Letters

This conveys a self-righteous, ignorant, American ethnocentrism that can be summed up in one word: racism.

I'm visiting from out of town. I know, I know, don't let the door hit me on the way out, blah, blah, blah. No place is free of short-sighted views like those expressed in these letters, but I just hope that when this country falls, the invading forces make refugees out of those readers first. Maybe then they'll realize that their sentiments are shallow and naive.

Name withheld by request

Dana Point
This story of Dana Wells ("For Reasons Unknown," David Holthouse, February 11) was very sad and tragic. What can one say when a youth is taken in the prime of his life? If these two other boys who were in the car thought it was so cool to be friends with Dana because his stepfather is from the band Sepultura, why put his life in danger? Why not come forward with the truth now that tragedy has struck? It's a moral outrage that these two boys have made money off the death of their friend, yet they can't say what happened that night. I hope these two young men live long, healthy lives with the guilt on their shoulders. Hopefully one day their simultaneous amnesia will be cured and poor Dana will finally rest in peace.

Mary L. Ramirez
Phoenix

The Hard Celibacy
Your short piece on the column by Arizona Republic staffer Doug Carroll ("A Hand for Doug," Flashes, February 18) was unnecessarily mean-spirited. Perhaps you would prefer that Mr. Carroll engage in sex out of wedlock and go into detail on his justifications to his 9-year-old son? I believe that the obvious failures of the sexual revolution and the ill effects of this country's generally permissive attitude about sexual relations would be ample reason to support and applaud Mr. Carroll's decision to abstain. While I am sure that he has other good reasons for his decision, his one stated reason is good enough to be worthy of our (and your) support.

Patrick Mertz
Phoenix