Media oversaturates audiences with Jackson death

Enough already -- no more Michael Jackson.

According to a recent poll, two out of three Americans believe the media's coverage of Jackson's death has been over the edge. I couldn't agree more. For almost two weeks, we have been saturated with tributes to him. He has been portrayed as an iconic and historic hero.

I am not saying he wasn't talented or that his death isn't a huge loss, but Jackson was a celebrity and an entertainer. He was not an American hero. Speaking as the mother of a son who is deployed in Afghanistan, I'm convinced the men and women who serve in our military are our true heroes. Violence is escalating in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. troops are losing their lives. How is it possible that the death of a superstar is more important and receives more coverage than the deaths of our soldiers serving overseas?

Reports say Jackson was an insomniac and died from an overdose of an anesthetic administered as a sleep aid. One could say Jackson may have unintentionally caused his own death.

Soldiers in combat do not cause their own deaths. Bombs and bullets do that dirty business. As a military parent, I do not sleep well at night, nor do the families and friends of our soldiers who are in harm's way or have fallen. Yet all the public hears and reads about is, "Now Michael Jackson can rest in peace."

Somehow our society has lost sight of what is important. I am sorry that Jackson is gone. I feel more sorry that our soldiers and our loved ones have been set aside in the sad pursuit of what is considered by many to be real news.

-- Julie Bonnette, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Soldiers, not Jackson, deserve tribute

This past week, nine American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. They received no national tribute, not even on the Fourth of July.

Instead, the media and millions of Americans celebrated the apotheosis of a burned-out, drug-addicted rock star.

Who will represent America in the annals of history? Those who died in the service of their fellow citizens or those who squandered talent and wealth on narcissistic fantasy?

-- Alfred LaMotte, Steilacoom

King of Pop now a god, thanks to media

Editor, The Times:

Are we a country that has more interest in tabloids? It has now been over a week, and we are being inundated with Michael Jackson.

It would have been great if Jackson died when Iran was going through its election turmoil -- then we would never have had to hear why from our loudmouth senators, who have all the answers but would not take the responsibility. Blame it on the president.

There are many Americans that have had their property in foreclosure. Jackson has a debt of half a billion and no one bats an eye. The governor of California should study how Jackson has managed and use the same technique.

America, we are witnessing the birth of a new deity: Michael Jackson.

-- Leo Shillong, Bellingham

Jackson, never convicted, deserves better

Another Republican has shot himself in the foot ["NY congressman's video calls Jackson a 'pervert,' " seattletimes.com, Entertainment, July 6]. Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican, posted a video on YouTube calling Michael Jackson a lowlife. He called him a pervert, child molester and a pedophile. He also said, "Jackson may have been a good singer and dancer," but then continued to harangue him.

Where was this guy when the Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina was off having an affair in a foreign country? Did he post anything about this? I guess I missed that one. And unless I've been asleep for a number of years, Michael Jackson was never convicted of anything.

King is considering a run for the U.S. Senate, so I'm guessing he's trying to look good for his potential voters. I'll give you that there was an appearance of wrongdoing, but just because there's smoke, that doesn't mean there's a fire. High-profile people like Michael Jackson are many times targets for crazies, be they with a gun or a need for campaign money.

Let Jackson rest in peace and remember him for the joy he gave the world, not for what someone attempting to gain more for himself says.

-- Steve Drake, Seattle

MJ has a long list of good deeds, too

Let us refocus our attention on the good deeds that Michael Jackson did in his lifetime. Just a few examples of his legacy include:

Setting up the Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund and fighting prejudice against black artists.

Proceeds from his song "Man in the Mirror" went to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.

Jackson's "We are the World" album and Hands Across America raised almost $100 million for famine-relief efforts in Ethiopia.

These are only a few of his good deeds. Who among us has had this kind of effect on the world?

I ask the public to stop listening to the rumors regarding Jackson's death. I ask that the media sensationalism stop. Let his friends and family mourn his passing in peace. They have lost a family member and a friend. We all have lost a talented musician and dancer who will be greatly missed.

-- Carol L. Crowell, Seattle

Michael Jackson: deserving of honor or disdain?

Jackson, Fawcett caught up in pressures of society

To my knowledge Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett never worked together and did not have a professional or personal relationship, yet their passing on the same day has prompted numerous biographies and special features.

It's said Fawcett will be most remembered for her famous poster; the one that found a home in millions of bedrooms and locker rooms. The poster that showed her beautiful smile, cascading feathered hair and enticing body. Is this Fawcett's legacy? Wasn't she so much more than the sum of her parts?

Jackson is just two years older than me. I grew up seeing him as he was born (before the plastic surgery); a good-looking, young black man -- he too had a beautiful smile and more hair than his thin frame really needed. Jackson was an amazing, phenomenal talent, but I wonder if he felt at times that he was no more than the sum of his parts. Maybe he heard a negative comment about his nose and decided to change it just a little -- at first.

Sadly, we watched as Fawcett's physical beauty was ravaged and stolen from her by cancer, and we were shocked and even laughed at Jackson as he ravaged his own physical beauty with the help of plastic surgeons.

Jackson and Fawcett inside and out were beautiful. Society and the madness of the media machine creates our perceptions, at least temporarily. Let us leave the moment of truth to the "Man in the Mirror."

-- Barbara Caceres, Kent

You'll leave the theater happier

I read Misha Berson's theater review of the musical "Grease" ["Slick, nostalgic 'Grease' revival," NWMonday, May 18], even though she warned those of us who "can't get enough of this breed of bouncy '50s nostalgia ... to read no further."

I don't know which performance she attended, but on the night I was there, she would have been in the minority. The theater seemed to be at full capacity with an audience that loved every moment of the show, myself included. The comments made as everyone exited the theater would validate that it was wonderful. The many revivals of "Grease," both in theater and the movie, would indicate to me that people still enjoy, as she calls it, "this slick relic of faux '50s nostalgia."

I realize that the column is merely Berson's opinion, which differs from mine. I would encourage theatergoers to take a chance and purchase a ticket. I guarantee they'll leave the theater humming one of the many great songs and in a much better mood than when they entered -- something we all need these days.

-- Marie Bickel, LaConner

Charming just the way she is

Kate Smith, for one, is an American legend. She didn't need a makeover.

I like Susan Boyle's honest appearance and charm ["Susan Boyle: from plucky to plucked," Opinion, Ellen Goodman column, May 1]. Leave it alone.

-- Ginna Seese, Mercer Island

A lesson in respect

I truly believe that most of us attempt to be open-minded and fair. We teach our children not to judge by first impressions. In light of this, Susan Boyle's performance on "Britain's Got Talent" should have been an eye-opener for all ["Contestant who turned snickers into wows," page one, April 16].

When this 47-year-old, plain-looking, small-town Scottish woman walked out on stage, we all witnessed the rudeness of both the snickering audience and the cynical panel. I'm afraid that many people watching the show probably related just a little to this response. As panelist Amanda Holden later stated, "At first, we were all against you." Then, as Boyle proceeded to knock everyone's socks off with her amazing performance, we realized once again that you can't judge a book by its cover.

This isn't just about Boyle. It's a blatant reminder that prejudice takes many shapes and forms. It can sneak up on you without warning. It's a stark reminder that young people learn behavior like this based on adult behavior. Shame on anyone who doesn't realize this and practice being open-minded on a minute-by-minute basis.

Boyle caught us by surprise and proved that. The standing ovation she received should have been a reminder to all of us that recognizing a person's value has nothing to do with their appearance.

Boyle is just one example of why we must work each day to eradicate prejudice on many levels. Thank you to her for allowing us this gentle reminder.

-- Suzanne Wiggins-Ackerson, Seattle

Stick a fork in him

I wish I could say I was surprised at George Will's column in Friday morning's paper ["A denunciation of discordant denim," George Will column, Opinion, April 17], but my ability to be surprised by anything he writes is long gone.

It's not enough that people who think like he does have been trying to tell the rest of us that we should not be governing ourselves and instead should be listening to those who know much better. We all know where that has led us. Now, he is even telling us how we should dress!

My question: Isn't there some "home" we can send him off to? Clearly his time has passed if ever it was here at all.

-- Diane Bowers, Shoreline

Typical Will

What else did we expect from George Will? This guy is unbelievably out of touch. Just last year he wrote that the middle class is shrinking because everyone is getting richer and moving up into the upper class.

-- Tim Gilbery, Bothell

Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times

The house that Jimi Hendrix grew up in is destined for a Renton mobile-home park.

Could have been an inspirational museum

Editor, The Times:

It's an eyesore ["Love, money can't save Hendrix's old home," page one, March 31]. I think ghettos and German concentration camps are a bit of an eyesore, too. However, they should not be torn down. People visit them to remember the cruelties and injustice served there. They may be ugly, but they are of great importance. There are many ugly places that should be torn down. Places that offer nothing of benefit.

Jimi Hendrix's house was not one of these places. Though it may have looked ugly on the outside, it offered inspiration to musicians on the inside.

I'm surprised that Seattle was foolish enough to demolish its most famous resident's residence. It should have been fixed up and made into a museum of some sort. I think guitar enthusiast volunteers could have fixed up the house, and been proud to be a part of that.

I guess Jimi said it best: "Castles made of sand fall in the sea, eventually." How sad.

-- Brady Nord, Salem, Ore.

A commuter's cameo

I was delighted to see Michael Upchurch's "review" of Metro's No. 25 bus in Wednesday's Seattle Times, and pleased to see my name mentioned as offering a "cameo appearance" ["I laughed, I cried, I rode: Bus No. 25 is a riveting slice of Seattle," NW Wednesday, April 1].

However, I must point out the error the writer made in using that descriptor. As a former dancer, and one who has a nine-year run of weekday performances on the No. 25 from Portage Bay to downtown and return, my correct title is "Principal Commuter."

-- Spider Kedelsky, Seattle

Next stop: Italy

Actually, the Metro bus No. 25 used to stretch all the way to a small restaurant in Orvieto, Italy. Or it did in 1984.

That's where my wife and I were when a young man at the next table looked at me and said, "Didn't you used to ride the No. 25 bus in Seattle?" I had been a regular rider during the 1970s.

From the article I'm assuming the No. 25 no longer serves Orvieto.

-- Dan Kraus, Seattle

A strange concept of "community"

Regarding the March 21 guest commentary, "Sorry, dad, Facebook isn't big enough for both of us":

Let's see if I understand Megan Burbank correctly: Facebook was designed for college students as an electronic vehicle to exchange vulgarities ("inside jokes," " profanity-peppered status updates," "photographic documentation of every bad choice you've ever made") and misrepresentations ("Facebook engaged, which is like joking-engaged or lying-engaged").

Does it really make sense, she asks, to open up a social tool that is primarily designed for college students, to everyone, without making fundamental changes to it? Does one really want to open up one's personal life to one's aunts, risking awkward run-ins at family gatherings for years to come?

To solve the dilemma of maintaining her electronic outlet for that side of her she would not want family members to see, while at the same time maintaining an image of integrity in the eyes of her family that has no place in Facebook, Megan ended up unfriending her own father.

It seems to me that Facebook is not so much in need of fundamental changes, it is Megan herself. First, she should figure out who she really is. Next, she should be who she really is, electronically as well as in direct interpersonal interactions such as family gatherings.

But to claim that Facebook was designed for a group of insider college students who want to maintain a double standard ("sham") is an insult to the Facebook community.

-- Beate Peter, Shoreline

Permanent as a crevice in a stone statue

A rabbit's dropping, dressed in cherry skin, does not become another thing, and a punk in a suit, surrounded by glamour with a talented voice, is still a punk ["Singer charged with 2 felonies," News, March 6].

Once a man has demonstrated an inability to exercise restraint at times of emotional turpitude, a character trait is exposed as ineffable and permanent as a crevice in a statue carved in stone.

Time and treatment will serve only to obscure reality until the moment when it finds another victim.

Apologies are meaningless when nature calls another day.

But, Chris Brown is a star, and he will walk away with little more than just a slap that his oblivious devotees will relegate to their most-developed feature: impulsive, short-term memory.

-- Michael White, Brush Prairie

Sanctity of marriage relying on 6 weeks of "The Bachelor"

ABC's "The Bachelor" continues to feed a hungry American society.
While browsing The Times' entertainment section, few other topics could be found besides multiple articles concerning "The Bachelor's" finale and the "truly juicy" post-finale-rose interview that recently aired.

In reporter Nicole Tsong's article ".'The Bachelor' says 'I do.' And then: 'I don't'." [Entertainment, March 2], she boldly asks if viewers can buy the romance of "The Bachelor" anymore. May I ask, what romance? This show has finally outdone itself for the faithful viewers that tuned in on Monday nights.

Romance and love have a mixed meaning in American culture. "The Bachelor" has allowed the sanctity of marriage and falling in love to rely on a six-week reality-TV show that has only ended happily for one of the thirteen male contestants from last season's "The Bachelorette" and the woman he proposed to.

Has society really fallen into this junk we call reality TV?
The episodes' events consume our local-nightly news, newspapers and radio announcements. Who cares enough to hear and see it everywhere we turn?

This season finale has made the bachelor and the women who participated look foolish, and what's even worse is that we, as a society, now look dumb for watching and supporting it.

-- Arianne Judy, Seattle

Luring laziness

Saturday is Valentine's Day, a holiday in which people celebrate love, but also a day that upsets many men. Why is it that a lot of us hate this day?

Why is it that we don't feel the same way for Mother's Day or Father's Day? One could argue that both holidays are made up too, and that corporations are making money from the love we have for our parents, just as they are from Valentine's Day.

I too believe that it is a made-up holiday, but I don't think giving flowers to my girlfriend is a bad idea.

I think the reason we don't like Valentine's Day is because we are lazy. We just don't want to make an effort to buy a gift or plan an evening.

But, we don't need to do a "corporate" celebration of Valentine's Day: dinner, flowers and fancy gifts. We just need to show that we care. Doing something we might not enjoy for one day out of 365 is not the end of the world.

So, let's not make any excuses; let's show that we care. Happy Valentine's Day!

-- Carlos Rascon, Everett

Seattle gloom calls for a cheery mood

Eric Lacitis' article ["Friendless in Seattle," page one, Jan. 17] about the "Seattle Freeze" was spot on and it was easy for me to identify with the young newcomer to the city when she said, "Even in Chicago, crossing paths, you make eye contact and might smile to acknowledge the other person. Here, everybody looks down or straight ahead."

Unfortunately, that has also been my experience.

There is a reason you never hear someone say, "I'm so glad I moved to Seattle -- the people here are so friendly!" Your city is a lovely one, and people here are nice enough when you come into contact with them in such circumstances as a retail transaction or participation in a mutually held-interest group. However, there is an unmistakable coolness exuded by many inhabitants of this city toward people they don't know; it exceeds what I would consider "normal."

For example, I've been visiting a friend who lives near the zoo an average of once or twice a month for over three years now. Her next-door neighbor knows I am a frequent guest who stays in the house adjacent to her own. She no doubt recognizes me and my car. But when I attempt to make eye contact with her to say hello, she completely ignores my presence.

I encounter the same thing when I take long walks around the neighborhood. People here simply are not in the habit of exchanging greetings unless they know one another. Anyone reading this who has lived somewhere else where the majority of people act more friendly knows what I'm talking about. Life is hard enough for all of us and a momentary exchange of smiles and pleasantries between strangers can serve to brighten a gloomy day, of which there is no shortage here in Seattle.

In this city, the prevailing attitude seems to be: "I don't know you, so there is no reason for me to acknowledge you, let alone be civil toward you. I have my world, and you're not even on the periphery of it."

Perhaps, this is a Pacific Northwest thing, as everyday civility isn't much better in Portland, where I currently live.

To those residents who do indeed exchange greetings with people they've never seen before, and may never see again, know that you are doing your part to diminish the pervasiveness of the "Seattle Freeze."

-- Dan Possumato, Portland

Finding its time and place

Like Bruce Ramsey, whose columns are always interesting, I prize thoughtful, well-argued discourse -- even about the word "um" ["I take umbrage at 'um,'" editorial columnist, Jan. 7]

But, I also love the use of "um" for its power to embarrass. Snarky, snide, sure, but at times oh-so useful.

Aristotle long ago laid bare the persuasive powers of each part of the classical rhetorical triumvirate -- logos, pathos and ethos -- and taught us not to overlook the value of attitude.

-- Bruce Evans, Mesa, Ariz.

Paying it forward

I would like to give a big rave for the man shopping at Pike Place Market before Thanksgiving weekend. You were buying a birthday gift for your daughter at my jewelry booth and slipped me a note on your charge receipt pointing out a shoplifter.

Not only did your note help with retrieving what he stole from me, the guy had hit several small businesses in the Market.

We operate on a small profit margin and even a little theft is a big thing. You helped save our holiday season.

-- Sara Chambers, Seattle

The Associated Press

This image shows the Christmas ornament Seattle artist Deborah Lawrence designed for the White House tree. It was rejected because it supports President George W. Bush's impeachment.

Editor, The Times:

I'm not really sure the ornament sent to the White House is in really poor taste ["'Impeach Bush' ornament nixed, Nation & World, Times, Dec. 3].

I think that "peace on Earth" is just another way of saying anti-war, and anti-torture. It would be lovely to impeach President George W. Bush for destroying our peace on earth. My only surprise by this incident is that there is actually someone in the White house that can read.

-- Vicki Deininger, Seattle

Don't endorse hate

Your editorial, "[Seattle artist's White House ornament in poor taste," Opinion, Dec. 4] stated that the artist who made the offensive Christmas tree ornament for the White House was "known for her anti-war, anti-torture and feminist views. That should have alerted someone to check in with the artist—or to select someone else who might feel the Christmas spirit a little more acutely."

That statement can be interpreted to imply that the Christmas spirit is pro-war, pro-torture and anti-feminist. While some people may agree, printing it in the paper is probably "in really poor taste."

-- William Weitkamp, Seattle

Quit defending the Bush administration

As an American citizen, I am outraged by the actions of the President George W. Bush administration. If any president ought to be impeached, it would be this one.

As a resident of Seattle and the 7th Congressional District, I heartily endorse the choice of this Christmas tree ornament.

As a lifelong reader of The Times, I take offense to the paper's continuous support for this failed administration and its failed policies.

-- Jeff Davies, Seattle

Stop the silliness

I certainly hope letter writer John Fuik is trying for irony when he complains about the Washington state ornament on the White House Christmas tree ["Well this won't look good," NW Voices, Dec. 3].

"What happened to separation of church and state?" he asks.

Indeed.

-- Steve Kreiter, Seattle

Not always in good taste

Deborah Lawrence's art is richly detailed, quirky and strongly opinionated, much like the artist herself. She made a lavish, beautiful ornament that on closer examination depicts her admiration for Washington state's legacy of challenging the status quo, from the General Strike of 1919 to Congressman Jim McDermott's resolve to impeach President George W. Bush.

Many people in the 7th Congressional District, this state and this nation would like to send a message to the current occupant of the White House that we don't appreciate our lives, tax dollars and moral reputation being used for torture, war, environmental and economic disaster. Is that impolite?

Democracy can be messy, embarrassing and not always in good taste.

I find Lawrence's ornament aesthetically pleasing and soul satisfying.

-- Nancy Houston Eister, Vashon

Just doing her duty

Deborah Lawrence is my hero.

Is torture in good taste? Lying to the American people? Sacrificing young people to the gods of war profiteering? I think not.

Like poet Sam Hamill in 2003, who publicly declined to participate in a White House literary event, Lawrence used a platform that was offered to her to express her disgust with the current administration. More recently, Judge Richard Sanders spoke out at a Federalist Society event when he could no longer tolerate the polite hypocrisy of Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

Neither 4Culture nor Congressman Jim McDermott is at fault in this case. A talented artist was recommended, not vetted for her political views.

There was a time when the national television stations and newspapers ran a daily death count during an equally unpopular war. Where is that accountability now? Where is the story on the amount of money Halliburton made this year? If the press will not speak out, the people must.

To paraphrase that sign somewhere in Wyoming near an Air Force base, "Please pardon our noise -- it's the sound of freedom."

-- Kathleen Alcalá, Bainbridge Island

Doesn't even compare

I was amused at the indignation you expressed at Deborah Lawrence politicizing her Christmas ornament.
While her rather pointed political comment might be construed as "impolitic" and even mildly offensive, it pales in contrast to Bush Administration's politicization of nearly every aspect of government, from the Department of Justice to the Iraq war, much to the detriment of our country.

-- Russell Goldberg, Kirkland

Artful discourse

I want to register my appreciation to The Times for carrying James J. Kilpatrick's "The Writer's Art," one of the wittiest and most instructive features found in any newspaper.

Over the years it has consistently delivered solid information and advice, and a lot of pleasure. It is my hope that Kilpatrick keeps producing these gems for many years to come.

-- Henry Bjornsson, Seattle

Thanks for bringing it back

I am thankful I can sit down with a cup of coffee in my right hand, holding a real paper, The Seattle Times, with my left hand while reading a front page headed with the beautiful greeting to readers of "A Day of Thanksgiving" in large type. Page one was full of the simple and positive topic of thanksgiving.

What a wonderful way to start the day and usher in December's "season of cheer."

-- Linda Neilsen, Kent

Noah Berger / The Associated Press

Shoppers rush into an Oakland, Calif., Wal-Mart as the store opens its doors at 5 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Several hundred people lined up over night awaiting Black Friday deals.

Buy me a shirt for Christmas

Editor, The Times:

President-elect Barack Obama won; do I still need that Canadian T-shirt?

Maybe.

In the wee morning hours of Friday, Nov. 28, citizens of our planet began preparing for the ensuing day ["Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers," Times, News, Nov. 29]. Two-thirds of the world's population was thinking about how they would find water. Of those who knew where it could be found, many began scouring for animal dung to use as fuel for the fires they'd burn to boil their water before consuming it.

Much of the world spent their morning wondering how they would satisfy the second-most-basic need for human survival.

But not in America; we have that need covered.

With the great liberty of running water, how did we spend our morning? We woke early and we prepared for the holiday season, the beginning of which was marked the evening prior. As we ravaged to get the lowest price on the most stuff, we trampled a man to death. "Get as much as you can," we shouted. "Junior just won't smile the same if he doesn't get as much as Timmy next door."

Many were in such a rush to get the stuff, they put themselves into cardiac arrest. But don't fret for their health. I'm sure the coming epiphany of their gluttony will make a heartfelt anecdote for their introduction next season on NBC's "The Biggest Loser."

Like the lifeless perfection of a Gerome, the scene of such madness could only be one place: the mecca of palatable greed, the devil-in-a-blue-dress herself. Pixar showed us her evil in "Wall-E" -- too bad Jdimytai Damour didn't catch that flick. And you must have missed it, too, because with each ignorant purchase you dig us a little deeper into the depression we still call home.

Don't take my words without a grain of salt. You see, my gloves are far from white, and I, too, have wants and needs. So do me a favor. While you're there, doing your Christmas hording, pick me up a Canadian T-shirt. I think I'm going to need it.

-- Marcus Luce, Bellevue

Oh, what a state we're in

In Zimbabwe, desperate parents pray for food to fill the bellies of their starving children. In the U.S., desperate parents pull the doors off the hinges of the local Wal-Mart, trampling a sales clerk to death in order to buy a Sony PlayStation for a bargain price.

The child in Zimbabwe goes to bed dreaming of a few grains of rice. The child in New York goes to bed dreaming of a new computer game. On CNN, we watch an eerie scene as exalted shoppers haul big-screen TVs and Nintendo Wiis to the counter while someone wheels out the body of a dead man.

When the child from New York smiles at the new technological wonder under the tree on Christmas morning, he has learned from his parents an important message about what is really important to us in the land of plenty.

-- Sharon Brown, Redmond

Happy Turkey Day

So I visited seattletimes.com to read the letters-to-the-editor like I do every day, and found a letter from Alex Nelson about not eating turkey on Thanksgiving that struck me as oddly familiar ["No more gobble gobble," Northwest Voices, Nov. 24].

A similar letter last year prompted me to respond with reasons why I would be eating turkey instead of "tofurkey." So I searched for the letter online in The Times’
archive. Sure enough, Eugene Krautt’s "Martyr less foul" letter on Nov. 19, 2007, [Northwest Voices] was worded very similarly to Nelson’s letter.

In fact, both letters’ "My family’s Thanksgiving dinner will include" section contained exactly the same menu items, from "toforkey" to carrot cake.

Last year The Times was kind enough to print my response ["Just eat around the sage flakes," Northwest Voices, Nov. 21] and since the anti-turkey crowd has demonstrated their unoriginality from year to year, I will likewise take this opportunity to do something I’ve never had the pleasure of doing: quoting myself.

Sayeth I, "Eating healthy and fighting for worthy causes are great things we all should practice. But let us eat candy on Halloween, eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and shoot off fireworks on Independence Day even if it scares your dog. Let us keep our holidays."

Happy Thanksgiving!

-- Michael Blake, Seattle

Fur-free Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is generally known as a shopping day, but it's also nationally known as Fur-free Friday -- a day to discourage buying fur and to support the fight against animal cruelty.

Animals used for fur are subjected to horrible abuses, including slaughter methods that range from anal electrocution to having their necks snapped to being poisoned. No animals deserve such suffering and we can prevent it by not buying their fur.

We have so many fashionable clothing options that aren't a product of death, and real lives depend on us not buying the fur or skin of animals. This Fur-free Friday, please consider the compassion with which animals should be treated and show that to them by not buying fur or leather.

-- Amanda Schemkes, Seattle

I want more, please

An "overstressed" and "overworked" postal worker in Apex, N.C., was reported to have failed to deliver "junk mail" to customers on his route for more than seven years. What is most shocking is the praise given to the postal worker for his effort to relieve his customers of the unwanted mail ["No complaints after a postal worker failed to deliver," Nation & World, Nov. 23].

What the story fails to acknowledge, and what most of my neighbors fail to realize, is that the junk mail that aggravates many postal customers pays for the costs of our mail system. Most people now use e-mail rather than regular mail for personal correspondence. Many bills are paid electronically.

What would happen to our mail service without junk mail paying the bills? Appreciate it. I love it.

-- Howard Monta, Seattle

Alan Berner / The Seattle Times

Police crime tape keeps bystanders at bay near the scene of last Saturday's shooting at Westfield Southcenter.

Time for a compromise

As Jack Olsen so eloquently put it, "give a boy a gun." The right to bear arms has been lost in the translation ["Southcenter opens after shooting leaves one dead," News, Nov. 23]. How about a compromise? Ban handguns, concealed or not, and allow rifles only. That way we can see it coming and get out of your murderous ways a little sooner.

Instead of threats to North Korea, how about situating American-owned prisons there and banishing for 10 years Americans who violate the handgun law. That would create employment opportunities for the impoverished nation, and lower the cost and burden of housing prisoners here. Besides, who would want to escape there? Might be worse outside the wall.

-- David Gloor, Seattle

Push it to the Legislature

Shooting incidents, random and/or premeditated, seem to happen nearly every day. The same arguments come up every time: People demand stronger gun laws, while the gun lobby says the laws we have are adequate -- if they were only enforced.

In order for the general public to see and learn how the Second Amendment works in real life, it should be a requirement that what is known about every shooting incident is made public.

If we have the weapon, the following should be made public: make and type of gun; in whose name it is registered, who bought it and who used it; who sold it to the present registered owner and when; whether it was purchased through a store, trade show, catalog or other; where and how it was stored; the reason given by the registered owner in the application for the need to own a gun, and the situation around the incident.

If the weapon is not found, publish what we can find out: type of bullet, caliber and what type of weapon was used

If this information is published for every incident, the public would learn a lot about the effectiveness of current gun laws and enforcements.

We should then be able to determine if the laws are adequate and, if they are enforced properly, who should own a gun; does the registered owner properly take care of and control the gun; did the seller properly process the applications to purchase the gun; are the laws adequate with regard to what type of guns should be available to the general public; are there any patterns in gun misuse, and should guns clearly designed for combat be made available to the public.

Statistics are available to describe how serious this situation is but if this information is properly published after every incident, an informed public opinion could be formed and possibly influence the Legislature to develop proper gun laws that could protect the general public from gun misuse.

-- Johannes Christoffersen, Bellevue

Let's continue the change

I was at the Southcenter Mall with my family watching a movie when the theater went into lockdown mode because of a shooting.

At the time, we were unaware of the details, and because we were on the top floor, we were oblivious to the chaos and horror going on two floors below us.

The parking lot was gridlocked for hours, and only until we arrived home did I realize that one young man had been killed and one seriously injured.

What disturbs me is the number of racist comments that I've been seeing since this incident has happened.

There have been comments within discussion forums regarding Southcenter being a "ghetto mall" and a place for "gangbangers," and how this was typical of black people.

It just reminds me of the same kind of hatred that I witnessed not so long ago as I was watching those Gov. Sarah Palin rallies, where bigots were coming out of the woodwork, saying President-elect Barack Obama was a terrorist because his middle name was Hussein.

This is 2008 and we've just elected an African-American president so I'd like to think we've come a long way when it comes to race. But comments like this from small-minded people remind me that we still have a long way to go when it comes to understanding each other cross-culturally and stopping the stereotypes.

-- Meg Tapucol-Provo, Des Moines

Not a joke

After Megan Meier's death in the MySpace hoax, it is sad to read about another suicide involving the Internet ["Man's suicide involves drugs -- and a webcam," Nation & World, Nov. 22].

With the Internet as the medium and audience, knowing how to help someone who is thinking about suicide becomes much more complicated; the possibility of being known across the World Wide Web would appeal to many individuals who might see it as means to give a spiteful goodbye, gain posthumous notoriety or as a last-ditch effort to reach out for help.

The Internet is a public space for communicating on a global scale, but it has detached us emotionally from the information we express and receive. I wonder if any of those who had watched Abraham Biggs's suicide unfold feel anything emotionally right now toward his family.

It now becomes just another suicide in the news and another reminder to be mindful about what you say. Internet users need to see the Web as a communication of the interpersonal, not just something you see, or on which you read and comment.

-- Keouthdam Kim, Seattle

Simply a waste

I recently received my new vanity license plates, as required by Washington state law, although my old ones were just like new.

The old plates at least had some "class," with the embossed lettering. The new ones are printed on the flat surface, but the cost went up. Despite the price hike for new plates, the cheap quality of the new plates is embarrassing.

I used to be proud to have Washington plates on my car, but this is the last time I'll pay extra for vanity plates.

The law stating that all license plates have to be renewed periodically is a flat-out waste of money for a huge percentage of Washington vehicle owners and creates more clutter on this planet.

I understand this law came about because state troopers wanted it. But they (and the state Legislature) clearly have not considered the consequences, the additional expense and that one of the concepts of the "green movement" is trying to teach people to get over this "throwaway" mentality.

I think a very small percentage of license plates become unreadable in a short period, as claimed by the State Patrol.

Check with any collector of license plates, and they'll tell you most license plates 50 years old are still readable.

-- Hannah Murphy, Toledo

Better Homes and Gardens / MCT

Not everyone is thankful for the classic Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

No more gobble gobble

Editor, The Times:

President-elect Barack Obama has risen from humble beginnings to the power of the presidency. But, every one of us has the power to pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving.

In fact, here are some reasons to skip the turkey this Thanksgiving:

You are what you eat. Who wants to be a "butterball?"

You won't have to call the poultry hotline to keep your family alive.

You won't sweat the environment-and-food-resources-devastation guilt trip.

You won't spend a sleepless night wondering how the turkey lived and died.

Your body will appreciate a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol and hormones.

My family's Thanksgiving dinner will include a "tofurkey," lentil roast, mashed potatoes, corn stuffing, stuffed squash, chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and carrot cake.

An Internet search on vegetarian Thanksgiving got us lots of recipes and other information.

-- Alex Nelson, Seattle

Can't keep a good man down

On Nov. 20 I saw my first letter-to-the-editor from a holier-than-thou vegetarian reminding me not to eat turkey on Thanksgiving because it is cruel.

I should just eat vegetables like her.

This has caused me to decide to add some veal to the feast. We already had turkey and ham planned. Why not add meat from little baby calves confined in stalls where they can barely move until they are slaughtered for me to eat?

The next letter from a whiny vegetarian will cause me to add foie gras as an appetizer. Nothing like some goose liver specially fattened by force-feeding the poor helpless goose.

These vegetarians always make me think of the missionary who went to the island to convert the headhunting cannibals to Christianity. Of course the cannibals killed and ate the missionary, but the next day the cannibals were all violently ill.

It just goes to show, you can't keep a good man down.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

-- Dennis Doucette, Auburn

Thanks-taking day

It can get rather tiresome to hear the platitude about how we all need to give thanks, especially on Thanksgiving Day, for the bounty of food that currently exists in the Western world.

Especially around Thanksgiving Day, I cannot but reluctantly find that, for example, by saying grace before a meal we, the well-fed, are in effect assuming that our creator has found one portion of this planet's populace worthy of nourishment while allowing another to starve.

What also bewilders me is why we also believe that God found one entire family worthy of life while allowing another to lose a child to a disease, car accident, etc.?

But having said that, it's not that God does not care about his creation; he's just allowing humanity what we so crave, as did Adam and Eve who chose to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

I believe that God is quite unhappy with the human condition. However, we simply are harvesting the produce of our own doing, even though innocent people too often share in the resulting suffering.

Thanks-taking Day Dinner
Give me another of that big baked bird; it's for me, isn't it?
Give me another of the mashed potatoes; I said thanks, didn't I?
Give me another of the stuffing; I take it that there's more, isn't there?
Give me another of the honey-buttered carrots; didn't I say please?
Give me another of everything.

-- Frank Sterle Jr., White Rock, B.C.

Keep it local

On Wednesday Nov. ember 12th, an article was published about trying to eat locally in Seattle for Thanksgiving. "Those apples are from New Zealand? Thanks for Playing! Eat local for Thanksgiving."

People don't understand how easy it is to eat local in such a unique and diverse city like Seattle ["Those apples are from New Zealand? Thanks for Playing! Eat local for Thanksgiving," Food & Wine, Nov. 13].

We have many different local farmers markets that are going on everyday of the week. But If you probably think that all you can get there are s vegetables and fruit, but you are mistaken.

Our local farmers markets include items such as fruit, vegetables, bread, pastas, ice cream and dairy products. The biggest market of all, Pike Place Market, has even more to offer with items such as fish, meats, honey and jam.

Trying to eat local for Thanksgiving should be no problem for people who are willing to give it a shot.

Seattle is a city that can offer all of your traditional Thanksgiving foods. Get your apples local for your apple pie, find a local farmer who sells his turkeys for your main dish, and everything else you need from a local farmers market for your appetizers and side dishes.

-- Jennie VanDyk, Seattle

We're all naked

I was born and raised in Seattle and finally escaped 20 years ago ["Nudity ban in parks? Never mind," News, Nov. 15].

Naked bikers in Seattle is OK and legal? What ever happened to indecent exposure laws and flashing laws?
I think it's time for Seattle to come clean with a warning to all parents and change it's name to Sodom, Washington. At least then parents would be informed of what to expect when they bring their children to Woodland Park Zoo or Seattle's museums.

-- Pauline Cornelius, Olalla

Quick thinking

After reading the story about the man who fell from the Aurora Bridge, I asked myself: "Why would anyone want to become a police officer since you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't"? ["Officer defends his actions on Aurora Bridge," News, Nov. 21]

Officer Leonard Carver tried to help suicide victim Derik Loso on Nov. 3. So what if Carver tried to use handcuffs while Loso's hands were slipping out of their gloves as he hung from under the bridge? At least he tried to do something to help.

King County Executive Ron Sims should commend Carver for his creative thinking versus considering holding an inquest. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I'm sure no one would have wanted to be in Carver's shoes that day.

This incident will be etched forever in his mind.

-- Greg Kisinger, Renton

What else is new?

I read with interest The Seattle Times front-page story about the Snoqualmie Tribe's "big bet" on its I-90 casino ["Snoqualmie Tribe's big bet: the casino that almost wasn't," Nov. 2].

It reminded me of the years I had spent as a lawyer representing Alaska-native corporate interests after enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1976. The difference is that the Alaska Native Corporations were actually playing with their own money.

Your story talks about the Snoqualmie Tribe's rise from rags to potential riches in just 10 years; it describes a community effort directed at self-betterment and it dramatizes the enormous gamble of $375 million in borrowed money.

I am constrained to exclaim, "Only in America!" -- to coin the words of professional-boxing promoter Don King.

Quick and dirty research informs me that Bear Stearns [previously one of the largest global investment banks and securities trading and brokerage firms] underwrote $330 million of the debt in question, which expanded by another $45 million with the tribe's purchase of 1600 slot machines.

I can only guess that the tribe has already gleaned enormous benefits from our state and federal governments for having established a tribal identity in 1999 and undertaken this project, that it is gleaning other enormous benefits from private-industry interests and that the I-90 casino is now, and has always been, a "no-lose" proposition for the tribe.

Now, about that "big bet," "large gamble," "high-stakes venture" and the tribe's decision to "shoot the moon" on this project -- just what is the tribe's downside? And how is this any different from any other subprime risk we taxpayers are now having to assume?

-- Ramer Holtan, Mercer Island

Get inspired

A 7-year old perfectly in a break-dancing freeze pose? Now that's not ordinary news ["7-year-old break dancer is on top of the whirl," page one, Nov. 15].

It was great to read about the accomplishments of Jalen Testerman, especially when we are so used to hearing about all the problems going on in our world. Sometimes we forget how important it is to cultivate our youth and encourage them to reach their dreams and utmost potential.

There are endless opportunities for youth to find their passion, and stories like these open parents up to these possibilities.

I believe it is important for kids to expand their horizons to different activities, even if it may be a one-time thing. We live only once, so why wait until one is older when there is so much to experience at every age?

Jalen exhibits the amazing spirit and unique talent all kids have within them. I support him all the way, and hope that all of us can be inspired to get our own lives flying in dynamic ways.

-- Erika Sanchez, Seattle

Thomas James Hurst / The Seattle Times

Property owned by West Marine, a longtime marine-supply business located on Mercer Street, is being condemned by the city, part of a long-range plan to widen and beautify the Street.

We must do better

Editor, The Times:

I am of the opinion that fixing the "Mercer mess" is a very questionable use of resources ["Council bets hopes on federal stimulus plan for Mercer," Times, News, Nov. 18].

Surely, we can see the handwriting on the wall. Lines at food banks are increasingly lengthy.
Homeless, including families with children, are scattered around our city, living in filth and danger.

Community health clinics are strapped for resources and losing ground every year. In every age range, folks are suffering.

How can we decide to leave potholes and bridges in disrepair and consider, even for a moment, fixing the "Mercer mess"? How can we ignore the needs of our people?

Our mayor pushes to make Seattle a "world-class" city.

I prefer a city that honors its citizens by providing housing, transportation, health care and other human services. That would make Seattle a world-class city -- not pandering to developers (and a mayor) who may want an easier route to South Lake Union and its amenities.

Wake up. We can and must do better.

-- Nancy Bryant, Seattle

Not so average

I appreciate that you have published a positive story during the economic downturn ["Average King County family 'pretty solid,'." News, Nov. 18].

However, you have neglected to emphasize an important detail that sets the Bentler family ahead of many that are not so "solid." They purchased their home eight years ago for about half of what it's worth today. Incomes have certainly not doubled in eight years.

Do you think the Bentler's could have afforded a $300,000 home eight years ago with their income? Not a chance.

Today, many two-income professional families starting their careers are priced out of owning such a "modest" home.

My wife and I make about $57,000 and we have a young child and a dog, much like the Bentlers. We live in an apartment because we cannot afford the mortgage payment required for today's home prices. Too many families live in communities where home prices are way out of alignment with incomes.

A rise in foreclosures and sluggish home sales are a symptom of this misalignment. A price correction in the housing market is badly needed. Who will they sell homes to if a whole generation of young professionals cannot buy them?

-- Glenn Kohler, Olympia

Let's be real

Since Oct. 31, 12 people have died from youth violence ["Seattle to spend more on homeless; garbage, water, parking rates to rise," News, Nov. 18].

For decades, suburbanites have had the nonchalant attitude, "this will not happen in my neighborhood." This attitude led adults to believe the deviant and criminal behavior of the youth will not negatively impact the upper echelon of society.

We have raised a generation of children with no awareness of self and who are unloving, uninvolved and uncaring. We call them misguided youth; you can only be misguided if you received improper guidance. We looked down upon the youth in disgust with their sagging clothes, crooked baseball caps and revealing clothing. I remember my days of the AJ jeans, cross colors, white T-shirts, khaki pants, the Kangol and the NWA blasting from my boom box on the back of the bus.

But today it is time to get off the fence, stop whining about how much things will cost, what programs we need to establish, what label to use and most important stop living in blind fear. What we should do -- at no cost -- when you see young men in their sagging clothing or young women in their revealing clothing, stop and look them in the eyes, say "Hello, how are you today?" -- instead of turning your head and looking down at the ground.

We should always show the youth with our words, deeds and a positive visions how great an asset to society they can become.

I grew up around pimps, drug dealers, hustlers and gang bangers. I needed a reality check and these young people need one as well.

We must show them what life looks like if they continue on their destructive path. Show them the lifeless bodies of the young people who have died from violence. They do not need to see those nonthreatening, prom-dance photos that we see in the media.

We need to show the courtroom photos of the bereaved parents passing out, screaming and yelling because of the eternal pain, deep sorrow and emptiness they suffer. Show them there is no glamour when a jury discloses their verdict and a judge's sentencing is real.

Show them the photos of children in their orange jumpsuits in chains at Echo Glen and the lonely, haunting and cold jail cells of Maple Lane with a community toilet and shower.

If all else fails, show them videos of McNeil Island or Monroe penitentiaries. Explain to them the staggering number of their high-school friends they thought were cool who are now or will become jobless, homeless, addicted or incarcerated.

The game is still the same; it is only fiercer.

-- Elder Wyatt, Seattle

Now more than ever

Today, you reported that Seattle will finance youth-violence prevention and social services for the homeless population on a two-year budget approval.

This is interesting because I recently began outreaching to the homeless population in San Francisco, and was wondering how Seattle, where I am originally from, helps the homeless. As a community member, I feel extremely optimistic that during this recession, the city still recognizes the importance of selflessness for others in greater need and is not going through budget cuts for social programs that are vital to our community.

What people don't realize is that because we are in a recession, more people will need to access food banks and other social services and that change takes time. Sure, we don't want to pay more for utilities or parking meters, but it's just like gas prices; we complained about how high they got but still drove anyway because we had to.

One thing that could really make a difference is better education about homelessness. I know many people who are quite ignorant about issues surrounding homelessness and as a result don't understand the need for funding of important programs.

-- Karen Hong, San Francisco, Calif.

You wouldn't eat
your friends, would you?

As Thanksgiving approaches and we plan our dinners, we need to think about what it is we are eating.
I recently saw a banner that read, "Holidays are Murder on Turkeys," and it hit me once again how horrible this time of year is for the animals that end up on our tables. We have many alternatives to eating turkeys -- from the infamous Tofurkey to the Celebration Roast made by Seattle-based Field Roast.

Take advantage of the opportunity to have a cruelty-free meal rather than one that is the result of slaughter. As children, we trace our hands and draw them into turkeys; we should continue to embrace that love of animals as we get older and show a respect for life by not eating them.

-- Amanda Schemkes, Seattle

You're all sick

I heard that the city of Seattle allows people to ride their bikes naked ["Flash: Parks may ban nudity," News, Nov. 13].

What sicko said that was OK? There is a prophecy that the city of Seattle will be destroyed by a huge earthquake and there is one on the way next year. The space needle will be laying on its side and all the buildings will be rubble.

I would say this will be well-deserved to such a perverse place.

-- Marietta Alexander, Everett

And so it goes

I have lived in several states and been to many countries at different times in my life. I grew up in the South, but from my earliest memories, I knew I needed to live in the Northwest.

In 1996, after many failed attempts to find a home in a state close to my family, I followed my heart to the the "emerald city" in the "evergreen state."

I remember when I first crossed the Cascade mountains -- the smells of sweetgrass, Firs, Blue Spruce and Pine trees. The air was fresh and clean from the rain, the water was cool and clear and the mountains were snow-capped and as beautiful as a painting. I found myself thanking the maker of this pristine part of the world for allowing me to live in this sacred place.

But as the days and months and years passed by, I began to notice a change. Wherever I went, I saw the trees being cut down to make homes, apartments and other buildings for all the other "new" people who came here.

Over the years, there has been less rain but, when it does rain, the rivers overflow their banks and mudslides occur because of the loss of so many trees. Since I came to this wonderful place, the air and water are not as fresh and clean and there is less snow in the mountains.

People who did not care about this beautiful place came and went for jobs. As these people came and went, a foul stain remained.

It has been 12 years now, and what I see saddens me. Where once there was a forest, now stands an empty $1 million house, or a half-filled apartment complex, or a car lot. But the trees are still being felled and new things are being built next to these places.

People like me, who came and walked softly on this land, can barely afford to live where our hearts brought us.

I wonder what names this state and this city will be called when the trees are gone, no rain falls, and the mountaintops are no longer white with snow. I try to leave no mark on the places I go, but so many others do not follow my example.

Maybe if we act swiftly and ardently, we can change our path. Our fate is in the peoples' hands. That includes you.

We do not own the land. Mother Nature does not count dollar bills; she counts the weight of our footsteps. Remember those who walked before us and think about those who will come after.
I will end this letter with the words of the Great Chief after whom this city is named:

"Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hill-
side, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or
happy event in days long vanished. Even the rocks, which seem to be dumb
and dead as they swelter in the sun along the silent shore, thrill with memories
of stirring events connected with the lives of my people, and the very dust
upon which you now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps than
yours, because it is rich with the blood of our ancestors, and our bare feet
are conscious of the sympathetic touch."
— Chief Seattle's Oration, Puget Sound (1854)

-- Lisa Warner, Everett

Practice what you preach

I chuckled at the hypocrisy of your "Election 2008: Tolerance comes slowly" editorial [Nov. 10]. On one hand, you praise increasing tolerance in America, but on the other hand, you show great intolerance of views that differ from your own.

Do you really want a more tolerant society? Then maybe you need to start modeling it yourself.

-- James Woollard, Redmond

People are people

I believe those who spend time attempting to take away our freedom of choice would be better off spending time helping those already walking the Earth who need assistance with living. I am sure they would be very grateful.

The abstinence-only birth-control idea needs to be shelved too. People are animals, supposedly advanced over the ones we go see in the zoo. Unfortunately, not all think before doing or exercise self-control when needed. We are not perfect and never will be.

How would you like your right to practice your religion taken away?

-- Daniel Schitkovitz, Kirkland

Where's the gene?

The difference in our viewpoints lies in the belief of whether homosexuality comes from nature or nurture ["Scar of intolerance mars historic election," Leonard Pitts Jr., syndicated columnist, Nov. 12]. Pitts says it comes from nature. I believe the truth is somewhere in-between, but more toward nurture. Science has not found a gay gene.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has, over the past 10 years, shifted its viewpoint for explaining homosexuality from mostly biological to one that includes psychological, emotional and social factors.

In 1998, the APA brochure "Answers to Your Questions about Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality" states, "There is considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality."

The current APA brochure "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality" states, "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles."

Therefore, unless there is conclusive scientific evidence that homosexuality is entirely biological, treating it similar to racial arguments are invalid.

True, prejudice and bigotry are wrong for any reason.

Although I do not condone the behavior, I don't condemn the person.

-- Stephen Brown, Renton

What's it going to be?

Explain to your daughters why it's OK to discriminate against gays in America.

That's a conversation that I hope President-elect Barack Obama never has to have. And he won't if he's fighting to end the church-sanctioned hate that once again is spreading across the land. But he can't have it both ways; either he uses his power to eradicate the toxic mentality that says gays are inferior, or he joins with those who perpetuate it.

How do we rationalize giving a large segment of our society only a second-class citizenship? If I couldn't explain that to a kid, how could I justify it to myself?

-- Marty Zupan, Seattle

Don't call it that

I object to the word "tolerance." We tolerate traffic jams on our roads and slugs in our gardens ["Election 2008: Tolerance comes slowly," editorial, Nov. 10].

Tolerating people is not good enough. We should not be working toward tolerating diversity; we should be working toward accepting diversity, even relishing diversity.

I agree with the editorial: Even social tolerance comes slowly. I wonder how long it will take for acceptance to peek into view. Maybe President-elect Barack Obama's election will hasten that time.

-- Mary Sumioka, Federal Way

Where are we headed?

Tolerance? I am stunned at the issues The Seattle Times lumped together in [Monday's] editorial. Are we as a people intolerant if we take a stand against assisted suicide? That is what Initiative 1000 has approved. Now a very ill person can take his or her own life, rather than be cared for in those last days in one of our hospice centers.

Two of the measures you mention as gains in tolerance increase abortion rights. Yes, this is a divisive issue in our society, but can we say we are becoming more tolerant when we ignore that very inconvenient truth that abortion involves ending the life of a baby?

I believe we need to strive to understand each other and to appreciate the different places we come from when we vote on important issues. But today, looking at the issues you have bundled together in your editorial, I am saddened at the slippery slope our so-called "tolerance" may lead us down.

-- Peggy Anderson, Kirkland

Thank you

Dear Blaine Harden: I am an international student from Japan, so I was very happy and interested to read your story, "Japan elevates convenience stores to an art" [Nov. 9, Business].

I love Japanese convenience stores so much, so I thank you for your research. Since I came to the U.S., I have missed them. Japanese convenience stores are fun to go to because there are so many things to do, as you mentioned in your story.

When I read "the most convenient convenience stores on Earth," I agreed. From your story, I have also gained a lot of new knowledge about them.

One thing I was really impressed with was the strategy with which they have standardized the size of the stores. This makes sense and seems effective.

I also realized that they have developed much more quickly than I thought. Thank you for writing about Japan.

-- Masayuki Konishi, Bellevue

Proposition 8: not an act of fear

Gregory Turner's claim in Sunday's Seattle Times that gay couples consistently exhibit a higher level of fidelity and responsibility in marriage than their heterosexual fellow citizens has absolutely no factual basis ["Fear and oppression also won on Election Night," guest columnist, Nov. 9].

Marriage has always been a religious union between a man and a woman and voting to keep it that way is not a political act of fear. It is not the responsibility of state or federal agencies to legally recognize marriages of same-sex couples, nor should it be.

-- Gene Davis, Lake Forest Park

Not a civil-rights issue

I am pleasantly surprised of the recent passing of Proposition 8, not because I want gay marriage banned, but rather, it defies the liberal claim that the country wants to move left of center.

The fact is a liberal state like California passed a proposition that would ban gay marriage -- a measure that was ultimately decided by minorities who voted for Sen. Barack Obama. It is good to know that minorities who voted yes on Proposition 8 didn't see gay marriage as a civil-rights issue, because it isn't. Liberals claim that civil rights for gays is the same struggle as civil rights for all minorities.

Wrong.

It's not the same struggle. Gays were never enslaved in this country. Gays always had the right to vote and assemble. Gays have always had opportunities to meet up with each other and form marital-like unions. Seeking the privilege to marry -- something which they already have, provided that it's to someone of the opposite sex -- is not the same as being completely blocked from marrying, or from marital rights.

Gay marriage is a narrowly privatized solution for basic supports such as medical insurance and pension plans. Surprisingly, a majority of liberal Democrats oppose gay marriage. Part of the radical homosexual agenda is to silence its critics. As a strong proponent of free speech, I'm not going to restrain myself from commenting on legitimate issues facing our nation.

-- James Lee, Lake Forest Park

Don't forget where we came from

I dropped off my absentee ballot at my polling station. I love taking it straight to the kind people who dedicate their day to ensure that ethical voting practices are enforced and to ensure there's a smiling individual -- from the neighborhood present to answer questions.

This is the last year of poll booths in Washington state. I had no idea until today that this community gathering of passionate, caring individuals will soon be a thing of the past.

Even though I spend as little as three minutes to ensure my ballot ends up in the proper location, I thrive on that little bit of neighborly spirit, the familiar smell of elementary schools or the buzz of certain congregational meeting centers.

Walking out of the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church [on Election Day] made me sad. What this departing trend represents in a society driven more by text-message communication than handwritten sentiments gives me pause about the direction and future of community.

I am going to miss the kind, elderly generation who show up to work with fresh baked goods and a sense of purpose of their civic duty. How often do we take the opportunity to talk with and learn from our wisest and eldest generation? The disconnect from them is growing even more extreme.

I started out the day canvassing in Wallingford for the Democratic Headquarters. Along one of the streets of our targeted area, a women in her 60s began attacking one of the volunteers. She raised her voice, pointed at each one of us and said, "I hate your generation and what you represent." She claimed that in her attempts to take her little dog into grocery stores and coffee shops that she has been discriminated against and has become a victim of our rigidity and obsessive need to follow rules.

Although her claims were obtuse and her attacks generalized, I couldn't help but try to understand her from her perspective. I felt bad that she'd experienced something so discriminating that she felt the need to attack us and carry such hatred in her heart. All I could tell her was, "I love your passion, but not your hatred." This woman's feelings were legitimately hurt.

I wondered how many other elderly folks had been driven to feel this way by any sort of disconnect inspired by "my generation." How do they feel about us now that the rich tradition of voting with community has faded into the private spaces of our individual homes? I just hope, in the future, after the loss of our public-voting tradition has dampened, we remember the wonderful people who delightfully welcomed us into their voting domain and find a way to include them in our daily version -- whatever that may be.

-- Erinn Hale, Seattle

Start at the beginning

Bob Young reported on Sunday that Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, in response to recent teen deaths, is proposing a $9 million initiative to prevent youth violence ["Gang ties suspected in shootings near Garfield High School," News, Nov. 2].

Monday's Jerry Large column outlines the most effective place to invest that money ["Education gap starts early," staff columnist, Nov. 3]. Large states, ". . . although most of our children are born with incredible potential, far too many of them never see their promise fulfilled because unnurtured potential withers. If letting that happen to children isn't criminal, I don't know what is, especially since we know how to avoid it."

Investing in an organization such as Child Care Resources to assure that every child has a great start is an investment in our future. An initiative to simply assuage the immediate pain of a young life lost is shortsighted.

Research confirms a proven correlation between quality early-childhood education and decreased crime, incarceration and high-school dropout rates, ultimately saving $7 or more for every $1 invested.

Despite pending slashes in government budgets we must demand support of early learning to launch a child toward a more productive life.

Mayor Nickels, we'll help you effectively invest that $9 million and when you leave office, you can also leave a legacy.

-- Nanny and Ken Stephens, Seattle

Take away more than the Lexus

As I read "2 sentenced for running brothel," I became very disturbed to learn the prison sentence these two men received [News, Nov. 2].

Yin Hoo Yap received 27 months in prison, and Kou Chwung Liu was sentenced only one year. These men were involved in operating a local place of human trafficking, which is a nightmare for all of the victims.

We assume too often that there is no such thing as slavery in America. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report in 2004, 10 million people were victims of human trafficking. This does not include the 600,000 to 800,000 people, including children, who were trafficked across international borders and sold into slavery.

Many of these people who are trafficked have been promised a bright future in another country, arrive at their destination, and are immediately raped and sold as if they were objects for others' pleasure and disposal.

Open your eyes, take a look around. Thousands of women, men and children are entering through our ports and being sold into the most vicious slavery that I can imagine. Children under the age of 18 are being sold and used as if they were something that wasn't precious to anyone.

What if that were your child, sister, brother, niece or nephew being forced into a cold crate and shipped across the world to be raped and put to excruciating work.

The acts that these people sold into slavery are being forced to be a part of are inhumane and tragic.

There are ways to put a stop to this business of human trafficking and a prevent millions from being victims of slavery. Sentencing two guys from one to a little over two years is not going to prevent them from trafficking more innocent people once they get out of prison. I would have given them life in prison.

The judge who imposed the sentence, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, states in the story, "the tragedy of these cases is that, culturally, in Southeast Asia it is more acceptable for young people to be drawn in to this activity."

I don't care where you're from or what your culture allows you to be a part of. These two men were in America, home of the free, not home of slavery.

These two shouldn't have gotten off as easy as they did. One of them had to forfeit his 2004 Lexus. Oh
dear, how will he ever survive without it? I believe the sentencing should have been dealt with more harshly than just a slap on the wrist and a "go home now."

--Ashley Bales, Kirkland

There's a difference

Over the past few days I've seen a lot of coverage about the rally we had on the WSU campus in response to the recent hate crimes in the Moscow and Pullman areas. I was happy to see a story on your Web site, and grateful for how many news sources discussed it before and after it happened ["WSU students wearing red to support gays," News, Oct. 28].

Unfortunately, most news sources said the rally was in support of gay students. That is not accurate. We were in support of GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender] students. It may not seem like a big distinction to some, but for members of the queer community, it erases most of our identities.

Several of these attacks were directly related to someone's gender identity or expression; that is rendered invisible when you call us all "gay."

Gender identity and expression are very different from sexuality. We're not just gay -- we are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer.

I'd also like to mention many of us are allies [friends of the gay community], who have also been targeted this week. We're all working together to stop the hate, and we all deserve your respect and acknowledgment.

-- Meredith Williams, Pullman

Don't ruin our hangout

Ever since anyone can remember, baseball has been a favorite pastime of the American family. They are events where fathers and sons, grandpas and grandsons and whole families come together.

For Seattle Mariner's fans it's a time to have garlic fries, fish and chips and crack peanuts with your son or grandson as they enjoy the game. But when a child comes home and talks about their time at the game, I am sure that no parent wants to have their child's highlights include the Deja Vu club that they walked by on their way to Safeco Field ["Strip club proposed near Safeco Field," News, Oct. 28].

No wonder the Mariners aren't happy. A new strip club right down the block is a detrimental blow to the classic American family hangout. The team is correct to say that the city should not allow a nude-dancing club to come into the vicinity. Not when there have been, and will continue to be, thousands of children filtering through the stadium.

An attorney who is arguing for building the club claims there would be no "garish signs" and that it would not be "a place where people would hang around." Well, if it's not a place where people are going to linger, and there's not going to be much advertising, then why even put it there in the first place?

This not only affects the Mariners, but also the Seahawks who are just a few blocks over, who also share similar values.

In addition to Seattle's professional sports teams, there are the local businesses to consider. What business wants to share a wall with a dirty, immoral, nude dancing club?

I commend the Mariners baseball club for not striking out on this one and maintaining their goal of a family-friendly environment and atmosphere at their stadium.

-- Jordyn Cline, Redmond

How would you like it?

I find it difficult to understand why a person would want to chain a loving creature like a dog, treating it like a caged animal ["Should it be illegal to keep dogs chained?," News, Oct. 21].

Why don't the owners who chain their dogs try an experiment and chain themselves for 10 hours a day on the same chain they use for their "best friend"? Then they should ask themselves why they want to do this to their dog.

Breeds that repeatedly kill children, adults and other pets should be banned as it is obvious many owners do not have a clue what a dog requires to have a happy life, let alone care if their dog attacks someone.

-- Michael Evans, Seattle

Think twice

Although public safety is of prime importance, there is another crucial reason to ban the chaining of dogs: The practice leads to a tragic life for dogs.

Dogs are very social creatures that need the companionship of others. It's an act of extreme cruelty to chain a dog. Owners who are not prepared to care for dogs properly and give them the attention and love they deserve should rethink their actions. Congratulations to the Metropolitan King County Council for their compassionate stance.

-- Nancy Pennington, Seattle

Such is life
Sure, we have some problems, but the snakes on Wall Street who are rich because of our stupidity are still rich.

Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan have issues that remain unresolved and we pretend to care.

The great people this country really needs won't get into politics because of all the sleaze.

Breaking news is breaking out everywhere, except it's not even close to being breaking news.

Our kids have lost faith in the system, many TV preachers' integrity ratings are now below used-car salesman and lawyers and reality shows have taken over our lives.

But most of us still have a bed to sleep in, water to drink and all the fast food we can inhale. Gas prices are coming down, our kids mostly go to good schools and, for many, the biggest daily decision remains the choice of whether to watch Oprah or Dr. Phil.

While the world crumbles all around us, with people and institutions and ideas and governments falling like flies, a new TV season is here complete with all our favorites. At the end of these new shows we hear words that make life worth living, make it edgy, make it exciting and give us incredible hope.

And what are those words?

"Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode."

Powerful, succinct, good-mood-inducing words that make us feel like the world is on the right track and everything is going to be OK.

Now if I could just find the clicker …
-- Bob Snyder, Lynnwood

Proposal discriminates against blind
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is a champion of saving the environment. However, both he and the Seattle City Council majority lack sensitivity to people who are blind or sight-impaired.

The City Council vote Monday ["Seattle council backs more sidewalk cafes," Local News, Oct. 7] can only be construed as discrimination against pedestrians and those who are disabled. Encouraging more sidewalk clutter by reducing sidewalk-cafe permit fees by 74 percent will mean impeding access to those who cannot see.

We hope the public hearings on this issue will result in testimony by those who are disabled and who want to walk in safety.
-- Bill Wippel, executive director of Tape Ministries Northwest, SeaTac

We'll miss you, Paul
I was quite sad to hear about the passing of actor Paul Newman this past weekend ["Known for his roles as blue-eyed rogues," News, Sept. 28]. He was one of the greatest actors of all time and, in my opinion, none of today's actors even come close to his talent level.

Not only was he a great actor, but a great person as well. I know this for a fact, because I had a personal encounter with him. I was a screenwriting student at the University of Washington back in 1999. My professor was the legendary Stewart Stern, screenwriter of such famous movies as "Rebel Without a Cause" and "The Ugly American." Newman was one of his closest friends, and one day the class was surprised with a special guest -- it was Newman, himself.

He was just awesome. Newman spent the entire hour with us. He spoke for a while, answered all of our questions and even signed autographs after class. It was a moment I'll never forget.

I had only seen a couple of his movies before that, but in the following weeks I watched every one of his movies. He should have won more than just one Oscar. We'll miss you, Mr. Newman.
-- Murat Danishek, Mountlake Terrace