Where’s Starr now?
Great article regarding Bush (“Establishment turns on Bush,” Metro Times, June 30). Why haven’t they appointed a special prosecutor to investigate Bush like they did for Clinton? All Clinton did was get a blow job — Bush and his bunch have gotten hundreds of our men killed or maimed — all for the love of money and power. —Al & Diana Fiorini, Warren
Keeping the faith
Khary Kimani Turner’s Slum Village article (“Slum Village square,” Metro Times, June 23) was of particular import to me since Dwele is the son of one of my first cousins. I particularly enjoy your articles about the music scene in Detroit. As a current Houston resident, I don’t find the richness of black music here that I have come to expect, being a Detroit native. Keep writing and telling the stories of Detroit’s rich, rich culture. —Imara Hyman, Houston, Texas
Firing back on gun ban
As a supporter of Second Amendment rights and a member of the NRA, I feel it’s important to respond to your recent article “NRA’s Blood Money” (Metro Times, June 30). Your article mentions that many Republicans in Congress are trying to see that the Clinton Gun Ban sunsets this September. What you don’t mention is why they want the ban to expire: because it is flawed legislation.
Since being enacted in 1994, the ban has had little to no impact on crime. Most of the weapons prohibited by the ban are no more effective at killing than their non-banned counterparts. They are all semi-automatic (one shot per trigger pull), relatively low-caliber/low-power weapons. In addition, many of the features banned would do little to make a firearm more lethal. I can’t think of a single bayonet-stabbing case or how putting a cosmetic muzzle shroud could make any difference at all.
From both sides of the fence, groups like the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the NRA have goals of lowering gun violence and crime. I just feel that the Brady approach targets the symptoms, but does little to solve the inherent problem. Renewing this ban will have little impact on crime, but it will restrict the rights of honest, law-abiding shooters. —Chris L. Hooper, Royal Oak
Start making sense
Did Mr. Carleton S. Gholz actually pass writing class? I have read books by William Faulkner and James Joyce that have made more sense than his review of Kiln’s new album (Reviews, Metro Times, June 30). Does this man know how to write a coherent article? What do the first three paragraphs and the last one have to do with the review of this album? Does the man actually have an opinion of the album, or is he just rambling in order to have something submitted by the deadline.
The idea behind a review is to inform readers whether the item reviewed is bad or good. I have come away not having a clue as to what the genre of music the album is or whether it was any good. Perhaps Mr. Gholz should take a class on writing clearly and concisely. —Brigitte Ward-Sutkovs, Wilmington, N.C.
Are you dense?
Regarding Bradford Allen’s letter (Letters to the editor, Metro Times, June 30), I take exception to his view that Mies van der Rohe’s vision should have been extended to other parts of Detroit, supposedly to make it a more livable place. While Lafayette Park is indeed integrated, safe, livable, convenient and affordable, Mies van der Rohe has foisted a sterile, suburban community on the city of Detroit.
As a resident of Lafayette Park in excess of 18 years, I find the area to be very suburban with few people that walk the district or interact with their neighbors.
As a Detroiter now in the Woodbridge Historical District, the comparison between the two is amazing. While Mies van der Rohe may have thought he was reinventing the urban landscape, it’s too bad that he didn’t speak with Jane Jacobs before he submitted his design. Black Bottom obviously had much life; Lafayette Park has little. It has much to do with the lack of density and the suburban design. —Robert P. Thibodeau, Detroit
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