Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Bloody Well Wrong

A paradox which has troubled me for years is apparent in the article "Blood on the Badge" (Cover Story, Noel Weyrich, Nov. 26). Why is it that the two worst things for a police officer to be are a dishonest cop or an officer who turns in a dishonest cop?

Amid the frightening tales of untrustable protectors lies the most disconcerting phrase of all, "…while another officer looked on." If a civilian assists in the commission of a crime or gives false information about what he saw, he’s called an accomplice and punished accordingly. If a police officer looks the other way while his partner commits a crime, he’s "taking care of his own."

If a dirty cop is the worst one can be, why is the IAD reviled and hampered in their action? Why aren’t they heroes? If a police officer believes in the oath he swore in the academy, he should be hailed for bringing a corrupt member of their honorable brotherhood to justice.

The protective closing of ranks around a criminal police officer is a tradition without honor. Has so little changed since Frank Serpico got shot in the face?

I am aware that the vast majority of the nation’s police force are honest and diligent in the duties entrusted to them at great personal risk, but those who abuse their power terrify ordinary citizens. Our country is founded on the idea of justice for all. To render it unavailable is the most grievous of crimes, whether by misbehavior or the "blue wall of silence."

Lisa Mos
Philadelphia

Art Lover

[I am a] gallery director in Philadelphia [and] at least 60 percent of the artists I work with [are] African-American — yes, there are professional artists with abundant talent, working in many mediums right under our noses. But if you are not playing the game (and there are different games, under different dealers), then you as the artist will never be seen. As we know, being seen also means having finances to use to market yourself. [Jerry] Harris (Slant, "No Liftoff at Apollo," Nov. 19) would love to know that all have an overall view of the world — and it is NOT Black OR White! I personally have had this thorn for many years, and could not understand why this did not seem to open questions before. I am assuming that because you used this piece you may share the opinion of the story. Or maybe you never had the opportunity to target art by African-American artists. It was great to get this off my back! Our gallery is 4003 Main Street, Manayunk. I hope to surprise you. Unfortunately we lost everything in Floyd and are now just getting back on our feet! We will be better than before! We must start from scratch, we couldn’t even save a pencil! But this week we hung 15 new works from Venice, by my partner Jonathan Pinkett.

Pat Lock
Philadelphia

Parthian Shot

To my newfound, carping critics, the name-dropping, historically correct framers and founders of the local poetry constitution (Mailbag, Dec. 3) — you are each invited, save for those already laughed off the stage, to Day of the Poet’s Slamillennium 2000 on January 7, 2000.

Put your mouth on the mic and stop raggin’ in the MailBag. Don’t poet, show it.

Kevin O’Neill
Norristown

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