LETTERS

Vance in His Pants
Bravo, Calhoun! Your October 19 column about Vance Johnson, "Who's Sorry Now?," was right on target. Funny, too. Adios, amigo.

Joe Harris
Denver

I was appalled by Patricia Calhoun's attack on Vance Johnson. Here is a man who admitted his mistakes and is trying to make up for them--and that is not good enough for Miss Calhoun. Talk about hitting a man when he is down!

Doris Swanson
Aurora

Calhoun's comparison of the Three Amigos and Denver International Airport was amusing but not strictly accurate. The Three Amigos posed in tight pants. DIA caught Denver with its pants down.

Joe Perez
Arvada

Eagle Scout
Thanks for Steve Jackson's article "Sacred Ground," in the October 19 issue. I am so relieved to know that there are still people out there like Kenny Frost who are interested in preserving their heritage while remaining true to their cause. I think his work and involvement will prove to be beneficial regarding preservation and violations of sacred lands. I applaud him for disproving these "new-agers" who buy their own version of Native American spirituality and capitalize on a culture they have no business intruding upon. I admire Kenny Frost for upholding the knowledge of his heritage and maintaining close ties to the old ways. This article is one for the old scrapbook. Thanks.

Christian Saros
Denver

To my way of thinking, Steve Jackson's story about archaeologist Kenny Frost is the best article I have ever read in Westword. Here we have a genuine person, not a "wannabe" blaming society for various predicaments. This is a man whose accomplishments have been achieved on his own merit. Here we have a man of character. I wouldn't walk across the street to meet an O.J. Simpson, but I would hike a fur piece up the mountains to make the acquaintance of Kenny Frost and watch one of his eagles materialize in the sky. I would like someday to have a conversation with Mr. Frost about my summer (1950) of working in the White River National Forest before they clobbered up Vail Pass and the Eagle Valley with development.

Perhaps a day will come that we will meet in the pool at Glenwood and do just that. I hope so.

Carroll Newberry
Denver

Anytime you walk up or into any area in the mountains, the eagles and other large raptors in that area will fly over to check you out. The only persons who find this unusual don't spend much time in the hills. If you call to the ravens, they may call back and perform an air dance for you, or at least a roll. And yes, cave mouths draw air. These are wondrous and beautiful things anyone can behold.

Traditionally, one wears special animal parts or uses animal parts in a ceremony only if that animal has been killed bravely, face to face. The power of that wearing or use is centered in the story of events leading up to that animal's death and the detail of the killing of that beast spirit. The power is in the telling of the story. Eagles could only be had by deception, and it is considered cowardly to kill an animal that way. To kill an eagle with a gun is considered unspeakable, the death of the spirit of tradition and the murder of the spirit beast. Thus, traditionally, feathers were removed and the eagle released. I would like to hear from Kenny Frost the story of the wing he holds.

W.W. Spain
Boulder

Spruce Bruce
Enough is enough! I did not think Westword could go lower than Eric Dexheimer's "Bruce's Generous Pals," in the September 28 issue, which was very unfair to Bruce Benson. (When will we see a similar story about Governor Romer's "pals"?) But then I saw Kenny Be's October 12 cartoon about "Bruce Benson's Magic Bus," which was just trash, pure and simple. (I am not holding my breath waiting for Mr. Be to do a cartoon about "Roy Romer's Super Troopers."

After the sort of attention Benson has received from the media--especially Westword--it is no wonder he is discouraged about getting fair treatment. (Apparently the only way he can get his message across is to buy an ad--I noticed a big one in last week's Westword).

Jill Sanders
Denver

Benson's outburst of anger and scolding at Channel 9 and the news media for exposing his adultery and thus, he said, embarrassing his original wife and present wife, Marcy (who deserves to be embarrassed), was misdirected. Benson was adulterous but does not accept responsibility for creating a nasty divorce and then having the divorce proceeding sealed from the public--an unusual act.

Benson seems to be unable to discipline himself, maintain mature self-control, have good moral judgment or accept responsibility for the damage he created. He has a history of denying or accusing others of distorting his words and actions even though they were witnessed or taped. Another example of evading responsibility.

His Eastern political advisors say he canceled the scheduled debates because he cannot communicate. Strange--he made it very clear that he easily made and replaced the millions he spent on himself and his girlfriend prior to his divorce. It reminds one of a rich kid who takes his ball and bat and goes home because he is losing the ball game. Family values to him seem to mean a family's monetary value.