The Mail

THIS WEEK: Some options for Henry Flesh, Zach Parsi's last work was read by a guy named Paul who lives in Jakarta and Godzilla's got some fans. PLUS: Apparently, Rev. Creflo A. Dollar's crew doesn't read very quickly.

EDUARDO SINGS THE BLUES

I was shocked and ashamed as I read David Freeland's poignant piece on the beautiful, superlative and electrifying Billie Holiday ("Lady Day's New York," 8/11). What a strange beast New York City has been to her. We are determined not to let this situation remain as is and have started the Billie Holiday New York City Landmark Society. Thank you, Mr. Freeland, for bringing this unforgivable travesty to my attention.

Eduardo Victor Sanchez III, Jersey City

PRESS THE FLESH

Please advise Henry Flesh to try alternative cancer treatments ("Kingdom of the Sick 8," 8/18). First, a website called canhelp.com. A woman by the name of Madeleen is the director over there. CanHelp tracks alternative cancer treatments worldwide. Madeleen helped us find surgeon Dr. Peter Dottino in New York, who has thus far saved my wife's life (Stage 4, leiomyosarcoma). Also, a solid reference guide is Alternative Medicine, edited by Burton Goldberg. Peruse it and see if it's helpful.

Good luck, never give up, and be ever skeptical of what the MDs say. They can be wrong.

Larry Hulack, Manhattan

A LETTER FROM INDIA Zach Parsi's "Expatriate Manifesto" was very interesting (7/21). We get so many "thick as a brick" expats over here in Jakarta, a few more won't be noticed. At any rate, the idea has merit on the grounds that a returning expat would at least know some fundamental things like: Singapore is not a city in China. Indonesia is actually a very nice place with wonderful people. Europe is a neat place to visit, but they have traffic problems just like back home, and so on.

Being a libertarian, I reckon doing so as a government plan is a non-starter, but perhaps there may be another way, a means of getting something like this going privately.

Paul E. Anderson, Jakarta, Indonesia

POTTY-MOUTH MATT

I find Matt Taibbi's article well written but diminished by the inclusion of unnecessary expletives ("Sorry, Our Bad," 8/18). The use of foul language, rather than adding potency to the points made, is simply offensive. Why not just do it straight? I understand your frustration; I am pretty disenchanted too.

Carl Fogelin, Monroe Township, NJ

SMITH FORGETS NOTHING

Difficult to know where to begin with Russ Smith's raving diatribe ("Washington Squares," 8/18). Let's see: Bill Clinton, in case Smith has forgotten, was against the war in Vietnam, not a gung-ho chickenhawk like someone we could know. And the Texans smearing Kerry are good at it by now, having slimed John McCain in the last election. And it is a shame that John Edwards isn't a thug like Dick Cheney. Is the president also an idiot because he used the word "sensitive"? And so on.

Jan Hutchinson, Phoenix

DROP THE G-BOMB

Just read the Aug. 11 issue of New York Press. Thanks for shining the spotlight on two relevant events that resonate. Nobody else remembered Hiroshima Day (Alexander Zaitchik, "Every Day Is Hiroshima Day"), and Godzilla's anniversary is definitely going to be an underground party (Jim Knipfel, "Acts of Godzilla"). Someone should get a huge Macy's Day parade balloon of Godzilla and bring that to the Republican Convention.

Otto Lai, Manhattan

ONE MAN'S PEAK MOMENT

Jim Knipfel's article on Godzilla pretty much told my life story ("Acts of Godzilla," 8/11). I was eight years old in 1970 when my mom came up to me one day and asked, "Would you like to see a monster movie?" The movie was the original Godzilla, and it was all over from there.

C.F. Roberts, Fayetteville, AR

DONE AND DONE

Mark Ames has issues ("Preview Review," 8/4). Seriously, send him to a psychiatrist immediately. I hope he caught a disease in Moscow, one of those deadly ones that eats away at your skin slowly and painfully.

Michael Milici, Philadelphia

IT'S REALIST-IC

I see Paul Krassner's comments in this week's column are more on-point than usual, with the mention of the "election postponement" rumors we've all been hearing ("Woodstock 35 Years Later," 8/18). I guess nothing's implausible if you have the Lord on your side.

Gary Weldele, Long Beach, CA

CAREFUL WHO YOU CALLIN' NEO-CON

Finished Taibbi's "The Liberal Case Against John Kerry" (8/4). Wow-I didn't realize that the Rotten Apple had a neo-con newspaper and a paid columnist for the Republican National Committee! By the way, in spite of what Bush's stooge says-the emperor still has no clothes on.

Bill Davis, Azie, TX

AND HOW

Of the 77 years of my life, I long ago came to the conclusion that newspapers are definitely the propaganda machine of the government (Matt Taibbi, "Sorry, Our Bad," 8/18). My 98-year-old mother, who just died, having been born in Yugoslavia, had the same impressions of the old country. Her beliefs traveled with her and applied to her new government. Nothing ever changes! Newspapers and people are used!

Katie Rhea, St. Louis, MO

PREEMPTIVE HINDSIGHT

Thank you, Matt Taibbi ("Sorry, Our Bad," 8/18). As the history of this war is revised by the administration, the media and most of the Democrats, as in "we all relied on bad intelligence," I almost forget that at the time, I could see that the public reasons the Bush administration gave for the war were phony. They clearly were hot to invade Iraq. Bush had succeeded in forcing Iraq to allow weapons inspectors back in. Iraq was even destroying missiles that slightly exceeded their allowed distance capacity. If Bush had stopped right there, he would have had a major foreign policy accomplishment. I remember that none of this mattered to the Bush administration. They were going to have their war.

I remember asking my wife and friends, "What do you think the real reason for this war is?" I'm sure Bush expected to find some old weapons somewhere, and some minor connection to al Qaeda, but those clearly were to be his justifications for the war and not his purpose. Some have said it was to establish a pro-Western pluralistic democratic state as a model for the Arab Middle East. Whatever their real reason was, they did not believe that full public debate would generate sufficient public support for a war, so they sold WMDs and al Qaeda connections. It's pretty damn frightening that the media we depend on for information couldn't see this while so many others could.

Timothy J. Wilson, Brookfield, IL

STATIC ON THE PARTY LINE

Loved Alan Cabal's "Miracles and Wonders" (7/28). It was excellent. I was told by a couple of 9/11 authors about their doubts about these phone calls, as well as by a researcher who claimed these cellphones start to be out of transmission reach at c. 4000 of altitude. Again, I loved the article. Have you seen the 9/11 website run by Global Research? They have a special 9/11 spot for articles like this. Unfortunately, this site is contaminated by some material that doesn't belong there because of its bias.

Karin Brothers, Toronto, Ontario

AND THEREIN LIES THE GAFFE

Alan Cabal's story "Miracles and Wonders" really intrigued me until a well-traveled friend just back from the U.S.A. put me straight (7/28). Most flights to and from the U.S.A. had in-flight phones at the back of every seat. So external phone calls are possible, maybe not via your own mobile phone, but by the phones provided that use the local communication system within the plane.

Dave Cripps, Australia

YOU-ARE-WELCOME

Thanks for the wonderful review in your August 11 issue (Andrew Lavallee, "Ground-Field-Surface"). Lavallee really understands what we were trying to do with this exhibition!

Amy Young, Robert Miller Gallery, Manhattan

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS "CASH-FLOW FEST"

Concerning the article "Creflo Dollar" by Lincoln MacVeagh in Vol. 14, Issue 32 (8/8/01), I wanted to inform you that Creflo Dollar was born Creflo A. Dollar, Jr. after his father, Creflo A. Dollar Senior. Michael Smith (who is not Creflo Dollar) held a few high-ranking titles during his 12 years of membership/service at World Changers church, but they are most definitely two separate people.

If your life has not yet been negatively impacted after writing the jealousy- and confusion-filled (not to mention absolutely incorrect) words you wrote about Creflo and Taffi Dollar, trust me, they will. I would suggest you pick on a non-Christian the next time you want to attack someone. You see, when you attack (verbally or otherwise) a born-again Christian, God takes it quite personally, and vengeance is his.

If you ever decide to stop hating and join in on the lovefest (not to mention the cash-flow fest, happiness fest and the wholeness fest), feel free to visit World Changers New York (first service is October 30, 2004). By the way, I came across your fictional story while looking for info on the church opening.

Pastor Dollar won't have his Rolls-Royce (which we, the congregation, bought for him, by the way) when he comes to New York, but he will be flying in on his private jet. You see, little man, it is prosperous to serve the Lord. You can't understand that because you are obviously not serving him. You are serving hatred, ridicule, sarcasm and probably a hurting heart filled with unforgiveness.

Creflo A. Dollar Jr. is stinking rich for the same reason that I am stinking rich: because we serve God, earnestly and with all of our hearts. If you're going to be a hater/journalist at least get your facts right. Don't think for one minute that your little article will hurt him, slow him down, stop the word of God from getting out or stop him from taking over New York City for the kingdom of God. God will continue to bless him and make him richer and more respected (by real journalists, presidents and world leaders) because he is preaching the gospel and leading people to Christ. When you do what God tells you to do with your time, thoughts, body and money, God prospers you in every area of your life?period.

The sad part is, you would be just as successful, rich and happy if you would stop being so hateful and suspicious and give your heart to Christ. Is it really making you happy to tear down someone else? Aren't you tired of the crappy life you have? Don't you ever wonder what God has created you for?ÊI pray salvation in your heart and peace in your life because if you keep attacking Creflo Dollar or any other man/woman of God, your life will continue to turn to crap.

God bless.

N. A. McHenry Marietta, GA

THE ORPHANS GO NATIONWIDE

New York Press ran an article about a clinic that was subjecting kids to an AIDS drug testing of a very abusive Nazi-drug-experiment sort (Liam Scheff, "Orphans on Trial," 7/14). Our main paper in Madison, the Wisconsin State Journal, is doing an "all letters welcome" multi-page compilation of AIDS opinion letters. I will refer to your article on AIDS drug-testing abuse.

Edward Reich, Janesville, WI

NAH, THEY'RE ALL COWARDS

Finally someone has the cojones to come out and say something (Matt Taibbi, "Shoveling Coal for Satan," 6/30). I have been a journalist for more years than I care to count. I chose this profession because I believed that we had a duty to the public we served-to be the eyes and ears of those that could not be at the events. I have seen my colleagues die in El Salvador, Sierra Leone, Kosovo and recently in Saudi Arabia-chasing stories that few gave a shit about but that they believed should be told. And during all of this-I have seen journalism descend to the lowest common denominator-ratings. It does not matter that the content is crap and that we are not asking the questions-as long as we get the ratings.

I disagree with Taibbi about the courage. There are many journalists still out there with the courage to tell the story. It is just that editors back home aren't interested.

Susanne Ramirez de Arellano, London

DOING TIME WITH LARRY

Right on, Matt Taibbi ("Sorry, Our Bad," 8/18). We must keep hammering this until people do get it. I was recently arrested and dragged out of my home in handcuffs because of an administrative screw-up in the Montgomery County judicial system. A $50 administrative citation for failing to have documentation of preventative maintenance on my pickup truck was how it started. I have the check they cashed, stamped with the District Court seal and my citation number. I sent my preventative maintenance forms to the state trooper who gave me my original ticket.

So far, the system has been railroading me since the issuance of a bench warrant for my arrest for not appearing in court. I was never sent a notice to appear in court, and their records show that. Nevertheless, they hauled me in, cuffed behind my back, and then I was thrown into a cell at their police station. It was unbelievable. At my preliminary hearing after my arrest, I was not allowed to show my evidence that they had made a terrible mistake but was instead told to come back to court in October! It's phenomenal how the incompetence of a bunch of bureaucrats can rise to such a level.

So what's the connection? I think it is exactly the same mentality that has led us to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ours is a government that at the federal and state levels is disconnected with reality and their responsibility to us, the citizens of this country.

After 9/11, instead of increasing the fear of all Americans so they could be used to further the expansion of state power, an honest, intelligently led government would have reacted much differently. Of course this has been going on for so long, and our government has been pissing people off for so long (ever since we started lying to the Indians), that to fix it now is going to be difficult without starting over much the same way the colonists had to start over after leaving England.

Larry Schaudies, Poolesville, MD

IF ONLY WE WERE THAT

Where is George Bush? Oh, that's right, he's on vacation! I find it so hard to believe that Bush is so underhanded and dirty that he won't denounce these lies about John Kerry's war record. If your paper has any integrity, you would demand that George Bush open up his Vietnam "Dodging, Absentee" record to the public. A good newspaper would be all over this story.

Kevin Johnson, Manhattan

DOUBTING THOMAS

Thanks for the great writing and reporting (Matt Taibbi, "Sorry, Our Bad," 8/18). Taibbi ended the article with the question of why the administration went to war with Iraq. Perhaps a Bush administration official can shed some light. Read what Philip Zelikow said on Sept. 11, 2002.

It's not a conspiracy. They're doing it right out in the open.

Mark Thomas, Charlotte, NC