Cyd Zeigler’s column (“Ice Queen,” Feb. 21-28) had an unnecessary reference to Clay Aiken. Aiken is a humanitarian, a philanthropist, a decent human being who cares about others. He is much beloved by many and his voice thrills his fans. Zeigler can be described as a bully with words who tries to bring people down to his level by mockery. Mock away, Zeigler! You’re in a club of bullies who try to destroy a man who has done nothing to hurt anyone. Be careful: what goes around comes around. In the future Clay will be remembered; you will be forgotten.

P.S. Why does other people’s sexuality incite you to write about them?

—Romy

I certainly don’t “need to know” Weir’s sexual identity [like Zeigler]. Why the focus on that in the media these days anyway? Most people really don’t care, and the ones who do are, in my opinion, sex-obsessed and want everyone nicely labeled and put into little boxes. A lot of “macho” men are gay, so wouldn’t it stand to reason that a lot of men deemed “effeminate” would be straight? It’s both silly and superficial to force someone to state their sexual identity to the world. In my opinion, asking that sort of question of an athlete—or anyone in the public eye—is just bad manners. What they do in their private lives really makes no difference to their athletic and artistic abilities. I care about Weir winning a gold medal and that’s all.

—Debra Benedict

Shenandoah, Iowa

TALKING HEADS

I’ve obviously got to set the VCR to catch “Meet the Press” more often (“Mugger: A Liberal Non-Strategy,” Feb. 21-28). Mary Matalin’s defense of the vice president notwithstanding, her wardrobe really set the libs off. Your quote from Wolcott is mild compared to political pundit Liz Smith’s ad hominem attack in which she went after Matalin’s attitude as well as her outfit.

I long ago gave up reading Smith in my local paper because of her Imus-like political pronouncements, but I had to peek when I saw Matalin’s thumbnail photo in the column. 

—Mitchell Seidel

Bayonne, N.J.

I hadn’t picked up NY Press for a while and thought I’d check back in with Mugger; now and then he used to say something intelligent. What a has-been! Mugger, do you have any idea how tired the old “Liberals suck” mantra sounds (“A Liberal Non-Strategy,” Feb. 21-28)? If you think the Elmer Fudd story is over-reported, why write about it? You have nothing new to say, so don’t say it.  Ritual hari-kari is in order. So long, Mugger, you won’t be drying out my corneas ever again. I’m going back to blogland.

-Kanaan

DRUDGING UP THE WEB

It could be that in a year’s time, Drudge’s long reign of online dominance will be over, unless he can muster the energy to work on more than just fumes and press notices (“A Liberal Non-Strategy,” Feb. 21-28). Maybe Drudge considered his work done when the Times’ Frank Rich (unlike Matt, a victim of declining readership) stopped referring to the self-made millionaire as a ‘cyber gossip.’” This is true why? Because you say it is? Because I say that for every newspaper reader who quits, the Web site picks up two. Unlike certain other publications.

—David

TEACHER'S FRET

Knipfel is hands down the coolest writer you guys have, and in a parallel universe. I found myself in a similar situation as a substitute teacher (“School Dazed,” Feb. 21-28). I too was worried as hell about the “beasts and the children.” Needing the drinking money, I put on my “cool like that” baggie pants, hoodie and “boggin.” What I found out as well was that the kids were not at all the problem, but rather it was the principal. 

Soon after arriving late, I was summoned to his majesty’s office. As I approached the door, I felt like a kid again: palms sweaty, mouth dry and a nervous jitter born in my left leg. At first, I found myself wanting to like the guy. However, as soon as the moustached mouth opened, I was cut in half by absolute rudeness. As I began to walk back to the classroom, ass in hand after he handed it to me, the devil inside awakened. Putting the boggin back on my balding head, I almost disemboweled an ink pen and went back to shoot him with spitballs. If you’re reading this, you still owe me the whopping $20 I would’ve made babysitting the brats. I’ll settle for a pitcher of beer at Shenanigans.

—James Wes Brown

ARMOND JOY

I’ve been reading Armond White for 20 years, and he still astonishes me. Doubt I’ll ever see Final Destination III, but this movie’s existence is forever justified now that White has jumped off from it to engage in his criticism of pop/life. White’s insistence that culture must be made differently in our post-9/11 era often makes him seem like the only critic that matters now. I’m sure he’d allow that he learned from Pauline Kael’s example. But lately I’ve been thinking that (late) Wilde might be his truest ancestor. Readers who have just picked up on White’s moral imagination will be interested in the celebration of his work in Eric Lott’s new book, The Disappearing Liberal Intellectual.

Lott recalls White’s late ’80s and early ’90s work for the The City Sun—pieces reprinted in White’s collection of essays, The Resistance. Some university press should do a paperback version and get White to put together another collection of his work written for NYP.

—Benj DeMott