Long but wonderful?
Re: “Haddad breaks his silence” (Metro Times, March 17), that story was absolutely a pleasure to read. I had been following his case very closely, being a Muslim in Ann Arbor, but with this article I was surprised at what I didn’t know. I’m very happy to see that he and his family have turned a new page in life. I think you did an amazing job capturing most of the details of his life and recent ordeal in one long but wonderful piece. —Eiyass Albeiruti, Ann Arbor
Vis-à-vis visa violation
The article about Rabih Haddad is inaccurate. He is a Lebanese citizen who was deported from the United States for overstaying a tourist visa. Because he chose to violate the laws of the United States does not give him the right to claim this country as his own. He has not been exiled, he has been repatriated to his homeland. We expect our religious leaders to oppose secular law when it violates morality, not when it is simply inconvenient. Martin Luther King Jr. broke the laws of the Southern states because they were evil and discriminatory. Mr. Haddad broke our laws because he simply didn’t think he should have to follow them. —Stephen Mendelson, Huntington Woods
A father’s thanks
I want to thank you for the excellent coverage and article on my son, Artimus (“A soldier’s story,” Metro Times, March 10). It was extensive, detailed and I’m especially glad that the information corrected some of the misinformation regarding Artimus playing basketball. I also appreciate the firsthand account from Staff Sergeant Annussek. The information you provided in the article helped to bring clarity, and it’s as though I was there.
I know that my son could be a handful at times, but I’m really appreciative of the fact that Sergeant Annussek had a personal interest in Artimus.
May God bless you and your entire staff. Thank you for the excellent coverage. —Cary Brassfield, Flint
Soldiers aren’t statistics
We are Sergeant Dutter’s parents. I wanted to write and thank you for writing a truthful and honest article about Specialist Brassfield. I think if more newspapers write these kind of articles, people might start paying attention. I guess out of sight, out of mind. Thanks again —Elde & Gail Dutter, Holland, Mass.
Hit and myth
Heartfelt thanks to Jack Lessenberry for the cogent article about religion (“Speaking of God & country,” Metro Times, March 17). He expressed my thoughts exactly. It seems like it is getting harder and harder these days to publicly express an opinion critical of religion. That makes it all the more important to do so. We non-believers should take a leaf out of the old book of myths and not hide our light under a bushel! —Rachel McCormack, Canton
Fundamental mistake
Thank you, Jack Lessenbery, for your column. I was a history major years ago, and know that this country was not founded by Christians for Christians to be a Christian nation. Yet the myth is perpetuated. And the continual assumption that only Christianity should be recognized leads to ignorance and stereotyping of all others. So the damaging and divisive myth continues. —Maryann Mahaffey, President, Detroit City Council, Detroit
Civil rights vs. civil rites
Re: “Hip-hopcrisy to the Max” (Metro Times, March 10), I support the mayor’s right to uphold his personal values which are based on his Bible teachings, and I see it the same way as do most men and women of God in this city. Quite frankly, I continue to be offended by the constant equalization of people of color who came from slavery and chains because of the one word “color” (which we can’t change) with gays of choice and their pursuit of equal rights. Hear it loud and clear: It ain’t the same. I will continue to support our leaders who, like the mayor, are big enough and strong enough to stand by their own values regardless of articles like those Metro Times chooses to write. —Arlene Kimbrough, Detroit
Send comments to [email protected].
