Believe It or Not Believe It or Not Alan Cabal ...

Alan Cabal writes, "I used to laugh at the Aryan Nation Nazis with their addle-headed notion of 'ZOG,' the 'Zionist Occupied Government.' But then Ariel Sharon stood up in the Knesset and said, in front of God and everybody: 'We, the Jews, control America, and the Americans know it.'" ("New York City," 2/26)

Has anyone at New York Press (or elsewhere) actually managed to verify that Ariel Sharon made that remark? If so, how was that done? The Chicago Reader published a June 28, 2002 report on the question.

David Marc Fischer, Manhattan

C'mon, It's Cabal

Though I've been traveling for several weeks, I follow Israeli politics fairly closely, and I have never seen any report of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon standing up before the Knesset, as your columnist Alan Cabal claims ("New York City," 2/26), to say that "We, the Jews, control America, and the Americans know it." Unless you can document this claim, you owe your readers a large print apology for the sort of Israel bashing that is indistinguishable from classic Jew hatred.

Then you ought to demonstrate which side you're on by disciplining (dumping) the columnist. And finally, your editorial board probably needs to do a few moments of soul-searching to figure out how it believed such an absurdity that would have certainly created an angry stir in both Israel and America even long enough to allow it into print.

I would appreciate your response here either to supply documentation or to acknowledge that none exists.

David Margolis, Brooklyn

Down the Rabbit Hole

Alan Cabal: You are right. Things could get scarier and scarier. I'm sure many of the folks in your jails have never said or written anything as threatening or true as what's in your column ("New York City," 2/26).

I'm a Scottish-Canadian woman and old enough to remember WWII and I have always been interested in world affairs. I am truly afraid that we are on the threshold of a great calamity. Apart from looming international realignments, what's happening inside our great democracies should be scaring even the simpletons.

Keep on writing and take care.

Dorothy Calder, Hamilton, Ontario

Blitzkrieg Bop

Russ Smith's smug, pro-war prattle omits some recent history ("MUGGER," 2/19). During the Reagan years, the U.S. sold anthrax, bubonic plague, botulinum toxin and Huey helicopters to Iraq. The Reagan Administration also looked the other way while Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran and the Iraqi Kurds. One might argue that the U.S. helped Saddam kill about 100,000 Kurds. Now some of the same players from the 1980s?Rumsfeld, Cheney, Powell?want to rescue the Iraqi people from the evil one. Never mind that the Bush blitzkrieg will annihilate thousands of civilians. The profound moral transformation of those Reagan-era hawks is so touching.

John Cantilli, Cranford, NJ

Website Voodoo

Did you notice that if you highlight Armond White's Daredevil review ("Film," 2/26) a secret message comes between the lines? It's pretty crazy, yo. Keep up the good work.

Martin Farrell, Huntington, WV

Cheeky

Please don't print any more articles by Christopher Carbone ("Music," 2/26) if he continues to write about the condition of his ass. Verily I say unto thee: I don't want to read about some dago homo who likes to shake his hairy, sweaty ass and then write about it. That's Village Voice material.

Xerxes Feroz, Manhattan

Stormin' Norman

It's a shame that the best articles on the subject of blacks in national politics tend to be so depressing, but that truly is the state of things on that level. Norman Kelley's article is a straightforward and truthful should-be wake-up call that I fear will be snooze alarmed by the very constituency that needs it most ("Al Sharpton Is Killing Black Politics" 2/19). We have truly gotten into a parallel political universe since the 70s. A piece of it has to be, as Kelley says, that national politicians have no real reason to pay attention to black activists/politicians when black "leaders" like Sharpton are better press targets. If I'm in a deal where I really have nothing to gain?say, I need a photo-op showing some negroes?why bother with a no-name politician when I have a better shot of getting in print either by confronting or meeting with Sharpton? It isn't as if there are that many votes to be gained or lost; black constituencies have continually hobbled themselves for decades with super low voting rates. So why waste time on anything substantive? Add to that the criminal lack of participation by black Americans in the Republican Party and you have concocted a recipe for disaster.

Black politicians should have taken over the Republican Party years ago. There is no logical reason for all of our political eggs to grow stale in the same basket?and "They don't want us!" isn't an excuse. "They" didn't want any of the immigrants that now control the party, either.

As for Sharpton and Jackson, they are two of a kind. Both are reverends without a flock; both are accomplished shakedown artists who have a history of poor follow-ups; both use Martin Luther King as a defensive Maginot Line and shaman to be intoned when they lack other sources of moral superiority; and both continually purport to speak for those whose opinions they have never sought or cared about.

The real problem with these dinosaurs is that they also act to suppress the existence of a purposeful, hard working, issue-oriented crop of real politicians. What exactly is Adam Clayton Powell Jr.'s list of qualifications or accomplishments, anyway? How does Charlie Rangel hold up his head when the block of 126th St. that parallels his office looks like post-Dresden rather than post-Renaissance?

The Poseur Generation (Jackson, Sharpton, Muhammad, Farrakhan, et. al.) has done more to harm the needed discourse and natural selection process that used to exist in our neighborhoods than any exterior agent. And until they are gone for good, no "real" politician will be able to rise and clean up the muck left by this generation of "political activists."

I long for the time when "community activist" wasn't a euphemism for "rabble rouser with an agenda."

Norman Gaines, Brooklyn

Easy Money

Recently, many of us listened to the interview of Saddam Hussein by Dan Rather. I had often heard that Saddam Hussein is an extremely intelligent and capable man, but I never fully realized this until I heard this interview.

I am not defending Saddam Hussein; I think that he is a ruthless murderer. However, it was clear that he answered Dan Rather's questions cogently, presenting himself much better than our Western leaders have done of late.

Saddam Hussein challenged George W. Bush to a televised debate. The problem with the debate idea, which should be apparent to everybody who watched the Rather interview, is that we know who would win.

Samuel H. Sloan, Woodside, NY

An Impotent King

Norman Kelley had an interesting article about the struggle to be the HNIC ("Al Sharpton Is Killing Black Politics," 2/19). But HNIC of what? Any HNIC will have to deliver "payoffs" that in the end are detrimental to all black people, especially those who are in the payoff group. Education is the key to ending black poverty, out-of-wedlock children and crime, but the HNIC will not be HNIC if that is all ended. The question is: When will poor blacks figure out who is keeping them in poverty?

The Democratic Party is not going right and, between the Miguel Estrada nomination and Al Sharpton, it may just self-destruct. Like New York, Nevada threw its Democratic black gubernatorial candidates to the wolves. Sharpton and the other "overseers" would do better to throw their weight behind the Republicans; they would get more for black people and gain influence. The chances of this happening are very slim, however, as HNICs do not exhibit much political courage. Sharpton will hurt the Democrats, and when he's through, black voters may not come out for the party that shafts them every time and takes their votes for granted.

Richard Travers, Elko, NV

The King of Pop

Armond White: You humorless, pretentious twit. I think you've taken the mantle of most wrong-headed critic from the unreadable Christgau. Once again, you have "outsmarted" yourself and shown a feeble grasp of the purpose of movies like these (Batman, Spider-Man, Daredevil, etc.) because you are so intellectually uptight you cannot wrap your wannabe-massive intellect around the concept of pop entertainment. Not to defend Daredevil, which by all accounts is a poor substitute for the comic, but your comments clearly show that you don't understand the audience for these movies or the measure of artistic success.

First of all, speaking for former (and still occasional) comic readers, we couldn't give a rat's ass about Hollywood's affirmation or raising comics up to middlebrow art. We simply want to see comics on the big screen because it has the potential to be more fun than just reading the books, if done well. All that's required is a fun, action-packed representation with some humor, modest character development and a good story?not much to ask for when it's already in the source material. These qualities were in ample supply in Batman, Spider-Man and X-Men (although a few of the characters there could have used some serious rewrites or quick deaths).

But it's not good enough for you because you're looking for Fellini, Kurosawa or some such goddamn thing instead of enjoying the movie for what it is: entertainment. You wanna criticize a movie like this for being formulaic and derivative, fine. Poor acting and physicality that isn't believable, fair game. But writing off the whole genre because it hasn't produced something as visually avant-garde or literate enough to satisfy your art-house tastes is like some egghead finding Elmore Leonard wanting because he doesn't stand up to Proust. In short, lighten up.

Mike Strassman, Brooklyn

Jack Ruby Will Do

Alan Cabal: Just wondering if you've received any harassment by the "authorities" over this line ("New York City," 2/26): "Where's Lee Harvey Oswald now that we really need him?" I'm pretty sure that can be considered a threat to the president, and earn you an interview with the SS. Good luck.

Joshua Sibble, Ithaca, NY

Stall Them for Us?

I laughed out loud for six hours at Alan Cabal's article ("New York City," 2/26), then linked it to the Citizens for Legitimate Government's website.

I also saved your terrific essay to my hard drive, and there it will remain, until AshKKKroft comes and takes it, along with my other treasonous works, such as "Seizing Dictatorial Power" by William Safire. Thanks much for your gift.

Lori R. Price, Bristol, CT

Nouveau York Times

Is it a mere coincidence that as the average American starts to consider boycotting the French for once again spitting in our faces, the New York Times has been running fluff pieces with titles such as: "What's French About French Music?" "Nations Squabble, but Don't Touch My Toile," "A Few Days of Plenty in Paris." Excuse me while I vomit in my mouth.

Dave Jones, Manhattan

Red Tide, Black Gold

Franklin L. Johnson runs off at the mouth with this idea of Jesus being persecuted by the Bushes ("The Mail," 2/19). The peace movement is in the hands of the Communists who find it stylish to support the Islamic world. This is despite the fact that the Islamic world is against all civil rights for women, homosexuals and also openly professes a hatred of anyone who is not a Muslim. What is most remarkable is that the Communists allegedly support all progressive movements and now support a regime that is just the opposite. I would think that the Reds are getting their money from the oil-rich Muslims and so are giving them their support.

Bert Zackim, Manhattan

Finnegan's Awake

Alan Cabal: I have just had my journalist visa revoked here in Indonesia and I was planning on returning to never-never land to catch my breath and try to make a few bucks?until I read your article ("New York City," 2/26). It would have been hilarious were it not the truth. Having second thoughts now. Believe it or not, it's even more fucked-up here. These loons are trying to tell the world that a bunch of village idiots with the combined education of a high school grad bombed Bali. What a crock of shit. I was the lead investigator for the Jakarta Post on the bombings; they kicked me out after I wouldn't drop a CIA angle I had picked up.

Robert S. Finnegan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Brodeur Is Going to Kill The President

In your article about the fate of the Brooklyn waterfront ("Brooklyn's Big Question," 2/26), your writer claims that "nobody denies that the city needs energy" regarding the proposals for new power plants.

Uh, that's exactly what many of us are doing: denying this scam in the first place. (Maybe Dwyer never heard of Enron, or its pals, who faked all kinds of energy "needs" and ripped off the people of California with different types of scams.)

Just to quickly illustrate how completely fake the dialog?both pro- and anti-power plant?is on this topic, let's go back to our crooked former mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, who trained the media to never pay attention to the man behind the curtain.

Giuliani, the best friend big business and corporate crime ever had, tried to sell off many public properties to all his cronies, and he was the cheerleader trying to justify these new power plants to the city, and he lied every time he opened his mouth.

Example: he insisted that these unhealthy power plants needed to go into poor minority neighborhoods because that's where the industrial infrastructure needed happens to be.

Whoops! He was simultaneously helping Con Edison with their sale of the gigantic old power plant just south of the United Nations on 1st Ave.

Hey, why not use that parcel of land to build a new, "cleaner" power plant? It's already zoned and definitely has the industrial infrastructure needed for a power plant as it has been a power plant for the last 100 years! Oh yeah: your pals want to build luxury apartments on the prime real estate. (And they don't want to build luxury condos in Long Island City yet.) Got that? We can't build a power plant there?or even maintain the gigantic power plant already there?because of only one reason: it's a rich white neighborhood! If we genuinely needed power plants, then we wouldn't be shutting down one of the biggest in the city! "But that old power plant is not as clean as new ones with new technology." Oh. Good point.

Then why not close the gigantic and old power plant at 14th St. and Ave. C too? That one they want to expand! But shouldn't that one be removed too, because it's old? Oh yeah: it's in a poor Latino neighborhood! Shall I go on, or are you getting the picture yet?

Even the anti-power plant forces are buying into the repetitious lie that we need more power plants, and that's why Con Ed and its pals will probably beat the community every time. Makes me want to move to Sweden.

Jeff Koyen: Hi. We probably never met, but no one was a harsher critic of New York Press than I, and I welcome the changes you may bring. (Why they ditched smart John Strausbaugh and kept moron Russ Smith is the biggest gripe, of course.) Even as I won five separate awards, I never avoided trying to get Smith to improve the piece of shit rag. And I was just trying to help! Not one single person I know reads the Press.

I am not joking. (By contrast, almost every person I know reads the Onion, and most at least skim through the Voice.) (Note that the Onion?just with jokes?is twice as political as Smith? "political" sections of the paper, and twice as brutal. I skim through the Press each week, but it's all the same and the headlines are so horribly dull.

1. The cover art and content must be more engaging. The Voice has had much great cover art over the last few years. (The content often blows, but if you've got great art, people will pick it up.)

2. More cultural coverage. Artists, musicians, and the rest of the creative community in NYC don't pick up the Press because there's nothing in there for them. Like your competitors, you try to beat them by being them? That's foolish. You guys review every Hollywood movie, while ignoring all the great live theater, music, etc. Most artists don't care about the Voice either, because it thinks Hollywood is more important than NYC, just like New York magazine and the rest of the boring asskissers.

3. What's up with the boring headlines? If you guys can't come up with interesting headlines, then the game is instantly over. (I've never written a boring headline in my life. It's not possible. I don't know how you all do it. From essays like "Statutory Rape: It's The Right Thing To Do" (not as inflammatory as the title seems, but I still made fantastic arguments) or "I'm Going To Kill The President" (about the limits of free speech. The Secret Service came after me!) to "Nat Hentoff Is a Nazi (And Nazis Need to Die)" or "Steve Dunleavy Is a Total Moron Who Can't Keep His Story Straight," they didn't need to be artful. Just personable and interesting.

4. We'd all love to see you smash the Voice. Duh: the paper sucks at its stated mission. (What this city needs is a left wing New York Post: a paper not afraid to fight dirty and that actually has brains and has fun as it bashes its opponents.) (That's why the right wing wins so many battles despite a dearth of facts and truth: they aren't pussies like the idiot left wing.)

When Rudy left office, all the papers did their "Rudy's Legacy" issues and not one of them was remotely accurate. (They just reiterated the big cliches and myths about the worst mayor in recorded history.) Did the Voice rebut the group-think, having each one of their writers opine on the Giuliani legacy on housing, clubs, sex, art, restaurants, etc? Nope. They quietly ignored all the hype, letting it go unchallenged! (And in fact, most of the Voice writers backed up Giuliani, time and time again, going along with the bullshit that he was tough on crime (the Voice said too tough!) or at best, calling him a racist. (Whoa! That'll teach him a lesson! This won't help him get campaign cash from all the closet racists in rich white NYC!) Fucking assholes.

5. More point/counterpoint. Everyone likes a fight, and this is the best way to do it. Most of the media avoids point/counterpoint, because they want you to only hear their spin on things.

6. Don't ever listen to Russ Smith. I'm assuming you couldn't touch Russ if you wanted. (Maybe you can move him to the last page? Maybe you could reduce him to 200 words?) I am not joking when I say that Smith is the second dumbest person I've met in my entire. (Giuliani?no joke?don't get me started?is, hands down, the dumbest person on the planet.) He thwarted me on hundreds of occasions when I had the goods to prove he and his fellow right wing clowns were totally wrong on the facts. The fucker censored my letters even when he gave me "Best Letters" one year! Cripes. That's enough for now.

Christopher X. Brodeur, Manhattan