February 14–21, 2002

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Venus Fans Respond

I am writing in regards to the paper’s decision to stop publishing the Transit of Venus story. I don’t know what happened behind the scenes, or what exactly the lawyers said to stop the story, but I don’t think City Paper should have yanked it. I have been reading this work of fiction since the first "chapter" was released, and I’ve been logging on every Thursday to see the latest. The story was just starting to get really good, and I’m annoyed that I won’t know how it ends. If people at Fox Philadelphia are upset because they think that they are the inspiration for the story, then maybe they should work on strengthening their character rather than their legal team. Whether Transit of Venus was based on Fox Philadelphia doesn’t concern me. However, I am opposed to censorship, so when I seek out a local news program, I’ll remember that if the bigwigs at Fox don’t like something, they try to get rid of it. If they are willing to threaten a local paper to kill a work of fiction, what else do they censor? Well, Big Brother is watching, and apparently his headquarters are at Fourth and Market.

Sharon Hartman
Philadelphia

The spectacle of one media organization stifling another’s First Amendment rights is truly amazing. It’s a good thing that Dan Ellsberg didn’t send the Pentagon Papers to the City Paper instead of the New York Times. You guys folded like Superman on laundry day.

Shame on you and shame on Fox.

Steve Martorano
Berwyn

Sorry to see the Venus storyline come to an end. It was a great piece of entertainment and something I looked forward to each week. Whether the storylines had some basis in truth or not, the irony is, I’m sure, that Fox 29 actually picked up more viewers looking to figure out who was who in the story.

Patrick Herron
Center City

Union Leader Responds to Bell Curve

I presume the City Paper believes home invasion in the middle of the night with a family sleeping is a laughing matter (News, "Bell Curve," Jan. 31). Ethnic degradation must also be politically correct as long as it is attributed to a union leader. Your perception of what is funny in Philadelphia is seriously out of whack!

I grew up and continue to live in an ethnically diverse community in South Philadelphia. My staff is comprised of many Italian-Americans and Polish-Americans. I lead a union that is making great strides to having its membership reflect the city where we work. I am treasurer of the Democratic Party; one that prides itself on inclusion. For you to fictionalize my testimony regarding a horrific criminal act is irresponsible. For you to make light of the trauma my family faced that night is insensitive. The City Paper might think I am a tough guy, but for you to convey to your readers something that makes me something I am not is maybe the reason you cannot charge for your pages.

John J. Dougherty
Philadelphia

Talking "Head"

This is in regard to the article "Skin Head Butting" (News, Daniel Brook, Feb. 7) concerning the Anti-Defamation League, Philadelphia Anti-Racist Action, and the recent benefit show in West Philly. As a member of one of the bands that played that show, I think it is important to note that there was no confrontation, as the ADL feared. In fact, it was a peaceful gathering of like-minded people and a successful attempt to disseminate information that counters the views of fascists, racists and Nazis in our community.

It would seem a sad state of affairs when an organization like the ADL would try to directly interfere with the anti-racist efforts of a like-minded organization such as the ARA. The article you printed suggested that the ADL and the ARA are in conflict with each other because there isn’t much for either organization to do in Philadelphia. As far as I can tell, the ADL has chosen to mess in the affairs of the ARA, while the ARA is simply going about the business of providing an alternative to racist views. Apparently, the ADL sees the ARA as some kind of violent extremist group. As someone who is well-acquainted with the members of the Philadelphia ARA chapter, I can tell you first-hand that there is no agenda that involves attacking Nazis in the street as a matter of course. Yes, the ARA does take up a defensive stance, meaning they will hold the line against those who try to physically attack people simply for being of a different ethnicity, religion, etc. But this does not translate into a "violent extremist group." Are the police a violent extremist group because they use force to defend the defenseless?

I myself am a pacifist, and I have found nothing but tolerance for my views within the ARA.

On a related note, the ADL should really examine the community they choose to interfere in before they start making phone calls. While they didn’t succeed in shutting down the show, they did put the future of one of the few underground all-ages venues left in Philly in jeopardy. We have a scene here, where bands that care about issues of racism, sexism and homophobia can play and share their views. The ADL has come crashing in, like the proverbial bull in a china shop, and thrown everything into chaos. They have effectively impeded an outlet for disseminating the very information that they care the most about. They are working against their own goals.

Working together might be a better course of action.

Michael Subvert
Trailer Trash UK

Corrections

In last week’s Arts Picks, on the play Yellowman ("Can We Talk?"), we erroneously reported that writer Dael Orlandersmith was a co-producer of the play. The producers are the Wilma Theater, McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, N.J., and Longworth Theater in Connecticut.

Last week’s All-Star Party Guide was compiled by Ainè Ardron-Doley.