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The Red Cross has taken its lumps, primarily from national media. We have accepted criticism from some people in our community; and we have taken reasonable steps to rectify the situation. But we will not tolerate false claims or exaggeration of the circumstances.
Everyone is entitled to express his or her opinion -- that is what makes our country such a unique and wonderful place. We merely ask that those like Ms. Perkins, who express their opinions as columnists, base them on facts and not misconceptions and inaccuracies. Stefanie Groot
Public Affairs Officer
Greater Carolinas Chapter,
American Red Cross
Hal The Urban Poet
To The Editors:
I thoroughly enjoyed Hal Crowther's "Sidewalks of New York" article (CL, December 5). It was one of the most unusual examples of prose that I have read. Although he wrote of people, places and things, there was a second level of communication, for me at least, which conjured up wisps of images with poetic hints of emotions. Like they say Paris is; so is New York City to anyone who has really lived there and survived on his own. There are only a few writers, mainly poets, who can truly write about the great cities of the world. Hal's short piece comes mighty close to qualifying.
Charles Blackwell
York, SC
Tara the Atheistic Socialist
To The Editors:
This is written in reference to "Killing Off Their Own Kind" (Citizen Servatius, November 28). Ms. Servatius' writing betrays her education -- or lack thereof -- as being that obtained in a (socialist, unpatriotic, atheistic/agnostic) institution. If the history you have been taught was accurate and authentic, you would know that America was founded by conservative, predominantly Christian individuals!
You "wimpy" liberals advocate state government that would ultimately lead to a police state much like communism; Serbia of recent history, or presently in the Sudan and the Taliban!
Rather than the rape, murder, brutal and barbaric treatment of citizens which is characteristic of the above forms of government, we Christian conservatives ". . .go to the polls. . ." to elect candidates who support freedom, liberty, and the rights of individuals! Which reminds me -- these assurances of life in America have been preserved at the expense of thousands of lives plus untold misery due to suffering and disability by those Americans who have given their literal best! (I doubt Servatius learned that in the history courses she has attended!)
Oh, it is not a "bother to go to the polls" -- rather, a priceless privilege which we exercise. Now do you know why we go?! "Let's roll!" -- President George Bush. God bless!
Charles Nicholson
Concord, NC
Lucy the Astute Observer
To The Editors:
Sometimes I am embarrassed to tell people I'm a Christian; for example, when I see the kinds of letters that Creative Loafing printed from people blasting Lucy Perkins for her column on overzealous Christian evangelism ("Christ! What's Wrong With You People," November 28). I thought her comments, even though they were written in a style that was aggressive, were exactly right when it comes to the kind of in-your-face preaching many Christians subject other people to. Yes, Jesus said to spread the word, but that doesn't mean doing it to the point of turning other people off, and surely not in a way that communicates a smug sense of superiority. How is that going to do any good? I find Ms. Perkins to be a very astute and very funny observer of the world today and I hope my "fellow" Christians won't convince CL that she doesn't have a place in your paper.
William K. Royall
Charlotte
Taking The Consequences
To the Editors:
Sometimes I wonder if the concept of responsibility ever occurs to some folks at Creative Loafing. So many articles seem to discuss victims, always innocent, but somehow suffering from the callousness of "society."
I just read Amy Rogers's article, "Struggling in a Wealthy Town" (December 12). It begins with a charming photograph of its subject, Temika Black, a very beautiful lady. She is described as a single mother of three, unable to afford her rent or car payments. She is struggling to make a life for herself and her children, while maintaining her three years of sobriety.
Yet, Ms. Rogers's description of Temika Black simply blanks out the truth of those comments. Without a husband, or even a stable boyfriend, Miss Black has had three children. Having been a fatherless child herself, Miss Black passes that legacy on to her own kids. Single motherhood is a well-known contributor to poverty.
