Readers React to Last Week; Was Claude from Upper Egypt?; Good: Disch's Fiction, Cabaret Laws Piece; Bad: Website, Taki
All right, who was Claude La Badarian? A quick look at the encyclopedia reveals that Badarian is the modern name of a Neolithic people who lived in what is now el-Badari in upper Egypt. They were famed for their pottery and glass, but that doesn't give a clue. I was hoping that Claude La Badarian was the name of some dissolute historical figure, but I couldn't find any info. Enlighten me please.
Larry Siegel, Manhattan
It'd Be Ahit
Thomas Disch's "After Postville" (9/5) was one amazing story; I haven't seen a better one in a local (or national) publication in a while. I hope you'll keep running fiction of that caliber regularly (a literary supplement wouldn't be amiss).
Kathleen Warnock, Manhattan
Color Commentary
Eva Neuberg is partially right about the racist aspect to the closing of cabarets ("New York City," 8/22.) In my experience the authorities have no interest in cabarets one way or the other. They act when neighbors get involved. When the club No Moore was closed last spring, it stemmed from neighbor complaints. The club was open for several years playing music that brought an acceptable clientele and no neighborhood reactions. When No Moore introduced African and Latin music the clients, the neighbors changed. Darker faces brought darker moods.
It was no accident that many of these same neighbors were instrumental in attempting the "White Street Whistle" campaign several years back. They wanted to issue whistles to the neighbors so they could alert one another when "someone who didn't belong" appeared near or on White St. The authorities jumped right into the No Moore fracas when they heard the whistles blowing.
Chuck Harris, Manhattan
Fault!
Taki's entire column of 9/12 ("Top Drawer") is based on the claim that "All [Lleyton] Hewitt did was try to get a line judge removed after two foot faults were called on him" and that this engendered unwarranted cries of racism. This is not at all what happened. What happened was that Hewitt stated that the line judge made his calls because both the line judge and Hewitt's opponent were black.
Whether this invocation of color qualifies as "racism" is arguable. That Taki's misrepresentation of what happened is truly lousy journalism is not.
Steven Goldberg, Manhattan
Time to Reassess Our Priorities
After viewing the movie Independence Day millions of parents assured their children that they shouldn't be afraid?that could never happen here in America. Sept. 11 shattered that myth.
Americans are angered. Angered at the terrorists. Also angered at our government. How can we allow this to be done to us? Why are we so vulnerable? Where is our intelligence? We are appalled at the breach of security at not one, but three major airports in our country. We are terrified that during the attack, our Pentagon and White House were "in play." We previously thought this unthinkable.
We have only to look at ourselves for the answer. On Larry King Live, an expert on terrorism explained that we now have to put tighter security in airports and even consider an air marshal on every flight. Mr. King's response: What about the time it will take to check in and board planes?
We now have a clue as to why this happened. Our concerns today are about time, convenience and, yes, earnings. Are we plugged into the Internet, can we e-mail, is our cellphone in range or are we going to get a roaming charge, can I have information faxed to me. What's the quickest way I can pay a bill or order merchandise? How can I purchase stock or do my banking without having to interact with another human being?
We are no longer concerned with those humdrum problems of yesteryear. Americans no longer worry about air raids as we did during the World Wars. We have become complacent about bombings because we haven't had one in a while. Did anyone hear the emergency broadcast warnings sounded on radio or tv?
We have placed personal freedoms and liberties above the essential of safety. We have taken that for granted. We have become arrogant and callous, and feel we can do as we please and nothing will stop us, nor do we feel or foresee any harm coming to us. We have become overconfident. Our economic successes have made us believe we are "masters of the universe." This, we feel, is the mark of a great country.
On an episode of Frasier a character declared that one of the desserts was "to die for." The father, played by John Mahoney, reminded him that "your family and country are to die for." How far from wrong is this assessment of our society today? I thought of that as I walked home up 2nd Ave. on Sept. 11 and watched the packed houses of outdoor cafes. After all, while thousands were injured and dying in the smoke and wreckage of lower Manhattan, it was a beautiful day. I know many needed to talk out these atrocities. I must remember to ask my grandparents if they went out to dinner after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Or were they glued to their radio thinking that this might be the end of the world?
The "Market" is now closed for the longest time since the Great Depression. I think our country needs something like another depression to get refocused on what's important. Let's put those fatcats, with their perks, in their place. A little attitude adjustment for those yuppie-scum? Stop worrying about the frills: yachts, sportscars, electronic gizmos and thousand-dollar suits. It won't be a "living hell" if you can't get a reservation at a fancy restaurant. Let's impress the ladies with the quality of our character and not the quantity in our wallets.
Our thanks for our freedom and liberties? Internet pedophiles and sexual deviants who are able to step out of their virtual world into reality and do real harm. Rapists whose activities are so pronounced we had to create Megan's Law as a partial protection, so at least we're notified when a deviant is in town. A drug culture that is so rampant police look the other way at the small dealers and try to focus on the kingpins, while America acknowledges we are losing the war on drugs. Groups of militia whose enemy is their own government and who exercise their anger by harming their own country's citizens. International terrorists who sublet our country, unchecked, in order to conduct their barbarism. Enemies from without, enemies from within. We simply accept these evils as the price for our freedom.
Sept. 11 was America's wakeup call. It's our nation's black eye. We've lost sight of what really matters. It's time to put our house in order. It's time to get our priorities straight. It's time to get back to basics. And what should these priorities be? Hearing about some of the actions of some of the people who knew they were about to perish, it becomes evident?the sanctity of family and country.
Those who were able to make one last call called their spouses and families. Their concerns were about them and their safety and protection; who will provide food, clothing and shelter for their sons and daughters; who will make sure their children are educated and generally be concerned about their health and welfare. As they came upon the realization of the inevitable, this is what crossed their minds?the love for family.
Reports have also stated that on one of the hijacked planes the passengers actually fought their captors even though they knew full well that overtaking them still meant that their aircraft was doomed. Did they fight these hijackers because they knew of the destination of the plane? Did they feel that even though they might perish, they were not willing to let these scum succeed in their ultimate goal? Did they do it for love of their countrymen, love of their country?
Some news channels appropriately titled coverage of Sept. 12 "The Day After," eerily reminding us of the name of the tv movie that tried to show us what it would be like after a nuclear holocaust. As we see the military marching in, Air Force flying overhead and National Guard patrolling the street, only one phrase came to my mind?"too late." Why is it that we have to wait for a catastrophe to take the right corrective measures? Is it just our human nature to gamble? We wait until the last minute; we react, we do not protect.
The President called for the restoration of America's freedom. He stated that terrorism would not stop business as usual. However, first and foremost we must restore the safety of our nation. We cannot take these ideals for granted again. It's time to reevaluate what is important in our lives, the lives of free people. It's time to take some time.
Freedom and personal liberty are nothing without safety and protection. We accept that fact, but will we work at it? Our citizens ridiculed our former president for not serving in the military, but how many of us are annoyed because five to six times a year the president visits our city and we have to endure the inconvenience of traffic jams and delays? This, in current times, is what we call "a sacrifice." Legendary basketball coach Abe Lemmon responded, when told of the pressures upon college freshman athletes, "When I was 18 and laying on my belly at Iwo Jima, I was saying, 'Yeah, Abe, you sure are lucky you don't have to face the pressure of academics in athletics.'" On our next visit to Arlington National Cemetery we should think about what we are prepared to do.
In many countries their police are their army. What is our Army doing when there is no war? Our citizens can't understand the drug war. Close our borders, patrol our waters and clamp down on entries into our country. Put our Army to work. Why isn't this being done? Drugs are being sold openly on our streets. Where is the National Guard? Let's search every inch of every airport, despite the loss of time and the inconvenience.
Many Americans will say, "What message would this send to others?" This is our mistake?we choose style over substance. We will complain that "Big Brother is watching." During the World Wars, Americans were asked to keep "lights out"; we rationed certain goods and services and each American saved some piece of iron or steel for the war effort. Today, someone somewhere in our country will conceive of such measures as a threat to their personal liberties and an affront to their First Amendment rights. They need to take a closer look at the events of Sept. 11 and share the responsibility.
Abuses of our freedom should be corrected, but not at the cost of our safety. Like Monday morning quarterbacks, we always regret not doing this when it's too late. We will look at the empty space that used to be the WTC and forever feel as if we've been violated. We will struggle to comprehend that an outside country was able to penetrate our nation's capital.
Our President and many leaders are all saying the right things again. I can't help but think the rhetoric is back. Patriotism will be at a new high. Flags are being waved. The prayer groups and vigils are forming. Murals and shrines are being erected. We have had our National Day of Mourning, and soon it will be Thanksgiving. Sen. Schumer said that we will come together to get through up until the time this crisis is over. And after it's over? Senator, we need to come together and change our priorities permanently.
I'm tired of prayer and symbolic gestures. God helps those who help themselves. It's time to start acting. We need to send the message that we will not be harmed, we will not be taken advantage of, that we value the lives of our citizens. There was a time when we never locked our front doors. Times change. We adjusted and did what it took to protect ourselves. We're talking basics: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
These are our priorities. Then we can move on, and build the world's two tallest buildings again, where the WTC once stood, the proper homage to show that those who lost their lives did not do so in vain. And to show the whole world what America is about. We get knocked down but we get up again?nothing's ever gonna keep us down. That's the true sign of greatness.
David DiBello, Manhattan
Artists Pay Taxes Too
I picked up your 9/5 issue with the headline "Badillo for Mayor." I enjoyed the article as a whole, but what seemed out of context was the cheap shot you took at the arts and artists. After speaking of Mr. Badillo's smart decision not to form a "decency commission," you went on to say "even if he disagrees with the absurd taxpayer handouts to artists who sully themselves, and compromise their work, by accepting money from the government..."
The article gave the impression that Badillo does not support the arts, which translates into Badillo not receiving maybe 750,000 possible votes from New York City artists (I think something like seven out of 10 artists vote). As for these "absurd taxpayer handouts," they go to taxpayers who happen to be artists. Artists pay taxes and should receive any benefits that come from paying taxes. Are you saying that if a government agency decides to honor artists, artists should not apply to receive those funds? Artists contribute more to the economy in New York City and the nation than New York Press will in any year or any decade. Artists employ more people than your paper would in your wildest dreams. As you take your cheap shots at the arts, you do not seem to have trouble making money from the arts, what with your publication's art listings and advertisements. Anyway, just wanted to explain both the highs and lows of New York Press reading.
Daniel Tisdale, Manhattan
Byte Us
Listen, New York Press. Just because you possess the most interesting missive of literature this side of when Maugham used to double as a, rather, double agent in London and Paris, doesn't mean you should skimp on your website. I've tried myriad efforts to e-mail Claude's genius to friends and keep getting an error. Christ, if you need IT (that's "Information Technology," MUGGER?not "Icelandic Tits") help, I'll put down my fourth vodka and fix your Cold Fusion shit myself.
Andre Clausen, Manhattan
Don't Be Hasty
When the Reichstag fire occurred, it was alleged by the Nazis that the disaster had been caused by a communist, one Marinus van der Lubbe. But it is now known that the fire was ignited by members of the Nazi Secret Service.
When the Lindbergh baby disappeared, it was alleged that a German carpenter, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, did the deed. But today, historical research has clearly demonstrated that Hauptmann was innocent. If the "Lindbergh baby kidnapping" was in fact a real kidnapping, Chicago bootleggers may have been involved. There are those who believe that this so-called "kidnapping" was merely a staged event, similar to the "kidnapping'' of JonBenet Ramsey.
When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, it was alleged that a communist, one Lee Harvey Oswald, was the perpetrator. Today it is suspected by many that a conspiracy was really responsible for the assassination. The conspirators consisted of a group of decidedly "right-wing" individuals based in New Orleans who had the assistance of anti-Castro Cuban exiles, plus elements of the Italian Cosa Nostra.
Today, it is alleged that Osama bin Laden is the primary suspect in the greatest act of terrorism in American history. While bin Laden has been responsible for past acts of terrorism against Americans, they have all been on a relatively small scale, and chiefly in the Middle East and vicinity. Mohammed Salah, an analyst with the respected Arab daily Al-Hayat, has noted, "Bin Laden might be able to do something in Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen, but to do it in the heart of the United States would require a very different kind of operation."
Experts say the scope of the attacks points to the involvement of the secret service of a sophisticated nation-state?not Afghanistan's, which is primitive and third-rate. "This is more like a military attack than a simple terrorism act," said Roland Jacquard, author of a biography of bin Laden. "This is bigger than just bin Laden or a Palestinian group like Hamas. It was probably accomplished with the complicity of state terrorism."
Let's not be too quick to point a finger at the most obvious suspects, Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan. The internal geometry of state terrorism in the Middle East is an incomprehensible labyrinth of confusion. In our opinion, there is only one authentic expert who can clear a path through the darkness and determine the truth of the matter, and that is Victor Ostrovsky.
If the Bush administration is truly motivated to determine the true nature of the "puppetmaster" behind this staggering act of state terrorism, if yet another whitewash and coverup is to be avoided, then President Bush must appoint Ostrovsky to be the "Chief of Detectives" in charge of probing the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
William Moody and Clifton Wellman, Manhattan
A Poem for Those Lost