Letters for October 9, 2003

Having just read Bill Hamma’s piece, I was struck silent by the level of anger demonstrated in his vituperative little opus. I can only hope he wrote what he wrote for the shock value. If not, I have a suggestion, Hamma; seek professional help. I get the impression you’re just a tick away from going postal.

Robert Kern
Reno

Watcha gonna do?
Re “Starring Reno,” [RN&R, Arts & culture, Oct. 2]:

There were two things regarding Rory Dowd’s article on RENO 911!. First, the point about the show’s sketchy take on reality isn’t really relevant, because it’s a spoof of Cops, reality shows in general and Reno itself. Satire and spoof don’t ape all aspects of reality perfectly, just certain ones. (During the seven years I lived in Reno, I was struck by the trailer-park ambiance, lowest-common-denominator mentality, and less-than-stellar policing. The show pokes fun at those well.)

Also, I’m not surprised that some locals find the show stupid (it often is) or offensive (I commend it for that), but let’s face it—despite the boosterism, Reno’s not a garden spot to most Americans, especially those with higher expectations of what a city should be. (In a reversal of the Air Force’s recruiting slogan, I always thought Reno’s motto should be “Aim low” instead of “I love it here.") If anything, those offended locals should revel in the city’s status as America’s trailer park—doesn’t it already, really?

Lance Bernard
Minneapolis, formerly Reno

Reviewer of low character
Re “Trinity of chow,” [RN&R, Foodfinds, Sept. 25]:

In his recent food review, Brad Bynum [who I accompanied during his meal] attacks my taste because I opted to sample a couple french fries after I had finished my Chinese entrée. In my defense, allow me to put Bynum’s own character into context. One needs only to look as far as two paragraphs to the north of his allegations about my “unrefined” palate to see that Bynum, refined connoisseur of international cuisine that he is, refers to himself unabashedly as “The Human Garbage Disposal.” All libelous mudslinging aside, is it really my taste that deserves to be called into question here?

Mark Dunagan
Reno

Treat chickens better
Re “Fast food,” [RN&R, News, Sept. 25]:

Thank you for telling concerned readers about People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ protest at KFC. People need to understand that if they’re eating chicken, they’re supporting cruelty to animals, and if they’re eating at KFC, they’re supporting a company that has done nothing to prevent some of the worst abuses of chickens.

PETA has disturbing undercover video, on KentuckyFriedCruelty.com, showing factory farmers cramming thousands of chickens in filthy, windowless sheds, searing the beaks off newborn baby chicks, slamming these gentle, intelligent birds in crates, breaking their wings and legs and more.

The best way to help these animals is to go vegetarian, but no matter how one feels about eating meat, decent people will agree that, at a minimum, animals should not be grossly mistreated. If KFC would take a few basic steps to eliminate the worst abuses of chickens, it would mean a world of difference to the animals.

Heather Moore
via e-mail

Freedom from speech
Re “Don’t call us,” [RN&R, Editorial, Sept. 4]:

The charge that the National No-Call List is an infringement of the telemarketers’ First Amendment right of free speech is absurd. This is about American citizens standing up to big business and demanding to be freed of the harassment of unrelenting phone peddling, so that their paid-for-lines are left open for legitimate calls.

It’s the same thing if proud Democrats, who refuse to tune their radios to Rush’s Republican rabblerousing, were accosted of violating Limbaugh’s freedom of speech. Of course, Attorney General John Ashcroft would most likely go along and include listening to this daily diatribe as a requirement in the next Patriot Act.

How can a listener’s choice to walk away and not listen to a speaker’s speech be construed as violating the speaker’s freedom of speech? No one is duct taping the speaker’s mouth and carrying him off the podium. He is still blabbing away. The telemarketers still have the freedom to spin their spiel by phone to those who expressed their willingness to listen by not registering their numbers in the National No-Call List.

Dan Merica
via e-mail