Letters

The Gang's All Here
Regarding Steve Jackson's current series, "Dealing with the Devil":
Each time I read about Brandy DuVall, the savagery sickens me. If I could make a deal with the devil, it would be to purge that whole family, as well as eternal damnation and excruciating pain for the tres stooges; Uncle Jose wouldn't be forgotten, either.

And now Danny, the soon-to-be "ho," is whining that "he just wants to go home." What is that all about? Enjoy your "new" home, boys, hopefully on death row. You are a disgrace to the Hispanic heritage, as well as to humanity.

John Rael
via the Internet

After reading about the horrible kidnap, rape and murder of Brandy DuVall, I am sickened at the thought that her killers will most likely live long, safe lives. With three meals a day, clean sheets, books to read, free health care, probably a TV to watch, maybe a pool table. At the absolute worst, they may be forced to lie down, be injected and peacefully go to sleep, never to wake up again. If the worst does happen, it won't be for years or decades. In the meantime, they'll sleep on clean sheets and spend the days watching TV and know that we, the foolish, tax-paying public, will foot the bill. Does this kind of justice deter this kind of violent crime? Obviously not.

Justice for a crime this heinous needs to be public, swift and painful. I suggest we take them home to the neighborhoods that bred them, where they failed to learn right from wrong. Where no one bothered to teach them the value of human life. Where no one stopped them, by whatever means necessary, from going down the wrong path. Then they should be castrated, their screams calling out to their friends, families and neighbors to come see them die. Their bellies should then be slit open, like a fish, so that their entrails come running out. They should then be hung from a pole and left on display for at least a week, so that rapists and gangbanger wannabes can look up and see the flies and smell the stench and know there is a heavy price to pay for unacceptable behavior.

Name withheld on request

Girl Power
Thank you, Patricia Calhoun, for your March 4 column, "Low Blows," which reminds us that there's more to the Monica mess than a Gap dress and Barbara Walters. And to Beth Faragher, who took her sexual-harassment claim to the U.S. Supreme Court and won, I say: You go, girl.

Donna Randell
via the Internet

Kudos to Calhoun for her March 4 column and to Kenny Be for his "Premier Male-Free Ski (P.M.S.) Mountain," in the same issue. It's about time that women were really taken seriously--both on the slopes and in the workplace!

Joie Frankel
Denver

Denver on the Rocks
Kenny Be's February 25 Worst-Case Scenario, about the renovation of Red Rocks, was a real beauty. As usual, Kenny showed his understanding of the situation and dealt with the real issue concerning Red Rocks. He showed what could happen if those who stand to profit--due to the growing yuppie trend sweeping Denver--are allowed to manipulate a wonderful place.

People go to Red Rocks to feel its integrity and authenticity, to hear great music played by great musicians. But when seats are split into general, reserved and box (bleh!--box seats at Red Rocks!), when a trading post (gift shop) is inserted into a place it has no right to be, and when restaurants and visitors' sections are thrown around, we must ask whether we are getting a good deal or instead trading Red Rocks for a tourist trap.

Denver is a great city. It will continue to change as it moves into the millennium. But these changes should not come at the expense of the city's culture.

Maybe Denverites can fight this--at least there is no Pat Bowlen threatening to move Red Rocks to another state.

Jesse Gilbertson
via the Internet

Swingtime in the Rockies
I really enjoyed Marty Jones's "Headbangers' Ball," in the February 25 issue. There's a lot of dancing here in Seattle, and we have run into some of the same problems with aerials. People see that gosh-darned Gap ad and think that's what swing dance is all about. What they don't understand is that the real thrill in swing dance is not the acrobatics. It's the connection with my partner and the music that gives me a zing! The best moments are when you try something you've never done before and it works, or when you find yourself really expressing the music. For me, swing dance is not about trying to be the center of attention. It's just between me and the person I'm dancing with.

Adria Klotz
via the Internet

That was a great article on swing injuries. I am a teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee, and teach ballroom, swing, modern, ballet and jazz. I don't teach aerials for many of the reasons listed in your article. After all, you have to learn how to dance before you can fly.