that Hitler and the Nazis sought to provoke Poland into giving Hitler and the Nazis a reason for attacking. When nothing was forthcoming, Hitler and the Nazis faked or manufactured an excuse. What chicanery might Bush and the Republicans use?

Also, has there been much mention that an attack upon Iraq would be done as a favor to the Israelis? Rather than have Israeli men and women chance dying in a supposed confrontation, the Bushites will send in American men and women to risk their lives. After all, the Israeli troops must be kept at optimum strength so they can continue to oppress/repress the Palestinians.

And, of course, devout Jews do not want to be involved in desecrating the burial land of Ezra, Daniel and Ezekiel.

In addition, commensurate with the so-called war on terrorism, the administration's suspension of constitutional law, and invoking of military tribunals, whereby people are imprisoned without charges and without legal counsel, is the same ploy that Hitler and the Nazis used to put people into concentration camps.

Perhaps you will recognize/realize that I cannot give my real name/actual address lest the CIA/FBI (Gestapo) come knocking on my door.

Abdul Hashemi

Somewhere East of Suez

GREEDY SELLOUTS?

Is this a sick joke? Where is Brad Aaron when the ad plebes are searching for $$$? How can you justify selling a half page ad to the same development you have railed against for months??? You denounce the treatment of the residents of Garden Springs Mobile Home Park, decry the ravages of the developers and then SELL OUT by publishing a half page ad for the Campus Lodge, "The Absolute Best in Student Living"???? Please explain.

It appears as if you, The Flagpole, are no better than the greedy, overbuilding developers from whom we thought you were striving to save Athens! I am saddened and appalled.

Jane Boyd

Athens

WAITIN' ON A FRIEND

I need your help finding a homeless man named David Quam. I recently submitted his email address to a lottery-type drawing for two free tickets to a Rolling Stones concert in Los Angeles on Feb. 6th and he won. I have not heard from him since Dec. 27th and need help finding him. He is living on the street somewhere in Athens. PLEASE HELP as this could be the time of his life!

Sharon Shell

Milwaukee, WI



THANKS

To all Flagpole readers:

Back around Thanksgiving, as some of you know, my apartment burned and my car was stolen. But due to a lot of help from Faith and friends, I am now pretty much back on my feet. Living in a log cabin in the woods, with an old friend. This letter is my way of saying thanks to a lot of people.

In case you haven't heard I found my car only a few days later. There is a God. Yes, Faith and friends got me through.

Thanks to all, especially the Red Cross.

Mike Copas

Athens

A FEW DEEP BREATHS

I just wanted to respond to Ross Tice's complaint about the "rude girl" incident at Starbucks [Letters, Jan. 8]. Marketing studies have shown that when a Starbucks moves into a neighborhood, business at the nearest independently owned coffee shop increases. It is a kind of economic phenomenon, if you will. Mr. Tice's outrage at the comment of this person illustrates the kind of strange allegiance people have to corporate businesses that don't give a damn about them.

It seems, given his argument, that the biggest offense was that this woman did not "insult" Mr. Tice to his face, but I would argue that she did indeed as she was obviously addressing the entire crowd and, since he was a part of the crowd, by default was also addressing him. The fact that she was not talking directly TO him is of no consequence. The only way this offense was committed is if he (egotistically) believes that she intended her comment for ONLY him.

His second inconsistency is in building a defense on the fact that he "usually" goes to Blue Sky, but will patronize Starbucks if Blue Sky is busy. Does he or does he not identify with the "stupid Starbucks people"? If he really wanted to defend the "stupid Starbucks people" then why does he vehemently deny being one - instead of showing some kind of solidarity with them, offering an excuse as to why he was at Starbucks in the first place? Sounds like capitalist guilt to me.

His third fallacy is by berating this woman for making assumptions in the same sentence that he makes assumptions about her saying that she probably hates sorority girls and doesn't work hard for a living. This is a weak attempt to discredit the woman, but it ends up discrediting Mr. Tice.

Lastly, if Mr. Tice was so offended, why did he not respond right away rather than waiting for a "witty" response to come to him, which really isn't so witty at all since it's an over-used, over-blown, humorless joke that any frat boy (whom he seems to detest) would use. My advice to Mr. Tice is to take a course or two in logic and critical thought. I'm sure any philosophy professor at UGA would be thrilled for him to audit her or his class. In the meantime, a few deep breaths may do you some good before you pick up a pen to write a letter to the editor. Peace.

Sassy Lee

Atlanta