Letters

Art shows not a magnet for taggers

I have a problem with a statement made by Darryl Kresser of the Clark County graffiti abatement unit ["The Writing on the Wall," March 25]. I am writing on behalf of the 5ive Finger Miscount arts collective in response to Kresser' claim that our art shows are a magnet for taggers. His statement: "The very first time they did a show off Sahara and Highland, and just down the street, every trailer of an RV dealer got hit [with graffiti]."

First of all, we've never had any show in that location and, second, I remember that incident and it had nothing to do with us or any other art show. That was pulled by a bunch of punk kids who wanted some fame. We were appalled by this action, as were members of the underground graff community. The truth is, 5ive Finger Miscount is proud when young people come to an art show, whether they're taggers or tennis players. Many of these kids come to ask for our assistance in helping them to become professional artists. It would seem to me Kresser would understand what we are doing and refrain from attacking us in the press (which he's done in the past). In 25 art shows that we've presented, only three have been graffiti-related, and in the areas of the three graffiti murals we've sponsored around Vegas, there have been no more or less problems with tagging.

Honestly, I really doubt any of us can make a dent in the world of graffiti anyway. It's bigger than us all. For every person you catch, there will be three more to avenge his/her name. From California to the war-torn walls of Iraq, graff is everywhere. And you must admit: Some of the shit they can do with an aerosol can is amazing. The bottom line is this: 5ive Finger Miscount is about visual art and we will continue to show it in all its forms, regardless of how anyone feels about it.

--Iceberg Slick,

5ive Finger Miscount

Claws come out on Clay-bashing

While I do disagree with many of the statements printed by Newt Briggs about Clay Aiken ["Off the Charts," March 25] (myself and millions of other women have proven that Clay is indeed masculine, sexy and downright gorgeous), what bothers me the most is the fact that Newt Briggs felt it necessary to resurrect the whole cat/PETA issue. Clay and his mother have both stated that the Rolling Stone comment was taken out of context. Yes, Clay did run over the kitten, but it was an ACCIDENT. Now, he is terrified of cats. Please, before you print something so derogatory, check out all the facts.

Perhaps something more positive would have been more worthwhile for you to print. For example, the fantastic concert that Clay performed in Las Vegas; not only him singing superbly, but interacting with the thousands of screaming, adoring fans with his natural charisma.

--Rosemary Campion

Attacking Kerry's war record is low blow

I read your letters section March 25, and the letter from Richard Montgomery of Palm Bay, Fla. ["Kerry Heroism Questioned"] caught my eye. He alludes to himself by his "word alone" that he is a Vietnam veteran and demonizes Sen. Kerry, who undisputedly was in Vietnam and was without a doubt decorated.

Who is Richard Montgomery to question Sen. Kerry's decorations? Sounds to me like a jealous Republican, neo-right-wing fascist who cannot stand the fact that his candidates, Bush and Cheney, both are draft dodgers who did not even serve four months in Vietnam! Instead, Bush hid in the Texas Air National Guard and Cheney got five military deferments to avoid duty in Vietnam--no questions on these facts; it's public record.

Sure, Mr. Montgomery can claim to be a combat veteran and question Kerry's patriotism and heroism, but I am also an ex-U.S. Marine, and if I have to choose between the Bush/Cheney draft dodgers and Kerry, who at least tells the truth on what he feels and did not hide in some safe place as Bush/Cheney did, then I choose Kerry! One can brag about one's service and lie about it, but one does not get Purple Hearts for no reason but in return for injuries inflicted in combat. And as to other decorations Kerry received, who is Mr. Montgomery to say he did not deserve them? Did he serve with Sen. Kerry and dispute these decorations? I doubt it; he's just another disgruntled right-winger who cannot stand that a liberal might defeat his draft-dodging president! I think the fact is, not all patriots are Republicans and neo-right-wingers; many liberals served honorably, no matter what the likes of Mr. Montgomery say.

The beauty of America is people can say they disagree with our government's actions and Vietnam was a mistake. Unfortunately, the powers that be did not realize it till too late and 50,000-plus deaths later, as history will see the Bush/Cheney mistake in Iraq also go down as a mistake and waste of lives. But the right-wingers and neo-fascists don't admit mistakes and their only defense of their mistakes is to call anyone who disagrees with them unpatriotic--typical of Republicans, right-wingers, racists, bigots. The Republican Party has become home to these idiots.

--Ralph Hill

Anti-pot tax dollars go against people's will

The story in the March 18 Mercury about John Walters [Democracy in Peril], the federal drug bureaucrat, was illuminating. The fact that the federal government will continue to pour my tax dollars into a bottomless pit and insist I follow the rules is tantamount to a dictatorship. Mr. Walters ought to resign from office if he is unwilling to allow the people to choose their own laws. Spending my tax dollars on interference in state policies and campaigns goes against my will. Mr. Walters and federal authority ought to realize that NO LAW will be respected or can be enforced unless supported by the moral sense and the common conscience of the communities affected by it.

I am convinced that prohibition, wrong in principle, has been equally disastrous in consequences in the hypocrisy, the corruption, the tragic loss of life and the appalling increase of crime that have attended the abortive attempt to enforce it. Allowing Mr. Walters to be above state laws contributes to the weakening of the sense of solidarity between citizen and the government, which is the only sure basis of a country's strength.

--Jeanne M. Ferguson,

West Roxbury, Mass.