Letters

Can We Be Frank?
Westword has sunk to a new low with Dewey Webb's "Final Episode" Killer Curse, in the June 4 issue. At last you look like the sleazy tabloid you really are.

Ray Brown
Denver

The connection between the last episode of Seinfeld and the death of Frank Sinatra is obvious. Sinatra watched the final show and was bored to death.

Dixie Darr
Denver

The Rest Is History
Thank you for Harrison Fletcher's article on the Sand Creek Massacre ("Battle Cry," May 28). You spent a great deal of space attempting to condone the actions of U.S. troops against a group of humans who surrendered themselves to the care of the U.S. government. Their trust in that government got them killed (brutally), even while they stood behind the very flag that represented that government.

I can't think of a clearer illustration of what can happen to a people when they surrender their freedoms to a government...even a government that founded itself on protecting those freedoms. We should not, under any circumstances, diminish the important lessons of Sand Creek. It should not be whitewashed (no pun intended) to make it palatable to U.S. citizens. Let's try teaching history as it really happened!

I hope that Mr. Campbell will get more press and support for his bill.
Holly Durkin
via the Internet

Great story by Fletcher! Nice, vivid use of language.
Margaret Dolin
via the Internet

I am responding to Donald Ferry's absurd letter in the June 6 edition of Westword. I've known Dr. Meranto for about three years now, having taken several classes with her, including Native American politics. Though Dr. Meranto and I don't always agree on everything, I consider her a friend. That said, I've never read more bilge about a person's position on a subject as Mr. Ferry's mischaracterization of Dr. Meranto's opinion of AIM. When she and I spoke the day of the rally at the Auraria campus, she said she felt AIM could have better used the forum to get its message out and that the method it has and continues to use has not been very effective. She suggested that rather than beat a drum and walk around in a circle, AIM could have used the opportunity to teach passersby about the issues, passing out fliers as they did with a reading list so they could educate themselves with well-documented examples of the horrors committed against Native Americans in the past and how they continue to be marginalized politically. Further, to suggest that she has no sympathy for the plight of Indians or, more to Ferry's point, to suggest that she harbors some malice for Natives or is some kind of Nazi because she disagrees with AIM's methods is absurd.

Ferry owes Dr. Meranto an apology. Oh, and yes, being a published Ph.D. and director of Native American Studies does make her an expert on the subject, Mr. Ferry. To match hers, what credentials have you got?

Robert Sampron
Denver

When Irish Guys Are Smiling
Thank you for Chris LaMorte's piece on Sean McPhilemy's The Committee ("Emerald Ire," May 28).

The outrages detailed by McPhilemy--the systematic collusion by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Unionist politicians, British civil servants and Protestant clergy in the murders of non-political, non-violent Irish Catholics--certainly furnish more than enough explanation for the Provisional IRA's reluctance to shed its arms. More important for a peaceful, just outcome in Ireland, the book furnishes ample proof that the British government must disband the RUC, finally, forever and for always--if necessary, with garlic and a stake through its heart.

Terry Deem-Reilly
American Ireland Education Foundation

It's the Realtor Thing
Eric Dexheimer's "Foreclosure Encounters," in the May 21 issue, provided an entertaining view of the underside of foreclosure investing. It generally reflected an accurate understanding of the law. But we wish to correct some misinformation in the quote attributed to Frank Meeks.

Meeks is quoted as saying, "To preserve your equity, you gotta have cash." Later he is quoted as saying, "If you don't have the money to redeem, you got nothing to sell." Neither statement is accurate.

If someone has equity in his home but insufficient funds to redeem, he can simply sell the home for its fair market value, use a portion of the proceeds to redeem, and keep the remaining proceeds. For example, someone with a $100,000 home, having a first mortgage with a remaining balance of only $40,000, can redeem the property by selling the home for $100,000, using $40,000 of the $100,000 to redeem. Even after paying the costs of sale and other related transaction costs, the homeowner should net approximately $50,000 from the sale.

Perhaps the most important thing a homeowner with equity can do when being foreclosed upon is to list the property with a realtor experienced with foreclosures. The realtor can help the owner sell the home and realize the owner's equity in the property. Talking to a lawyer might also be useful.

Jonathan A. Goodman and Richard Byron Peddie
Denver

The Busboys Stop Here
Kyle Wagner made several mistakes in "Gratuitous Behavior," in the June 4 issue. Please allow me to set the record straight.