LETTERS

I don't know what the big deal is about the Pledge of Allegiance. We are free to say "under God" or not. In fact, the First Amendment gives us the freedom to say anything we want to. I therefore urge all Americans to personalize the pledge to honor their diverse gods and creeds and to teach their children to do likewise. Muslims can say "under Allah," the Jews "under Adonoi," the Buddhists "under Buddha," the Rosicrucians "under the Cosmos" and so on. It's a little trickier for the Wiccans, since they don't regard themselves as "under" anyone. But they could say "with the Goddess."

The Brights and atheists can say "under the Constitution." Since I also don't believe in the supernatural, I always say "one nation, under Canada." It gets a few laughs and a few dirty looks. Fun. Freedom, it's wonderful! Lighten up, America!

Josh Bell's June 24 review of Michael Moore's controversial new film apparently left a few stones unturned, at least in this reader's mind:

As regards the review of Fahrenheit 9/11: It's well known that Michael Moore is a far-left filmmaker who despises President Bush. Disney film studios, who funded his propaganda film, claim they were shocked when they saw it and refused to release it. (Yeah, right.) The biased documentary goes into turnaround and is soon released by Miramax, under the guise that "this is the movie Disney tried to censor." It's hard to believe that a studio wouldn't know what kind of film Moore would make. Is it believable for Disney to pay Moore for nothing? The bottom line is always profit. No film studio would knowingly put money into a film that would be unreleasable. Unless ...

The plan? Release Fahrenheit 9/11 as the forbidden fruit. The motion picture that's too hot to handle. Since when did controversy hurt, real or created? Documentaries rarely make money, but if the public thinks this is the film "they" don't want you to see, by God, they'll want to go see it.

It's absurd for any intelligent person to believe or buy into the idea that Disney won't be receiving money for this anti-Bush, pre-election propaganda. They produced it. Without the funding, ideas are only ideas.

The timing is more than obvious. If the election is as close as it was last time (with Bush winning the key state of Florida by mere hundreds of votes), every vote will count.

Hollywood, the land of limited thinking, liberal idealism and candy-coated socialism, is doing all it can to put their man in the White House.

Editor's note: You're doing a pretty good job of candy-coating yourself, Vince—Bush won Florida ... good one, dude! As for your question "When did controversy hurt?," I'm sure the makers of Heaven's Gate would be glad to answer.

Our June 24 cover story, a story of date rape by our relationship columnist, Sonja, drew a strong and varied reaction—from supportive to condemning—on last week's letters page. Below, a reader responds to the response.

To Robert Lapore, Jason Nelson and "A Reader":

All of you responded to the story regarding Sonja's date rape, and I in turn am responding to all of you. Let me just go down the line so I don't miss anything important that I need to enlighten all of you ignorant assholes on.

Mr. Lapore,you had the nerve to scold this woman for washing away the evidence and asked her basically how she could have the nerve to do so. And that women like her allow creeps to continue their crimes. Well, I know I speak on behalf of women everywhere by saying that it's creeps like you who think they can give their opinions on something they know nothing about. So, until you have a f--king vagina, I suggest you shut the f--k up, Mr. Feminist.

And to you, Mr. Nelson, you said that Sonja was a typical attention whore, and f--k her, right? Well, the only thing I have to say in response to that is that you need therapy so that you don't end up being a sorry-ass rapist yourself, because that's what you sound like.

And last but not least, Ms. "A Reader": You said that men have always treated you like a lady, and that "if it looks like a duck ...," basically implying that she deserved it. First and foremost, men have probably always treated you like a lady because you are most likely severly impaired in the looks department, so no guy would even hit on you. And as far as the duck thing, Sonja, any woman should be able to walk down the street naked and not be in fear of getting raped. It's too bad that men and women like these overshadow that simple concept.

Sonja, for every ignorant asshole out there, there are hundreds of us who congratulate you on your guts and perseverance.

Editor's note: I won't bother sticking up for Mr. Lapore or, especially, Mr. Nelson. But I ask you, Simone, how does it advance the debate to dismiss A Reader's arguments because you suspect she's ugly? Ugly people can't have valid opinions? That's reckless stereotyping every bit as damaging as the small-minded arguments lodged against Sonja.

Last week's lead As We See It piece, a hard slice of angry polemic by local writer David McKee, directed at the administration's economic policies, drew an admiring response:

What an exceptionally well-written piece by David McKee in the Las Vegas Weekly! It's the best I've read all day, and I read very widely. Thank you so much for publishing it.

Really delightful read. Thanks so much.

That David McKee is terrific—zippy yet not nasty. Is there any chance you'll be syndicating his work so we can read his work regularly in Pennsylvania?

Thank you for running that terrific column! This articulate voice needs to be heard regularly. I'll look forward to more from him.