Letters to the Editor

What You Say

I response to [Political Notebook, "Uh-Oh for David Oh?" Mary Patel, March 29, 2007], David Oh would like to clearly state that he did not raise funds improperly. That smoke was created by a nervous incumbent who wanted this matter referred to the DA's office.

David cooperated fully and provided evidence that the money he raised was done so properly. David will continue to campaign on the issues which are most important to the voters.Gandhi said, "First they ignore you ... then they laugh at you ... then they attack you ... and then you WIN." With your help, David will WIN and it will be positive change for our city!

Jeremy Ibrahim
Member, Executive Committee, Citizens for David Oh

My husband and I were featured in [Cover, "The Spirits Move Them," Natalie Hope McDonald, March 29, 2007]. Thank you for the article and the positive responses we have received. There were a couple of points that I wish to clarify for your readership.

A Mambo is a priestess and a Hungan is a priest in the Voodoo religion of Haiti. My husband's spiritual name is Hungan Valefoua.

McDonald did not attend any ceremonies held at the sanctuary, and relied on "eyewitness" reports to discuss the dynamics of a ceremony. Many of the comments made about a ceremony were emotional responses given by a participant to McDonald, who stated that this person did not want to be identified.

One important point of contention is that a Loa does not "flirt" with women; a Loa is a spiritual or divine Force and will interact with the congregants during possession in ceremony.

Regarding the reference to the Voodoo wedding, no possessions take place at weddings, and no "guest regularly becomes possessed by a spirit, who gets billing on the Voodoo-sanctioned marriage certificate" as reported. It is a ceremony that is conducted in the old way, but witnessed and legally certified according the laws of the state. In that same paragraph, I am quoted as saying "It's for life." This comment was referenced in a much earlier part of our interview when I referred to my lifelong commitment to this religion. I have been a practicing Voodouisant for 18 years.

The religion of the Voodoo of Haiti, as I practice, is traced back more than 500 years, to a Humofor in Mariani, Haiti. When I am quoted saying that our sanctuary is young, it is made in reference to my Humofor. Our traditions are very old and are passed from one to another in an oral tradition.

There are no vegans (vegetarians) in the Haitian Voodoo. Just as each Loa has their own color and dress, they also have their own foods, including meat dishes of goat, pig, chicken and beef.

The priestess of Voodoo from New Orleans who was quoted as saying that she did not engage in blood (animal) sacrifice because she is a vegan is in error. She made a personal decision to become a vegan, and not to fulfill her spiritual obligations that are due to the Loa.

May God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Loa bless you,

Mambo Rinmin
LePeristyle II

Thank you for your sh*t article [Loose Canon, "A City of Two Tails," Bruce Schimmel, April 5, 2007]. Welcome to the other half: Now you know how 99 percent of us live, not the 1 percent who shop at the "Banana" and eat at the expensive restaurants that have taken over the city, but the rest of us who are being squeezed out of our neighborhoods by $200,000 condos, and who are praying for an Inclusionary Zoning Law so we can stay in a safe and clean environment.

Your newspaper writes about film festivals [Cover, April 5, 2007], bad art shows and self-righteous do-gooders who plant trees, but never think about the people in the houses behind them.

Perhaps now you'll consider revealing to your readers what's really going on in our city of brotherly love.

Again, thank you for slumming.

Linda Reed
South Street