Ms. Beacher's attempt to re-create the experience of sisterhood manifests itself in what is no more than a temporary day spa in downtown Boulder. A place where women can feed their vanity and self-indulgence. Where they feel entitled to be rubbed and massaged by subservient strangers and drop $75 for the privilege. Is this how modern American women connect? With a facial, a foot bath and a massage? Sadly, I think it is, and sadder still is the realization that after 2,000 years, women are now more isolated from each other and their bodies more objectified.
Ms. Beacher, I suggest that if you truly want to connect with your suffering sisters in a tenderly loving way, you stack up that pile of U.S. bills (I assume you didn't take the credit-card reader into such a sacred place) and deliver your stash to the nearest Planned Parenthood facility or your local shelter for homeless and abused women.
Related Content
More About
Mandy Plymell
Denver
Open to Debate
The flight stuff: Regarding Robert Wilonsky's "Fear of Flying," in the April 27 issue:
United 93 is a wonderful portrait of courage. But in the context of America's current foreign policy, it comes off as a familiar bit of wound-licking. Every nation has a tale of the day the world did them dirt, and United 93 is America's.
But what's more remarkable is that, when people abroad see the Michael Moore movie Fahrenheit 9/11, viewers are surprised that a person is allowed to do that in America, allowed to be so critical of a sitting president. It's an unintended effect, because by being so harsh, the movie ends up giving every American something to be proud of, proving to the world that America is still somewhat free. This is why, with the world being convinced that our president means to destroy Islam, no one's come over here and blown us off the map. Face it: We're an open society. They could do it any time they wanted.
So, really, it's not the chest-thumping "These colors don't run" that has kept us relatively safe since 9/11. It's that this guy out of nowhere gets to film our president's most embarrassing moments, make it into a movie and inspire debate. That's why angry fanatics stay their sarin gas and their bombs. Not because we "have the terrorists on the run." Obviously, we don't. Bush gave up trying to capture bin Laden years ago. We're safe only because even angry people still admire something about this place.
Hope it stays that way, don't you?
Jamie Esquire
via the Internet
Meal Ticket
Hit or miss: Every Thursday, when Westword updates on the Internet, I dash right over and check out Jason Sheehan's restaurant reviews. I read his reviews when I worked in a restaurant in Denver, and I keep reading them now, even though I moved away two years ago.
His reviews point out places that I only wish I could find out here. Without his Sushi Den review, I never would have taken my friends there when I was back home for Christmas and never would have seen the expression on their faces when they tried the toro for the first time. I keep bugging my boyfriend to come back to Denver with me so we can go to Chedd's and have custom-made grilled cheese sandwiches.
Jason Sheehan is a fantastic writer, and I wish that I still lived in Denver sometimes, because then I could eat at all these great places, too. His reviews make me homesick for all the things I never tried when I was there and all the things I miss by being here.
Mary Van Tyne
San Diego, California
