I actually was relieved to finally read the last chapter of Steve Jackson's "Dealing with the Devil," in the June 3 issue. I am a member of the local media as well, and I must say I've never seen a story so in-depth and detailed. I must also commend Mr. Jackson for his bravery in even becoming involved with these men and the fear and horror they represent to our society. Being the mother of two former gang members (a daughter and a son), I know matters like this prove to society that there are families existing out there who live entirely differently from what we believe.
How much longer will our society ignore what is happening to families and their children? Society is so shocked by all the murders, hatred, killings and shootings. Wake up, America! Unfortunately, I really believe that if you look deep and pry, you will find many more families right here in America living and bringing their children up in the same fashion you have read about in this profound story. Steve Jackson should be given the highest award for this excellent work.
Barbara Roy
via the Internet
Riddle Me This
What is your obsession with Secretary of State Vikki Buckley? First Eric Dexheimer writes--yawn!--about bingo again ("Somebody Threw a Screwball," June 3), apparently just so he can poke fun at Buckley's office and quote "special consultant" Sam Riddle calling office investigators "little fuckers."
And then there's Riddle again in the June 10 Off Limits.
Can't you give this tired topic a rest? Surely there are others in state government wasting our time and money!
Jo Hart
via the Internet
All I want to know is, where do I get a job like Sam Riddle's? I wouldn't mind earning $250 an hour to follow my own pet project on company time.
Steve Vigil
Denver
The Sands of Time
Harrison Fletcher's story on Sand Creek ("Shifting Sands," June 10) was very interesting! With all the talk about the Sand Creek massacre, it is hard to believe that they would have so much trouble finding the original site. I guess things are not always as they seem.
Rebecca Fintel
via the Internet
I just finished reading your article about the Sand Creek massacre and was shocked to learn that not only is there no memorial to the site/victims, but we don't even know where the battle occurred. As an American history teacher in upstate New York with an interest in Indian affairs, I think it is vital for today's kids to see history from others' views, especially the Indians'.
Bill Dawson
via the Internet
Love That Bob!
Regarding Michael Roberts's June 10 Feedback:
I saw Bob Dylan and Paul Simon in Colorado Springs. The acoustics were terrible. They don't match up well. And the Dead people sitting in front of us did not help--but 8,000 fans in Ground Zero town is a fantastic turnout at $80-$95 a head.
And Dylan was the man and still is and was the attraction.
Nick Werle
via the Internet
Michael Roberts's review of the Dylan/Simon show was very witty. However Roberts feels about it, though, Bob has never sounded this good live (and I'm going back to '74, the first time I saw him). Simon, unfortunately, is exactly how he described. Too bad a man of such classic tunes can be so uptight. He doesn't look like he's really enjoying himself.
Dan Kurtz
via the Internet
I think Michael Roberts got some things right and some things wrong. He hit the nail on the head with Simon: He was bored-looking, his band was doing the work, and the songs never changed from the album versions. He seemed very pretentious to me. And the tour probably was a mistake except to resuscitate Simon's career.
But Dylan--while this was nowhere near the quality of the past seven to eight years of touring and shows he has done, it was still a nice effort. As for Roberts's reviews of his records, Under the Red Sky deserves a listen (because I'll bet Roberts has never even heard it), and Saved is an utter work of art (check out "Covenant Woman"). Something was happening, and you don't know what it was, Mr. Jonesey. A better choice of albums to slag would have been Down in the Groove and Time Out of Mind--two of his worst.
As a fan of Dylan's work, I always enjoy criticism. It's fun to see how people may have missed the boat or overlooked something I got, or vice versa. But it seems like in the past few years, people can't even do that right. For one, they never research their subjects. Like in this case, Michael Roberts obviously doesn't know shit about shit except how proud he must be to have a job at Westword, the crown jewel of the journalistic profession in the personality void of Denver.
Gosh, Roberts's mother must be proud to see him slamming everything in sight. I can only imagine: "Yep, that's m'boy," she says, taking a drag off her lipstick-stained Doral 100 and exposing her yellowed teeth as she cackles with delight and scratches fervently at what was left of her right teat. "I shore raised him right."
When you take to separating the sneer from the smile of an on-stage pop star instead of noting the music and the reaction people are having to it, you've lost it, and it's time for you to move on. Then again, maybe Roberts never had it.
Tim Beacham
Denver
Time Out of Mind is a masterpiece and was not critically acclaimed just because it was released after Dylan's bout with hystoplasmosis. The raw emotion and sincere honesty contained in this album earned Bob all of the praise he received.
And just for the record--I listened to both Saved and Under the Red Sky today.
Marty Megliorino
Greensburg, PA
Your Dylan article sucks, and you all are a bunch of dumb shits.
Name withheld
Letters policy: Westword wants to hear from you, whether you have a complaint or compliment about what we write from week to week. Letters should be no more than 200 words; we reserve the right to edit for libel, length and clarity. Although we'll occasionally withhold an author's name on request, all letters must include your name, address and telephone number. Write to:
Westword Letters
P.O. Box 5970
Denver, CO 80217
or e-mail to: [email protected].
Missed a story? The editorial contents of Westword, dating back to July 1, 1996, are available online at www.westword.com/archive/index.html.