November 11-17, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Dropping the Ball

I was offended by [Bell Curve, Nov. 4, 2004]: "The Eagles are 7-0, their best start in franchise history. South Philly wives continue an unbeaten streak of their own." This statement is incredibly distasteful and offensive. To use domestic violence as a pun of your joke only perpetuates society's acceptance of violence. 0ne in four women experience violence in their lives by a significant other. In 2003, 157 individuals died in domestic-violence related incidents. Domestic violence is a reality, and there is no factual correlation between a sport's loss and an increase of violence.

Cynthia F. Figueroa, Executive Director
Women Against Abuse

Four More Years

Bravo to your wonderful piece on the (so-called) Bush Victory! [Cover Story, "Your Bush Victory Survival Guide, Nov. 4, 2004]. It was just what we bummed out and beleaguered anti-Bushers needed to come out of mourning and get ourselves in gear and action for 2008. It was so energizing to laugh about it too.

Cinthia Gana
Center City

During the Clinton administration, Phila-delphians actually were leaving the city in droves, but they didn't go to Canada. They went to places like Texas and Georgia. You know, the states that gained two seats in Congress (and two votes for president) because of their impressive growth at the expense of "in the know" states like Pennsylvania As a result of Philadelphia's declining population and tax base, its bond rating was recently reduced so that borrowing is now more expensive. To meet the new expense of interest, Philadelphia will have to raise taxes. That will drive out more residents. The Republicans will go first, of course, especially since you've made it plenty clear that they (and the tens of thousands of jobs they control) aren't welcome. It seems you think it funny that the Republican party now hates Philadelphia. I guess you'll think it's equally funny when Philly is a ghost town and ancient copies of your rag are blowing about like tumbleweeds.

Joseph Toller
South Philadelphia

Editor's Reply: Tumbleweeds? Nah, the paper's too heavy for that. Most likely, the soggy, pulpy mass of back issues would merely calcify on the abandoned city streets. But nice image!

I beg to differ with Joey Sweeney when he says the next four years will be good for liberal artists. Sure, Bush & Co. make easier targets than would a Kerry administration. But easy targets don't improve one's art or the understanding behind it. A major inspiration for art in the recent past was the global justice movement. Seeing a liberal president be the prime mover of leveling-down agreements forced many to take a harder look at the class forces behind neoliberalism, and the fact they control both major parties.

Eric Hamell
via e-mail

Corrections

The woman photographed with Albert Innaurato on p. 28 of the City Paper Choice issue [Oct. 28, 2004] was incorrectly identified. She is Jillian Louis, a member of the cast of Innaurato's Gemini, The Musical.

Two photo credits were inaccurate in the Nov. 4 issue. The photograph of Dave Schultz [Naked City, "Hammer Time"] was taken by Mike Mergen. The photograph of the Robert Purvis home [Fine Print, "Burying the Underground Railroad"] was taken by Michael T. Regan.