January 30–February 6, 1997
mailbag
Letters to the Editor
By The Readers
Hospice Hurt
Your Jan. 24 article entitled "Ripping off the Dying" (CityBeat) by Daisy Fried, was a surprising misstatement of my conversation with the reporter. It is a tragedy when any family believes they have been victimized for any reason, but it is an equal tragedy when people in search of options at the end of life may be afraid to pursue them because reckless accusations, with no factual support, are printed. As I told your reporter, I will not discuss any patient who receives or received care from us without permission, because we have strict standards for patient confidentiality and above all, respect for the privacy of the individuals for whom we care.
Nevertheless, since 1979, the Hospice Program of Pennsylvania Hospital has earned a reputation for exceptional care and service and has been strongly supported by the community we serve. Every day in our hospice and in hospices across the country, ethical, compassionate care is provided to dying patients in the last weeks and months of life and support for their families. Hospice is an increasingly utilized option which allowed nearly 400,000 people across the country last year to die in the security and comfort of their homes and to make their own choices about how they wished to live. This special kind of care could not flourish without a bond of trust built between families and hospice providers, a bond we take extremely seriously.
The Hospice Program's unblemished record of 17 years of outstanding service must stand on its own at present, and I am proud that it can.
Christine Kriebel
Director, The Hospice Program of Pennsylvania Hospital
Red Alert
When I heard that Neil Gladstone wanted to interview me regarding the recording of Space Needle's "The Moray Eels Eat the..." record, I was happy to oblige ("The Needle and the Damage Done," Stone's Soul Picnic, Jan. 24). This record continues to be an important one for me and I had no problem elaborating on some of the details of the experience.
Inevitably, I knew that I would be asked about the ending of Studio Red. On the record, I told Gladstone the basics of what happened. However, in confidence and more importantly, off the record, having been interviewed by him before and respecting his prior work, I gave him some information that I had not intended to be disclosed to anyone else (specifically the public) and told him so. It was my understanding that the article was to be solely based on the recording of the new Space Needle record. Had I known that Gladstone wanted to do an article that was primarily based on the end of my studio, I would never have agreed to speak with him about it.
The issues that were discussed (off the record) have serious legal ramifications. The real damage was done by Gladstone for including this information and the City Paper by running his story.
I have fond memories of the people that I worked with at Studio Red. I hope they do too.
Adam Lasus
New York, NY
Neil Gladstone responds: At the beginning of our interview, Mr. Lasus said that he would tell me which subjects were on the record and which were off as these topics came up. However, he never prefaced any subject by saying "this is off the record" and I never agreed to that condition for any of the points we discussed.
Kids Courageous
As a graduate of Delaware Valley Friends School, I felt proud to hear students at the school voice their opinion in regards to being forced to sit in one car on the R5 train line. However, I was disappointed that the article ("Trainsitting," CityBeat, Jan. 10) ended on a note that did not speak very highly of the students at DVFS. I would like for the city of Philadelphia to be aware of the fact that the students at DVFS are incredibly bright and civic-minded people. I think it took guts for students to voice their opinions to SEPTA in regards to the "assigned seating." I would like you to know that the students at DVFS are not the kind of students that are simply going to let something slide under their noses. I think it is safe to say that if they feel that there is injustice in the world they will make their opinions known. Before blanket assumptions are made about the students at DVFS, please realize that the students who ride the train are only a small population of the school. In addition, please take a moment to research and study the good things that the students here are doing for the world.
Melissa Schoerke
Philadelphia
Mongrel, Schmongrel
I was sadly amused by the letter of Yitzhaq David Israel ("I, Know it All," Mailbag, Jan. 24) calling Yiddish a "mongrelized" and "distorted" language, and equating it with Ebonics. A few points: First, Yiddish is a true language, with a unique vocabulary and grammar and, importantly, a rich written literature. Do Isaac Bashevis Singer and Sholem Aleichem ring any bells? Second, although Yiddish is by syntax, grammar and the vast bulk of vocabulary a Germanic language, it is nevertheless not "distorted German" any more than Amish, Swiss, Dutch or even English are. It is, rather, as are the others named, a form of one of the various types of Germanic languages spoken in a different direction from what is today standard modern German. You might as well call Italian "distorted Latin." Finally, all languages are mixtures to a greater or lesser degree. English itself is an admixture of old German, Norman French, Latin and other languages. To denigrate such mixing as "mongrelization" is both absurd and ignorant; such mixing contributes to the richness and beauty of languages, English being a perfect example, and Yiddish being another.
Perhaps most important, Yiddish is a product of and reflects the creativity, expressiveness and genius of the Jewish people during nearly 2,000 years of sojourning in Europe and the United States. One can only wonder at the self-hatred that would motivate Mr. David to invest so much energy in attacking it.
David Picker
Chestnut Hill
Rock On, Please
This e-mail is intended to awaken someone at the City Paper that the only half-decent radio station in Philly, WDRE, is going out of business. This is insane. We cannot let this happen. We must not let modern rock die in Philly. How can we stop this from happening? Feb. 7, 1997 will be a very sad day in Philly when WDRE bids its final adieus.
Let's hope that someone out there realizes that there is a big demand for "modern rock" and picks up where WDRE left off.
Tragically disappointed,
Katherine Kalavritinos
Philadelphia
Good Neighbor Policy
Thank you so much for the very warm welcome ("Help Yourself," Jan. 10) you gave this new Philadelphian. I've had new books out before, but never has one been so charmingly embraced. I'm delighted to be your neighbor.
Judith Benn Hurley
Author, Savoring the Day
Philadelphia
Inaugural Balk
Your column ("Tacky, Bill," Loose Canon, Jan. 24) about the tacky invitation to participate in "any of the public events" of Clinton's inauguration — and to purchase the inaugural "collectibles" — left me curious about one matter. Have you heeded the accompanying suggestion that the invitation is "suitable for framing"?
Jack Justice
Philadelphia
JBurtJust@aol.com
Blow Your Penthouse Down
Re: "Penthouse of Ill Repute," Pretzel Logic, Jan. 24.
The questions in my mind are two-fold:
1) Why did the painter leave the basement worksite to get a blow job in the penthouse? Was he on his lunch break?
2) What action did management of the tower take with the painter who dropped his pants?
The article did not mention any force used on the part of Mr. Liguori, and I assume the painter was over the age of 18.
A wake-up call to Society Hill Towers: you, like the military, have gays living in your towers!
Shudder the thought!
Rich Schoenemann
RICHS64@msn.com
For More Info...
Many readers have asked questions about the April puppet festival featured on the cover of the Spring Arts Preview (Jan. 17). The number to call is 545-2127. Festival organizer Mattyboy will be able to update you on who's performing and when.
Corrections:
An editing error occurred in a Jan. 24 Hit & Run piece entitled "Vicious Art." The mother of Nancy Spungen did not ask others to write to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in protest of the museum's plans to show the film Sid and Nancy on Valentine's Day.
The photo caption for the Jan. 24 CityBeat article, "Ripping Off the Dying," was incorrect. Pictured was the late Mary Rademan.
The photo of the inaugural parade which accompanied Political Notebook on Jan. 24 ran without a credit. Kass Mencher took the photo.
The Jan. 17 On Media article "Fair Enough" included an error. The Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia offered to settle its suit with Montgomery Newspapers for $10,000.
