News

The Devil Next Door

Letters published February 14, 2002

Don't make victims out of murderers:

I have an idea for Wendy Sauder [Letters, January 24, which discussed "Lepers of Chester Township," January 3]: Let these murdering scumbag animals live next to you. Have you forgotten about the little girl who is dead? Shot in the head after she was already down? How do you think the holidays went for her family? Do you think they carved the turkey and passed the cranberries without a thought of the tomorrows they were robbed of? Do you think Mom walked through the malls and didn't see a thousand things that reminded her of her daughter?

How is it that suddenly the murderer becomes the victim? I'll tell you. Bleeding-heart liberals like you, who think we are supposed to take the responsibility for upgrading the lives of people who have no respect for others. People like you who don't mind that once-nice neighborhoods become the "hood," who don't mind that the schools are dragged down because teachers spend their time policing these sociopaths instead of teaching the children of people who give a damn, who don't mind paying a mortgage after saving a down payment for years, only to live next to Section 8 housing.

By all means, welcome these people into your neighborhood. Hell, I'll pitch in for the moving van.

C. Malloy
North Olmsted

Call 'em prejudiced -- not racist:

In "Southern Discomfort" [January 24], Phil Freeman writes that the song "Talk Show Trash" "criticizes white folks who act black." The actual lines he is referring to are: "Gang bangers, prostitutes, whites trying to be black/I get all my meal tickets from the wrong side of the track/Acting like I want to end all this hating/When all I'm really looking for is higher ratings."

Obviously, the song also makes fun of talk-show hosts who parade misfits and dysfunctional morons onto the stage and into our homes in the name of ratings.

Next, Freeman writes that the song "Melting Pot" "begins with the lyrics 'I thought I lived in America/Not Mexico, Africa, or Vietnam.'" Actually, the song begins with "When I'm traveling around the world and they don't speak my language/ I hire an interpreter to help me get around/ I don't go over there/Thinking things will be easy/Because I realize I'm not in my hometown." It ends with a punch line that anyone with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor could understand: "Before you go and tell me/With all of my complaining/Why don't I go back to where my ancestors are from/Well, you better beware/We stole this country fair and square."

Freeman then writes: "Live, Antiseen covers 'I Don't Like You,' a song whose title suggests it's a traditionally misanthropic punk anthem. And it is, but the listener's grin sours once it's revealed that the song was written by the infamous Nazi band Skrewdriver." Written by them before they got into the whole Nazi thing.

Racist? Not even close. Prejudiced? Damn right. Against any piece-of-shit human garbage (white, black, yellow, brown, or purple) who think they deserve a handout because of the color of their skin, or anyone who thinks they are above being ridiculed or having their faults pointed out because of their race. Prejudiced against anyone who is not willing to work to take care of themselves and their families, and would rather depend on criminal activities or playing the race card to get ahead. Color has nothing to do with it. It's all about self-respect.

We'd be happy if you'd come to one of our shows. What you'll find are four hardworking and professional musicians who aren't afraid to say what is on most people's minds. We're not PC, we don't walk around on eggshells, and we apologize for nothing. But if you think we're a bunch of bitter, angry, and violent rednecks without the common decency to judge people by who they are and not by the color of their skin, then you are sadly mistaken.

Doug Canipe, Antiseen bassist
Charlotte, N.C.

Harvilla, fountain of nonsense:

I found Rob Harvilla's article on Alicia Keys [Nightwatch, January 24] very difficult to read. I happen to be an educated woman, and I actually had to stop reading it. For the most part, people who read this paper are not literary scholars. So why is Rob trying to write like one by using words that most people need to look up in the dictionary? I think Rob needs to come back down to reality and write the article for the people this paper is geared toward.

Ahyana Presley
Cleveland

It still beats "Enron Field":

After reading "The Winter of Our Discontent" [January 24], I think Jacobs Field should be spelled "Jacob$ Field."

Joe F. Sobolewski
Parma