Finally, although it may be unfair to blame anyone in particular for Loi Nguyen's suicide, it is cruel and ridiculous to say that he himself was to blame or that one needn't feel sorry for him. When a person is "far down" enough, it doesn't matter who there may be to talk to. Several studies of suicide indicate that by the time it makes sense to kill yourself, it's almost impossible to see anything else clearly. It's narrow-minded to see suicides as stupid or proud or self-centered people. Generally, they are anything but.
I extend my sympathies to the Nguyens for their loss. I am also very sorry that people with so much ignorance and cruelty in them feel the need to share it with everyone.
Name withheld by request
The letter from Brandy King (February 18) even further emphasizes my point. We are all totally ignorant people and we need a wake-up call. Brandy says that we allowed the Vietnamese here and that they should learn our "system." What system is she talking about? Is it the one where all the white people get all of the money in the world and oppress the minorities? The one where the white people come to a new land and steal it from the people who had been living on it for thousands of years? Brandy, this country isn't yours to give. You, too, were given a chance to live in this country. Treat it as a privilege, because that's exactly what it is.
Mark McLane
via Internet
How sad that those little racist punks at Thunderbird were allowed to go about hassling minorities in an unchecked manner. Their parents should be ashamed.
Kevin Woodbridge
via Internet
Lend Me Your Earp
A couple of points on Tony Ortega's "I Varied Wyatt Earp" (March 4). He says Celia Blaylock committed suicide. In fact, there is no evidence she took her life intentionally. No witness at the inquest said that. At least one witness said she told him that Wyatt Earp had ruined her life. She was a laudanum addict and took it quite frequently. Like many addicts, she probably overdosed. It happens. If Ortega had said there are historians who believe Celia Blaylock committed suicide, that would have been accurate. As an amateur historian, I believe that is possible, but don't know it for a fact.
Secondly, Mr. Ortega said Wyatt Earp took up with Sadie (Josephine Sarah Marcus) after leaving Blaylock. There is strong evidence to show that Earp took up with Sadie before leaving Blaylock or Tombstone. Frank Waters in The Earp Brothers of Tombstone gives plenty of evidence for it. I suspect the Cason manuscript ignores this because it was Josie's memoirs and even Josie's nieces admitted Josie was secretive about the Tombstone years and that she was "hiding" something.
I have known for years that I Married Wyatt Earp was a fictional account. Anyone who reads Glenn Boyer's material knows from the outset that he is pro-Earp and should read his material in that light. To do otherwise would be to ignore the conservative credo: Let the buyer beware. That does not detract from the information one learns from Boyer's material. I admit here that I am pro-Boyer. I have spoken to him via the Internet, but did not become acquainted with him until last year. I still have not talked with him via telephone or in person. That aside, let me also say there are ideas about Earp put forth by Mr. Boyer with which I strongly disagree. But anyone who says, after years of reading his material, "he tricked me," I can only say, you allowed yourself to be tricked.
Ellis Badon
Covington, Louisiana
Swing Low
Regarding the article "Moral Sex" (David Holthouse and Paul Rubin, December 31), I'm an average citizen with a family, a full-time career and a home-based business. In my neighborhood, there are two strip clubs, one adult book store, one swinger's club and two churches. Very rarely do I see police activity at any of the adult locales, but one of the churches has been broken into twice already this year. My neighbors repeatedly send each other to jail or the hospital, and they do not visit the adult clubs; however, they do attend church. I'm not trying to put down churches. I come from a religious background.
The point is, crime happens! We all have the same chances at becoming the next victim, no matter the religion, race, social class level or even a person's choice of entertainment.
We have fundamental rights that cannot be taken away, no matter how hard anyone tries. Not only are those rights constitutional, but we also have the right to be human as given by God. Both God and the Constitution gave us rights and freedom to choose our own path. Neither states we have to be identical to everyone else.
If you don't like nudity, stay out of those places and shower with your clothes on. If you don't like religion, you can always walk away and they can still pray for you. If you don't like politics . . . well, my newspaper made rather good kindling in the fireplace that passionate Valentine's night. Pop the cork and enjoy life!
John A. Wright
via Internet
