Letters for August 7, 2003

I would like to respond to some misunderstandings in B. Lilly’s letter. First, I would like to clarify that I was never discourteous to my high school art teacher, and she was never discourteous to me. I have heard several comments suggesting she was oppressive or I was harsh, and neither statement is true.

Second as to my “altered consciousness,” it is a consideration not of the New Age but rather medical. The stimulant on which I overdosed may have raised my dopamine levels. Several stimulants are known to do this, and the effects are heightened creativity and creative focus. The altered consciousness could be characterized as brain injury or damage.

As to other suggestions that have appeared such as “jealousy” and fear over other artists, I would suggest neither should be applied to me and are perhaps knee-jerk responses. Perhaps greater reason and fewer hurt feelings may help when considering my commentary. I think it is conspicuous that the commentary concerning “bad art” has been suggested as forms of self-promotion or aggrandizement. I have not suggested in any way where real art may be, where one should properly look or who should be praised. I have not insinuated myself or any favorite artists. I said several things are not art. I would like to suggest people think more clearly and with greater subtlety before responding to my suggestions of art. This is not the everyday art debate. Yes, there is room for all artists. It’s a pity we are all shadows of artists, so denied room.

Paul Mellender
via e-mail

Point made
Re “A sort of happy ending” [RN&R, View from the fray, July 31]:

ok….

I used to pick up your rag just to get a laugh out of the dj/columnist dude there in the back next to the porn. Lately I’ve begun to read the other shit and have grown quite fond of the pike chick and her prattle.

But I think she went a little over the top this time.

jeez…..man, I m like all looking forward to reading her latest musings on those fucking republicans and I get a haiku to a couple of morons .

welll…..whoopdefuckingdo….!!!! who fuckin cares??!!

richard…(you can call me dick)…..huge
via e-mail

Editor’s interpretation:

I’ve always enjoyed your newspaper, particularly your columnist Bruce Van Dyke near the adult advertisements in the classifieds section. I’ve also begun to look forward to news editor Deidre Pike’s column, View from the fray.

Still, I was somewhat taken aback when instead of castigating the Republicans who stonewalled passage of a tax bill to fund the next two years of Nevada government, she chose to lyrically congratulate the gentleman who finally compromised and passed a bill.

I must say, I find her view difficult to justify, as I don’t believe it was relevant to the bigger picture of Nevada politics.

Name withheld
via e-mail

Wish you’d been there
Here’s a follow-up question that needed to be asked of General Tommy Franks at his recent farewell news conference.

“General Franks, if we’ve got 600 of them detained indefinitely in Guantanomo and they have 150,000 of us detained indefinitely in Iraq, how can you say we’ve won?

Dan Argabright
Reno

War lies
The British newspaper, the Guardian, reported on Aug. 4 that at least 827 Americans have been wounded in Iraq, about half of them after Bush’s “triumphant appearance on the carrier.” Many of the injuries include lost limbs.

But the unofficial count is much higher. Lt.Colonel DeLane, in charge of airlifts of wounded from Iraq at Andrews Air Force Base, says he has counted 4,000 wounded, and the numbers increase daily. The Naval medical center at Bethesda receives almost daily deliveries of injured marines.

The total reported death toll at this time, including suicides, is 248. Why are our troops still being shot? Why are Bush and Rumsfeld hiding the numbers of wounded and killed from us?

In view of the many exaggerations and lies used by our administration to frighten Congress and the American people into approving this invasion and the fact that we are not wanted, we should leave the Iraqis with their oil and go home! Or are our boys dying to protect Haliburton and Bechtel profits?

Angela Bradshaw
via e-mail