Homosexuality Embiggens Us All; MUGGER Saw All; Something About Repsher and the "Daily Billboard"; Porny Parrot Heads' More...

Homosexuality Embiggens Us All Mike Signorile: It might not be such a bad thing if people do feel that the DC snipers may be homosexual ("The Gist," 11/6). Though the particular violent acts these snipers committed are indefensible, there are many defensible acts of violence that gay men are capable of, and it doesn't hurt to let heterosexuals know that they cannot with impunity attack gay men on the assumption that we are too wussy and weak to fight back. Might this not be the real reason heterosexuals don't want gay men in the military and police forces?that we might learn how to fight effectively and lethally, to use violence to devastating effect against people who would destroy us?

Although I hope the DC snipers are not homosexual?I'd like to think homosexuality ennobles, and forbids indiscriminate murder? it might be salutary if the stereotype of feckless effeminacy were shattered and heterosexuals' views of us were tinged with a little bit of fear.

(By the way, do we yet know if the snipers were/are members of the NRA? Has anyone dared to ask? They did use weapons openly in Tacoma and weren't arrested and jailed.)

L. Craig Schoonmaker, Newark

Party On

MUGGER: Congratulations on pegging Tuesday's election. In the post-vote banalysis on cable tv, everyone overlooks the obvious reason why Democrats lost: Bill Clinton. The polls had Jeb and McBride tied when Bill and Dubya squared off in Florida. No contest. The party lost the moral high ground when it looked the other way on the suborning of perjury. In the 1990s, it was anything goes. Now, that we've come to earth and learned that the Dow Jones Industrial Average matters about as much as the windchill factor in June, character counts. Democrats are slow learners; in the Senate, 23 of them could not give Bush the support that Syria gave him. Bob Byrd is a statesman, just like Quisling.

Don Surber, Poca, WV

What's the Frequency, Mark?

Ouch, William Repsher. Ad creative directors ("Daily Billboard," 11/6). What's your next target?the Death Star? Russ Smith may sign your checks, but your money comes from me: speaking of which, do you need a few bucks to get you through the holidays? Kidding. Here's a title for a possible future column: Repsher the Rapier, whadda ya think? It's yours, baby. New York Press could use a campaign, too. New York Press: Weekly Wrinkles. Wait. New York Press: Forward. Wait. New York Press: Ironclad Something Something. Sorry, I have to get back to making baskets of money for shooting Nerf® basketball. Loved the Winona Ryder room visual, though ("Daily Billboard," 11/7).

Mark Duffy, Manhattan

Ugly Attitude

I have not read your website lately as I've been very busy with work. Recently, I read an item from George Tabb where he calls Midwesterners fat and ugly ("Daily Billboard," 10/31). Living in Detroit, all I can say is, if Tabb ever brings his talentless band out this-a-way ever again, we'll show him fat and ugly. His face?after we get through with it. Better yet, just tell Georgie Boy to look down in his women's stretch jeans... Now, that is fat and ugly!

Lianne Worth, Detroit

Quit Varying Matt's Diet

MUGGER: I am a loyal reader of your weekly media primer. In fact, MUGGER (along with Mr. Wiggles) is the sole reason I look forward to reading the Press once a week. I especially enjoy your analyses of various other writers' work, as I usually don't have time to read as many columnists as you do. Hence, my disappointment when you devoted several inches of space to picking apart a poorly written article some unknown hack posted on "AlterNet," basically a blog for leftist writers trying to become relevant (11/6). I'd much prefer you stick to lambasting the idiots in The New York Times, Washington Post, etc, as they might actually have some effect on public thinking, as opposed to giving no-name writers the undeserved attention they desperately want.

Matt Molnar, Queens Village, NY

Checked Out Those Ads, Huh

Christopher Caldwell: I may not know much about Bill "Bake" McBride, gubernatorial candidate in Florida, but I do know a little about Jimmy Buffett ("Hill of Beans," 10/30). And if you are going to insult someone, please correctly identify who you are insulting. We are Parrot Heads, not "Buffetteers." Many of his songs contain five, or even six, different chords, and as for "seventh-grade-talent-show lyrical sophistication," please explain how he is one of only five authors to have the distinction of being on The New York Times bestseller list in both fiction and nonfiction. As a longtime member of the Metro Parrot Head Club, yes, we do like to party, but it's not without purpose. We have an Adopt A Beach in Sea Bright, NJ, and an Adopt-A-Highway, Rte. 114, in Southampton, NY. (We are a model organization in the eyes of the NYS DOT.) We are also involved with WalkAmerica for the March of Dimes and the Memory Walk to benefit Alzheimer's research. We have collected coats and canned goods for the poor. At our annual "Frosted Parrot Head Party" last February, we collected hundreds of children's books for Little Flower Children Services in Wading River, NY. And in the 10 years that the club has been in existence, we have raised thousands of dollars for countless other charities.

Not bad for people who wear "the trustworthy badge of moron status." But what really bothers me is that you equate us with rapists. That anyone in our group would assault a girl "passed out in the third-floor bedroom where the coats are piled" is an insult to any fan of any music genre. That is the most moronic thing that I have ever read. Maybe when you grow up you can write for a real newspaper, not one subsidized by 20 pages of phone sex ads.

Paul Schneller, Lynbrook, NY

Mike Signorile: Did you actually read what Jonah Goldberg said or did someone tell you ("The Gist," 11/6)? You paint with a fairly broad brush for a guy with your name.

Bob Fletcher, Austin, TX

Puzzling

Mike Signorile: Your delight in labeling Jonah Goldberg a homophobe is an arrogant attempt to portray yourself as some kind of righteous crusader exposing bigotry in the darkest corners of the globe. What is so wrong about speculating as to the relationship between these two terrorist wannabes? God forbid someone takes puzzle pieces and tries to put them together. You are a crybaby, plain and simple. Your feelings must be hurt, judging by the tone of your column. Let me explain something to you: Jonah's column wasn't an attempt to frame nancy boys as one and the same with religious extremists or militant blacks; he was merely pointing out the oddity of the relationship, which could reasonably be assumed to be less than a mentor-apprentice-type situation. "Son, I'm going to pass the family sniping business on to you! It's been a long time coming!!" Grow up; start thinking with your brain and not your holier-than-thou bleeding heart, jackass. Do me a favor and don't write back.

Teague Hughes, Springfield, VA

It Starts with the Angry White Men I don't think I understand Tim Hall's article, "The 'New Williamsburg'" ("Real Estate," 10/23). He lives in this neighborhood, but apparently has nothing but paranoia and disgust for his neighbors (save the multi-culti group in his building, apparently the only safe haven). He uses racist logic to achieve victim status in the community (if black men are spitting, they must be spitting on the honky). He harps on the name of a hardware store (Sisters Community Hardware) without having the slightest idea of its background (ever heard of Brothers Community Hardware or Brothers Moving & Storage?), denouncing it as yet another black exclusionary practice. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, with his own superiority complex driving the assumed "simmering racial hostility."

Despite this, he recoils at the idea that his neighborhood could become another Williamsburg. He talks about the real estate industry as though this is the first instance of brokers inventing neighborhood names to foment gentrification and sell overpriced properties to match. It's unclear what he would prefer; he says "this area still sucks" but the prospect of it improving paralyzes him. I guess what he really wants is a neighborhood full of old, black men who will make him feel better when his card gets rejected at the supermarket.

Chris Glazier, Brooklyn

They All Bat Lefthanded

MUGGER: Living in the Bay Area, the Giants losing, for me, was a welcome relief for many reasons, and particularly two words: Ralph Barbieri. Mr. B. is one of the most smug commentators in sports talk radio (and an unabashed vegetarian, animal-rights liberal), and to have his beloved hometown Giants lose was wonderful. This SF Bay Area needs some serious humility, and after losing the Olympic bid (even after doing a nice job on the homeless sweep), maybe they'll get some. Way to go, Angels!

Gordon Smith, Pleasanton, CA

Got It: Hatred Doesn't Lead to Violence Mike Signorile: It is ridiculous to equate Osama and Jerry Falwell ("The Gist," 10/30). To do so only proves that you are the hater. Mohammed was a warrior and sanctioned the killing of prisoners. While I do not know his military service record, so far as I am aware Jerry Falwell has never killed anyone, and I defy you to find one statement of his that sanctions murder, terrorism, suicide bombings, airplane hijackings, the extinction of any people, even the Arabs. Just one. So Jerry's theology is not yours, so he thinks homosexuality is wrong. So what? Where has he sanctioned beating up or throwing in jail, or stoning these people. Or for that matter, although he considers adultery wrong, how many women has he stoned? There are plenty of candidates in America. So how, exactly, does he equate with Osama? Did he hurt the itty-bitty Muslims' precious little feelings? Kill the son of a bitch!

Chesley R. Johnson, Tuscaloosa, AL

Michelangelo Signorile replies: Actually, I never compared Falwell to Osama. It was someone on your team who did that, the Washington Times editorial page editor Tony Blankley.

Yeah, Paul

Paul Graham ("The Mail," 11/6), in thanking you for publishing Thomas Olson's letter ("The Mail," 10/30) refuting Stephanie Gutmann's article ("New York City," 10/23), urged you to stop publishing her "devious propaganda."

And whereas I classify her writings similarly, I disagree wholeheartedly that you should stop publishing them. Everybody should be able to voice their views, whether I agree with them or not. I would instead ask you to continue to print the opposing views, whether in the form of letters or articles, that respond to the horseshit she quite often writes.

But no voices should be silenced, and censorship of critical or unpleasant views should never be suggested, or embraced, Paul.

Justin Gauvin, Manhattan

Blecchh

Mike Signorile: Very much enjoyed your latest column. In particular, I loved your comments about "Ann and Andy" ("The Gist," 11/6). I have a visual of exactly how unattractive the morphed "It" would be!

Mike West, Hollywood, CA

Dolt Nation

Mike Signorile: Great commentary. I especially liked your insight about morphing! Ann Coulter and Andrew Sullivan are perfect examples of the dumbing down of America, as if Bush wasn't enough evidence.

Alfred M. Roach, Manhattan

Hearty Hars

There's only one kind of rightie, the kind that thinks changing your mind is a sign of weakness. This is why I read Hitchens regularly, and you guys when I need a cheap laugh. Fun for all ages.

Peter Smith, St. Petersburg FL

Read His Lips

Mike Signorile: "Screwed up Gulf War veteran," huh. I get it. It's the military's fault. Let's blame it on the military. And, Islam is a peace-loving religion. And, Bill Clinton really did not have sex with "that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." And the Earth is flat. And Elvis really is alive. Okay, the last one might be true.

Paul Chaney, Tupelo, MS

It Would Appear So

So is this all it takes to sweep an election?a promise of tax cuts, little plastic American flags to wave and a shooting war? You offer these bourgeois pigs a tax cut and they'll come oinking to the trough? I'll grant you that the Democrats have become so centrist that it probably makes little difference who wins, but they are at least a little less overtly out to make war on the poor. I'm strictly an FDR New Dealer in my tastes?not a 60s radical sympathizer by any means, but I am appalled at the degradation in American life. Up here in Massachusetts, uber-scion Mitt Romney won the governor's race with promises of tax cuts?an absurd policy to "jump start" an economy in recession, especially in a region that has never competed on costs! Now we're off to a war that is abstract and painless as far as the public consciousness is concerned?we're all brave warriors at 3000 miles when there's no draft, aren't we? Is the left so cowardly that they won't attack Bush?

Stephen Brown, Wilmington, MA

Wise Up

I find Michelangelo Signorile to be absolutely repugnant. His column is filled with petty hate and bashing of people he disagrees with. It is amazing how people on the hard left tell us that we must be tolerant of all people, yet Michelangelo Signorile is bashing conservatives. You on the left had better learn that this trick you keep playing with diversity will not work much longer. Just witness what happened on Nov. 5th. You lost bigtime.

Gary T. Wise, Ellicott City, MD

Did Somebody Say Sammy?

Please, please, please George Steinbrenner! Trade Jorge Posada to the Cubs for Sammy Sosa! That bulked-up strikeout artist will fit right into the Bombers lineup and just couldn't the Cubs use a real catcher! And then I wake up.

Fred Butzen, Deerfield, IL

The Anti-Draft-Dodger

MUGGER: I hoped that Howell Raines and company at The New York Times would at least rethink and maybe tone down their monotonous screed against the Bush administration after the Democrats got waxed in the midterm elections. But judging from Paul Krugman's 11/8/02 op-ed piece, apparently not.

Krugman states, "And anyone who criticizes the administration, even on purely domestic issues, will be accused of lacking patriotism. After all, that strategy worked even against Senator Max Cleland, a genuine war hero who lost three limbs in his country's service." What was used against Cleland was the fact that he supported holding up the homeland security bill unless it required union workers. I never heard or read anyone questioning his patriotism. And what does the fact that Cleland is a "triple-amputee war hero" have to do with anything? Cleland's war record and his service to his country are truly admirable, but does that automatically make his position on issues correct?

Even more astonishing is the following statement from the same column, "Democrats should complain as loudly about the real conservative bias of the media as the Republicans complain about its entirely mythical liberal bias..." Krugman not only denies a liberal bias in the media, he claims there is a conservative bias. "Entirely mythical," what utter nonsense from arguably the most biased Times writer. I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't finish the column.

MUGGER, please continue to take on fools like Krugman. We need voices like yours out there.

Steve Hume, Canton, MI

Deep Breath, Ruth

MUGGER: Nothing can make me happier than to see the Democrats nosedive. If ever there was a model of a bad example it is the Democrats. You just watch them whine and moan that "it just wasn't fair." They will call the "Rev. Jesse Jackson" out to cajole his troops saying "they was cheated again." They have to drag two old geezers out of nursing homes to replace a crook and a dead guy. Then to top it off they celebrate at the dead guy's memorial and boo the Republicans who want to pay their respects. Slick Willie and his Hildebeast show up and they think the whole thing is about them!! Bill smiles and says thank you, thank you, while his lovely wife about breaks her neck looking for the cameras. What a big fat joke! A despicable group of sobs if there ever was one.

Ruth Lindemann,

Colorado Springs, CO

Picture This

I recently read Alexander Cockburn's weekly column ("Wild Justice," 10/23) where he completely misses the point of the NYC protest of the Shirley Q. show. I was at the protest rally for the Shirley Q. Liquor Show at the View Bar. We were not there to shut down the show. The NYPD shut down the bar after issuing summonses as a part of the "quality of life" campaign. Those having objections with the bar being shut down should take this up with NYPD.

The issue over here is racist, sexist, misogynist representation of African-American women. Most importantly racism, sexism, classism within the LGBTQ community. While Shirley Q. has freedom of speech, we were exercising our freedom of speech to communicate to Shirley Q. and the LGBTQ community that notions of comedy and entertainment that use racist/sexist/classist stereotypes is unacceptable. Laughing at Shirley Q.'s character reduces the reality of systematic oppression that several women of color face in this country. It almost borders on rewriting the racist history of "minstrel shows" in this country. It is important to let everyone know that queer people of color, immigrant queers of color, women of color and trans-folks have for a long time lived on the fringes of the mainstream U.S. society and the white-dominated queer community and that we shall not remain on the fringes anymore, and images that make a mockery out of our oppression, out of our lives, are unacceptable. It is sad that Alexander Cockburn completely missed the point of the protest.

Debanuj DasGupta, South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association, Manhattan