The Mail

JEWENDA

The suggestion in J.R. Taylor's column (5/19) that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) promotes anti-Semitic views is absolutely preposterous.

It is most unfortunate that the column misinterpreted the artwork of students who participated in the Design Against Fur competition. The fur industry is responsible for the unnecessary and inhumane deaths of millions of animals every year. These students should be applauded for their compassion.

Nicholas Braden, Washington, DC

BROTHER JIM WATTS

Absolutely true about the tepid response from the pulpits ("America Shrugged," 5/26). What a lot of people have forgotten is that gays have always been with us. We have all known brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors that were gay, even many years ago. And we knew them as fine people and citizens.

So this nonsense that they are of the devil and enemies to all true Americans is seen as a bunch of hooey by the people. We might not want their disgusting habits flaunted in the face of decent people, but we don't want to hate them.

Jim Watts, Dallas

IDLE THREATS

I'm forced to read your fine publication online because your distribution in my East Side neighborhood is very spotty (unlike downtown). Your interactive ad sales department must be happy about this, as I rack up several hits per week, which helps you to demonstrate a valuable online property and to set higher advertising rates based on higher web traffic.

Banner ads, buttons, links, etc., are fine on the side of a page. But if you don't get rid of the pop-up ads, I'll simply stop accessing your page. Haven't you ever visited your own damn site? Do you know how fucking annoying those pop-up ads are? I'm all for advertising to support a platform, but a little less intrusiveness would be most appreciated.

W. Ford, Manhattan

MR. SAVVY

Thanks for printing my letter regarding Alexander Zaitchik's "Savagery All Around" ("The Mail," 5/26). I'm glad to see that you don't stifle criticism of your writers.

My letter was somewhat abridged when you ran it, but having worked at a major metropolitan newspaper for several years, I understand that is not unusual. I do, however, have one quibble: The correct plural form of "court-martial" is "courts-martial" (which is what I wrote), not "court-martials" (which is what you printed). Didn't you guys see A Few Good Men?

Anyway, I think it's pretty cool that I'm savvy enough to know the correct terminology. Whoever hacked up my letter got it wrong, though, and now I look as dumb as a liberal newspaper editor. Please make a change on the appropriate web page or run a correction; people need to see that I am worldly enough to know such trivialities.

G. Scott Neuman, Tampa ^^^  

The editors reply: The savvy reader might do well to check Webster's Third New International Dictionary (unabridged), a 2662-page tome in whose pages is nestled "court-martials": a perfectly acceptable variant of "courts-martial." At New York Press, Merriam-Webster generally trumps early-90s Kevin Bacon flicks.

MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

MUGGER, just wondering why you describe Seymour Hersh as "ridiculous" ("Off Graydon's Back," 5/26). Do you believe that his contacts in the Pentagon are imaginary friends? That he is sloppy with his facts? Perhaps he makes his stories up out of whole cloth?

Unless you can show me any particular reason why his stories are untrue or unimportant, I'd have to stick with my impression that he's a meticulous reporter with a far-ranging network of deeply informed sources who writes about vitally important matters.

I won't even ask you about why you believe Nancy Pelosi to be "hysterical." Surely describing George W. Bush as awesomely incompetent is no more than a generous reference to his objective and verifiable record in office. Then again, you've never had an unkind word for Ann Coulter, so I have to regard your idea of an hysterical woman with some amusement.

Jesse Larner, Manhattan

FUMIOING

Regarding Central Park Summer Stage: Amp Fiddler plays keyboard, not bass (at least when live) (Dan Martino, "Summertime Spin-Out," 5/26). The bassist on his tour band, Paul Randolph, is pretty damn amazing in his own right, but not to be mistaken for Amp.

Has the writer even seen Amp Fiddler or heard his CD (which is not yet out in the U.S.)?

Fumio, Manhattan ^^^  

PAGING THE BRODE

I would like for someone to please explain to me what in the name of common sense Rudy Giuliani did on 9/11 to become "America's Mayor?" Is it because he went to Ground Zero and cried and went to funerals and cried? Wasn't that his job as mayor? Wasn't that what he was paid for? Didn't Giuliani once tell CXBarguably accuratelythat he (Giuliani) worked hard for his money and deserved to live in Gracie rent- free? Or is it that he told everyone that New Yorkers were better than any terrorist attacks (never mind that he had an army of police to protect him)? It sort of reminds me of FDRin arguably the worst of the Depressionin the White House with all his needs and wants being met, telling hungry, homeless, rag-tag men that they had nothing to fear but fear itself.

When I heard the Towers were blasted, I left work, drove home, parked the car and walked a mile and a half to my stepson's school, and a mile and a half back, in seventy-degree weather. Later that night, a co-worker who could not take the subway home crashed on my couch. My actions weren't heroic, but not the norm, either. Millions of others, without fanfare, went above and beyond.

Giuliani didn't cause the planes to slam into the Towers, and in all fairness to him, mistakes were bound to happen. It is unlikely New York has ever had a disaster of this magnitude. His actions in the days and weeks that followed were competent and compassionate, but nothing worthy of adulation and deification.

Nathan F. Weiner, Bronx ^^^  

MAKE THAT OVER 95

Alan Cabal writes: "Anybody over 45 who uses white-powder stimulants has a death wish" ("Five-Lobe Circus," 5/19). Alan, in how many different articles are you going to use this statement?

Joe Mazza, Manhattan

THE LATEST IN HOSPITAL FASHION

I've had the opportunity to read Henry Flesh's piece ("Kingdom of the Sick 3," 5/19) concerning his visit to St. Vincent's Hospital. I would like to introduce my improved hospital gown, which I've designed to provide patients with dignity while still ensuring comfort and greater accessibility for medical staff. Please browse my website, manassehhealth.com, to see the difference.

Donald Douglas Mucheck, Louisville, KY

SEE BELOW

J.R. Taylor: You are a dick-faced idiot ("Critical Mess," 5/26). You have no idea what you are talking about. That is all. ^^^  

NAME WITHHELD

SISTA SOLDIER

I hope that you can pass this along to J.R. Taylor with regard to his article about music critics ("Critical Mess," 5/26). As the sister of one of the people he so maliciously slammed with little reason, I am doing my best to keep the many expletives coming to mind off this page.

First of all, how is anyone supposed to take your writer or paper seriously when he calls people "douche bags" in the first paragraph of his article? I don't read your paper, but I will burn it any time it crosses my path from now on, and will spread the word to everyone I know that it is a poorly written and edited paper to allow such hatred [sic] things to be written without any foundation.

Does J.R. even realize that this is not a money-making venture? How much money can any operation make that is only charging $19.99 for a CD review after each person involved gets a cut? You think the big-time record labels aren't paying reporters in some way or another to review and put a "positive spin" on garbage like Britney or Mandy Moore's latest album? The difference with this website is that they're trying to give unknown bands and musicians a chance to get a review by people who know music.

If J.R. took the time to really see who Brian Sauer is, he would see that he might not have written for papers with big names but he started two of his own magazines (one while still in high school) and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the business and knows the music world like the back of his hand. Anyone who has taken the time to get to know Sauer would stand up and say that he is one of the most ethical, intelligent, sincere and unbiased people you could ever meet. I'd like to think that I'm the biased one in this since I'm so furious that someone like J.R. would write such awful things about people he knows nothing about.

But I take solace in the fact that I believe that anyone who reads J.R.'s article would agree that the guy has some other problem in his life that needs to be dealt with before he slams more people who, probably like him, really enjoy the art of writing and may not be in their dream job but are living this life day to day trying to put something positive in the world. I think J.R. is in need of a course on how to give constructive criticism. I almost feel bad that your paper must be hurting for writers or articles to allow something so pathetic to be printed in your paper.

Amy Sauer, via email ^^^  

WE FEEL BETTER ALREADY

Contrary to the liberal media's negative, gloomy coverage, there are lots of good things being accomplished in Iraq (Matt Taibbi, "Help Justin Now," 5/19)! This is a letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard, serving in Iraq:

As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two-week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that have happened in Iraq recently:

Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.

School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.

Over 1500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur.

The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster.

The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.

Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.

The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.

100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war.

Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place.

Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.

Girls are allowed to attend school.

Textbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.

Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight.

Ray Reynolds, SFC Iowa Army National Guard 234th Signal Battalion

And yes, there really is a Ray Reynolds. He's in Company "C." And there really is a 234th Signal Battalion in the Iowa National Guard. I called the Iowa National Guard and checked. The message above appears to be valid and sincere, from a U.S. soldier with first-hand knowledge of the true situation in Iraq.

Christen Warwick, Flagstaff, AZ

KILL 'EM ALL, LET PAUL SORT 'EM OUT

Regarding Alexander Zaitchik's "Savagery All Around" (5/19), the bad guys are in for more trouble now because of all of the reporters who want to blame this government on little happenings in jail and beheadings. What do I mean by this?

Our troops are going to kill more people than before. Suddenly, there will be fewer prisoners taken. This will not be a standing order or an order of any kind. It will be the soldier's mindset that starts this killing. It will start out slow and no one will notice, but one day some smart editor will say, "How come we have taken so few prisoners lately?"

The left-wing press does not really understand our fighting men in this war. Interview some soldiers after this conflict is over and they will tell you what really happened.

This is not my father's war. These are not my father's soldiers. Thank God.

Paul Filler, Ada, MI