Reader Feedback 5.7.03

Freed from tyranny

I was appalled by Jack Bradigan Spula’s comments in response
to the letter from Stephanie Aldersley in the April 16 issue. To characterize
the brave service men and women putting their lives at risk in Iraq as
“gung ho” and deserving of criticism for carrying out orders
marginalizes Jack and City Newspaper to
the point of being irrelevant when it comes to serious public debate on the
war.

                  As I
watched seven POWs return to the US over the weekend, I was filled with pride.
They are not the “youngsters” they were so condescendingly referred
to but courageous soldiers who faced life and death so that this newspaper will
continue to have the right to call for their prosecution as war criminals, as
misguided and inaccurate as that charge is.

                  As
for the war in Iraq, we accomplished in three weeks what 12 years of sanctions
and hand wringing by the UN could not — the end to an oppressive and
murderous regime. Perhaps issues of this newspaper should be sent over to the
newly freed Iraqi people. Let them read your view on this “immoral and
unjust war” against Saddam Hussein. That would give them the opportunity
to use their newfound freedom of speech and expression and share with you how
they feel about being freed from tyranny and given a chance at a much better
life.

                  Bill Pritchard, Broadway, Rochester

                  Jack Bradigan Spula responds:
Pritchard misread my response. I didn’t say the troops are uniformly “gung ho.”
I said many of them are enthusiastically carrying out a mission that violates
the UN Charter and other international agreements. And I pointed out that anyone who supports such a mission is
culpable to some degree.

                  Saddam
probably would have vanished long ago if the US and its “coalition partners”
had more peaceable goals in the Middle East. Anyway, the US habitually shows
little compassion for Saddam’s victims. Washington supported the dictator in
the 1980s while he committed his worst atrocities. In the 1990s the US fought
an unjust war that killed Iraqis by the thousands. Now US leaders have killed
and maimed thousands more, allowed the destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage,
and plotted to install a puppet regime. Any surprise that our welcome wears
thinner by the hour?

                  I
wish our paper could reach the ca. 2,000 Iraqi civilians killed by “coalition”
forces (see www.iraqbodycount.net), not to mention the many dead and wounded
civilians in Afghanistan, and those who’ll die in the next country Bush
targets. But let’s not talk only of civilians: We should have as much
compassion for “enemy” soldiers as for our own. To some degree they’re all
victims of the Chicken Hawks’ war.

Commie strip?

Watching City Hall employees eagerly grab your paper for two
years, I decided to read it. I read the April 16 issue and found it very
interesting. I especially like the free stuff I can get with coupons and the
coming events section — but I didn’t like the communist stuff.

                  Don
Bloom, Wolff Street, Rochester

Losing Smolinsky

I am greatly dismayed, to say the least, to read about the
firing of Tanya Smolinsky, program director of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee
Valley, by the executive director, Chuck Bowen (“Path of the Rainbow,” April
16).

                  I’ve
known Tanya for several years through various groups held at the GAGV, as well
as some volunteer work I’ve done, and I can honestly say she is a very
compassionate and competent leader. She knows how to hold a group and enthrall
its members while simultaneously maintaining order. She is very energetic,
inspiring, and deeply passionate toward the cause of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender individuals.

                  I
feel that not only has the GAGV lost an excellent leader, but the GLBT
community at large has as well, as the quoted statement of a former GAGV board
member bears out.

                  Robert
Ralph Reed, Dewey Avenue, Rochester

Keeping watch

In the last few issues of City Newspaper, there have been several major stories regarding big
issues affecting the Rochester area. I was very interested in the articles
addressing the problem of the transit center and everyone’s lack of cooperation
(“Street Fight,” March 26), and the issue of the performing arts center
(“Desperately Seeking Wow,” April 23).

                  Kudos
to City Newspaper for the stories on
the never-ending tumult of city and county governments. It needs to be revealed
what this area is missing out on.

                  While
I don’t have a three-million-dollar answer to the problems, keep the stories
coming. People need to know what they are doing to our community.

                  Phillip J. Butler, Grecian Gardens Drive,
Greece

Writing to City

We welcome and encourage readers’ letters for publication.
Send them to: themail@rochester-citynews.com or The Mail, City Newspaper, 250
North Goodman Street, Rochester 14607.

                  Our
guidelines: We don’t publish anonymous letters — and we ask that you include
your street name and city/town/village. While we don’t restrict length, letters
of under 350 words have a greater chance of being published. We do edit letters
for clarity and brevity. And in general we don’t publish letters (or longer
“op-ed” pieces) from the same writer more often than once every three months.

This article appears in May 7-13, 2003.