Society crafts a cruel illusion. All of us are multi-gender, a blend of X and Y chromosomes, yet society insists we ignore and belittle one for the other, depending on what does or doesn't dangle between our legs. To those who create or guffaw at jokes that belittle other people: After the laughter fades, what have you gained? The superiority of looking down and breathing a sigh of relief that you're "not one of them"? Take a hard look in the mirror -- written on your face is a list of faults we could make jokes about, too, and spread far and wide, if only we owned a radio station.
Bill Autrey
Boulder
Cool and unusual:Shock value and "pushing the envelope" are admired in the entertainment business today. The problem is that to keep pace, one has to shock and push more and more. It never ends.
Now the homosexual community is experiencing what we ordinary, bland, plain vanilla, somewhat traditional folks, as well as others, have put up with for some years. Welcome to the club.
I ceased being "entertained" some years ago by the kind of folks (on radio, TV, movies, etc.) that Michael Roberts talks about in his column. Their contempt for people, smug superiority and limited vocabulary, among other compelling characteristics, are not worth my time or money.
I regret to predict that the situation will get worse in our "in-your-face" society. To do otherwise would label these folks uncool and not contemporary. After all, man, this is the twenty-first century!
Derry Eynon
Fort Collins
The Dime of Her Life
Happy daze:When I read Alan Prendergast's "Eighty-Six Million Dimes," in the May 16 issue, I thought, "Wow, this Wollersheim guy must also be against helping people become drug-free, solve their problems and lead a better life."
I have been a member of the Church of Scientology for eight years. Before Scientology, I was unsuccessful, unhappily married, unethical, using drugs, drinking heavily and periodically suicidal. I didn't have many friends; I was estranged from my family and had little hope that my dreams would ever come true. It was a rough time in my life and I was going down fast. But now, the problems and upsets of those days are long gone. Today, thanks to Scientology, I am on the path to spiritual awareness. I am very happy in a wonderful marriage. I am successful and, of course, have been drug-free for many years.
I have chosen happiness and I have such a high level of confidence that I rarely use the word "can't." I care deeply about my religion, Scientology, and encourage others to find out for themselves what it's all about.
Laura Levitt
via the Internet
A Shot in the Dark
Heavy petting: Thank you for Stuart Steers's "Dog Days," in the May 30 issue, regarding the issues surrounding vaccinations and pets. As the guardian of a feline who was diagnosed in March with feline vaccine-associated sarcoma, I have learned much about the issues of vaccines that I did not know. My cat had two surgeries and will be having her third surgery tomorrow. Steers's article correctly points out that many people are unaware of these issues, and educating not only the veterinarians but the general public is crucial. Articles such as these reach many more people than I, or the over 200 people on a support e-list for VAS felines that I belong to, can reach personally (although we try).
Thank you for helping to educate the public: Too many dogs and cats are dying as a result of these vaccine-related issues, and we as animal lovers need to be aware of them. Although I have cared for, rescued and adopted many cats in my years, I was unaware of the dangers associated with overvaccinating.
One thing that was absent from the article, which is extremely important with respect to cats: A task force was formed in 1991 to address the issue of VAS and established protocols for vaccinations that are not mandatory and are still not widely used. This task force determined that the best method for vaccinating cats was to give the FELV vaccine in one leg, the rabies vaccine in the other leg, and the distemper combo shot in the lower shoulder -- shots are never to be given in the scruff of the neck or together. That was the normal method of giving cats their vaccinations, and I have seen figures showing that cats who receive all three shots in the shoulder blade region have a 175 percent higher risk of developing this horribly aggressive cancer.
Pam Roudebush
Pittsburgh
Child's prey: As the Colorado state coordinator for NVIC (National Vaccine Information Center), I field calls mostly from parents who have questions about vaccine issues concerning their children. Lately, however, I've noticed an increase in concern over adverse reactions to vaccination in pets. I recently received a picture of a cat with a sarcoma that developed after vaccination; the cat did not survive.
Just like Mr. Schwartz was given inaccurate information about rabies vaccinations for dogs, many parents are not given accurate information about vaccination requirements for their children. Colorado allows exemptions for medical, religious or personal reasons to any or all vaccines pursuant to CRS 25-4-903. Many schools continue to tell parents they must have all shots before they can register and attend school; according to state law, however, not only are exemptions allowed, school districts must distribute information to parents regarding their rights to exemption.
It is up to pet owners and parents to do their homework on the risks vs. benefits of vaccines and to know their rights.
Cindy Loveland
Lakewood
