Hey, Darius James, I'm into Theresienstadt, Too!; White's Right, with a Touch of Moral Obtuseness; Bravo on the Grief Industry, Strausbaugh, You Holier-Than-Fucking-Thou New Yawker; Looks Like Signorile Corrupted John Walker; More

I just read, with interest, Darius James’ "In Hell" feature (1/2) on Theresienstadt (Terezin). I thought he (and you) might wish to visit the Web Travel Review’s Terezin webpage, in which I describe my own visit.

Charles J. Vadun, Carlsbad, CA

Thanks, Mr. White

I was wondering how long it would be before someone–Armond White, as it turned out–called attention to something I had mentioned to several friends: the fact that the tableau of Giuliani with police, fire, and rescue workers on Saturday Night Live was 100 percent white ("Film," 1/2). I’m "Caucasian" myself, but I did not expect to see no fewer than 30 faces on the screen, all with the same complexion as mine. It was more than a little unsettling. I wondered–as Armond White now has done in print–what kind of a message Giuliani thought he was sending out.

I’m also more curious than ever to know what percentage of the New York City Fire Dept. is so-called "minority." My guess would be that it is very low; from what I do know, it seems like hiring procedures are far less open and more "inside" than at the Police Dept.

That’s all. I’ll leave all the implications of this to you folks to speculate upon. I’m just glad that Armond White, for one, finally got around to stating the obvious.

Norman Prince, Manhattan

Armondo Finito

RE Armond White: "On Sept. 29, 2001, Saturday Night Live broadcast an image more invidious than the World Trade Center towers crumbling to dust..." It’s one thing for your paper to be provocative; it’s a whole ’nother thing to be morally obtuse. When are you going to fire this clown?

Brian Moore, Covington, LA

Any Relation to Jeff?

The Red Sox historically have been a tar pit for speedsters ("e-MUGGER," 1/2). They would turn Rickey Henderson in his prime into Mike Greenwell. What makes you think Damon is going to steal 50? I bet he barely breaks 30, which for the Sox is the equivalent of stealing 60. Otherwise, I love your column (and paper) and read it religiously on the Net.

Scott Kent, Savannah

Alas and Indeed

Thanks, MUGGER, for saying what I feel about this mouthpiece of The New York Times. You’re correct on every word, and the liberals call that drivel leadership of ideas? I look forward to your column each week as does my husband, a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, poor thing!

Virginia L Weicheld,