RIGHTS IS RIGHTS

I am writing in response to Bryan Sorohan's letter ["The Wrong Battle," Jan. 29].

Mr. Sorohan stated that the Flagpole was wrong for defending the first amendment rights of DJ Hammond.

The case involved a police officer telling a local music club to take down fliers that he found offensive. Mind you these were not fliers that fit within any legal definition of pornography, yet this officer of the law used his power to coerce a business owner to remove them. Well, I am sorry Mr. Sorohan but that act was illegal and violated that individual's first amendment rights. No matter how offensive this thing was to the officer it did not fit the legal guidelines for pornography and, therefore, this officer of the law had no grounds to use his power to force its removal.

The first amendment is in place to protect those in the minority from the oppression of those in the majority. So whether it be a speech, a song or a flier hung in public, this individual's first amendment rights protect him from you or this officer's individual morals.

The first amendment cannot be applied in a selective fashion. If we chose to throw out the Bill of Rights when they are applied to things we find disagreeable those rights may not be there when we need them applied. As the saying goes, "I may not agree with what he says, but I will die for his right to say it."

Sean Gillan

Athens

BOYS CLUB

The conspicuous absence of any women from your list of Athens-Clarke County government department directors in the "Lucky 13" segment last week ["Reddish Renewed," Jan. 15] is very interesting. Is it that we have no female representation at this level or that Manager Reddish did not see fit to include them in his largesse?

This community obviously trusts women enough to elect a female mayor (twice); what is the problem with letting them also help manage?

Just curious.

Pat M.

Athens

DEVELOPMENTALLY CHALLENGED

As an Athens resident who lives right off of Barnett Shoals Road, I'm appalled that Flagpole, a very good publication, has chosen to blatantly ignore some of the major problems with the viewpoint presented [Editor's Notes, Jan. 29].

I could go on and on, but my main gripe is with the picture you published. Not only is this a blatant rip off of the Beatles' Abbey Road album cover, but it features a bicyclist riding in the road.

Bicycles should be ridden on the sidewalks, not on roads designated for automobiles. You wouldn't let a seven-year-old child ride a bicycle on the road, why should anyone else ride on it? I realize there are many developmentally challenged people in Athens who just love to dress in very atrocious Spandex and clog the roads, virtually shouting, "Hit me with an SUV!" However, this is not an acceptable practice and it should be stopped.

Any widening of Barnett Shoals Road should include adequate sidewalks for bicycle riding. Also, Mr. City Dope should concentrate on referring to himself in the third person and not waste time on actually trying to publish articles.

Croc_HunterDM

Athens

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I want to start out by saying that I'm a big fan of your newspaper and I read every edition from front to back each and every time it hits the newsstands. I have never written a letter to the magazine before, because I have never seen a reason for doing so. But after reading the article by John Knight about Mother Jackson ["Coming Up," Jan. 22], I thought I would.

In the article it says that Nathan Allen is the son of Velvet Underground drummer Moe Tucker. This is not true. Richard Mikulka is her son. I would normally not say anything about a typo, but since Mr. Mikulka is a life-long friend and was only mentioned once in the article I think that you should be made aware of the error. I would have emailed John Knight directly but he did not include his email with the article.

Also, this week's edition is labeled Jan. 22, 2002, Vol. 17 No. 3. Last time I looked it was 2003.

Thanks for taking the time to read my letter.

Chris West

Email

LAURA CARTER

I know this is a bit of delayed reaction, but not only do I live in Europe, I have also had to take time to process this. Laura Carter's death was a terrible thing. I have to put it into these minimalist words because I can't do any better. I am actually a writer by trade and this is something that leaves me speechless, wordless. So I mean that this event had really had an affect on me.

I lived in Athens for eight years, from '87-'95, and I was only a casual acquaintance of Laura's, but the point is that she made such an impression that I am writing years and years later because I can't fathom her demise. I lost touch with her when I moved away and I have to say we didn't exactly keep in touch. But to hear of her death ... Jesus Christ.

What I wanted to say was that with Laura's demise, a big piece of Athens has been lost. I know all of you old-schoolers know that, but the new ones do not. I don't mean to be too serious here, but I am truly shaken, although her death happened over a month ago.

God save us all if the most important topics now are that which they are.

MMHeide

Germany