Category: Letter

THE KIDS CAN DANCE
I really enjoyed Camille LeFevre’s article on Ten Foot Five [“Fancy Foot Work,” November]. Four years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Rick and Andy and the rest of their group. I can say without a doubt that they are some of the most talented and inspiring artists I’ve had the pleasure of performing with and learning from. Thanks for the great pictures and article. After watching this amazing group for four years it’s great to see them getting this kind of exposure.
Mariah Christensen
Minneapolis

CULTIVATING INSPIRATION
Regarding “Can Organics Save the Family Farm,” [September] if we didn’t need Eliot Coleman writing and farming so much, I’d plead for him to run for president. His excellent article explains why I feel the way I do about two things: allowing the USDA to determine the meaning of “organic” is bad, and our little market garden business is important and necessary and we need to keep doing it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Lisa McKinney
Etc. Farms
Fairmount, GA

MORE VIBRATORS!
Another museum with a fairly comprehensive collection of vibrators [The Rakish Angle, November], including some intended for “stimulating the prostate gland,” “treating constipation,” etc. was the late, lamented Museum of Questionable Medical Devices. The Science Museum has reportedly inherited most of that collection and may have some items from it on display.
Doug Gray
Bloomington

BELIEVE, DON’T BELITTLE
Regarding “Message in a Bottle” [The Rakish Angle, June]: In an age when modern science is starting to take a genuine interest in Eastern as well as other alternative healing methods, we should maintain an open mind and curiosity concerning new ideas and not, as the author does, shoot them down with a few sarcastic turns of phrase and hateful judgments. There is nothing superlative about belittling efforts to further our understanding of healing processes and nothing fresh about voicing one’s prejudice, as the author does when she makes fun of the Japanese speaker’s “robotic” accent. (Japanese, being a syllable-timed rather than stress-timed language, like English, has a more regular beat, as do many other of the world’s languages. When speakers of such syllable-timed languages speak English, they sometimes have trouble emulating the correct rhythm.) What does it say about the author’s character to use this accent and the speaker’s heartfelt citation of John Lennon’s “Imagine” lyrics as the concluding proof of the speaker’s folly? The healing potential of water (e.g., water from Lourdes and other pilgrimage sites) is in our ancient collective memory. Modern science is beginning to explain phenomena, such as the communicative potential of water and transmission of energy, through complex theories and lines of reasoning—most promisingly, quantum theory. We should be in awe of what may lie ahead of us in terms of healing potential and understanding of the universe.
Elisabeth Gareis
New York, NY

THE CASE AGAINST BIRTH CONTROL
It’s 5:30 a.m. Husband snoring away. Dog in my lap. Nice quiet time for reading The Rake. I howled at your column [Sex & the Married Man, October]. At fifty-plus years old, I identified with every word. This liberally raised, nontraditional Catholic encourages couples who do not want children, not to do so. Have sex, though. Children do bring significant change to a marriage. For those ready and willing to accept the responsibility, it is fabulous. We enjoyed every stage of our children’s lives. They are wonderful beings—raised with solid values and an excitement to test life, take risks, and maintain solid ethics. My eldest son teaches special ed in the Bronx. While in college at Carleton, his favorite T-shirt read: “You are not required to reproduce.” My younger son, a literary student at a high school devoted to the arts, was manhandled by a Republican patrol guard at the Bush rally (recently held in St. Cloud, for obvious reasons) for wearing a “Kerry for President” button. They have great spirit for living, are engaged in what’s happening around them, are fierce protectors of human rights and social justice, and the result of “oops, we’re pregnant” happenings early in their parents’ sex-filled marriage. You will be great parents. Thanks for the laugh. I must go make coffee now…I hear the other side rising. It’s garbage day and coffee helps him get the mess to the curb.

Sue Mackert
St. Cloud

TO HAVE KIDS OR NOT?
Why do you feel that couples who elect not to have children in the near future or even at all are “self-centered and looking out for number one”? Sure people have their reasons for having or not having kids, but to call them self-centered? I just don’t understand. Is staying single being self-centered? Do the friends of a single man say, “Gee, Bill, you’re an attractive, virile young man with a great job. Why don’t you get married?” Can a single man enjoy thesingle life of dating, or the simple pleasures of returning home from a hard day’s work just to veg out on the couch and read a book or go out to a coffee house or movie? Regarding the friend “Steve” who complains about his higher healthcare premiums subsidizing coworkers with family coverage: That’s really no different than a nonsmoker complaining about the same situation with smokers running up premiums. They’re both something that we’ll probably never be able to change, and, true, it is a fact of life. But to call Steve or others like him self-centered because of those two reasons is rather ignorant. You should know; you were once “not expecting.”
Brian Jonas
Minneapolis

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Regarding “Foot in Mouth” [Good Intentions, October]: Americans not only don’t win major American marathons, much less foreign, but we frequently don’t place in the top ten or even top twenty. While not as pronounced, we are not particularly competitive at anything longer than four hundred meters. The long-term decline in American fitness and grotesque increase in obesity is tragic and must be reversed. The Olympic marathon in Athens provides a glimmer of hope with “Americans” Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Deena Kastor finishing second and third, respectively. Marathon competitions, of course, recognize differences based upon gender, age, and being confined to a wheelchair, and they categorize results for more equitable competition. It would be sad indeed if we felt the need to segregate “Americans” as well.
John Newman
Minneapolis

HU’S ON FIRST?
I exchanged several emails with Sari Gordon over a period of a few weeks while she was putting together this article [“Hu Are You?,” October]. I was therefore quite surprised when I read the article and saw so many glaring inaccuracies. She wrote that “the basic teachings of Eckankar are virtually identical to Hinduism.” This and the whole paragraph that follows is almost entirely wrong. She included a lot of information from a few apostates who have been shown to be wildly biased, and she included nothing of the answers I or other members gave her. She also included none of the actual teachings of Eckankar. I thought that a bit strange. I guess it’s really just more about her, under the guise of being about Eckankar. Suffice to say that having an opinion is one thing, but getting so many facts incorrect is beyond the pale of decent journalism.
Rich Smith
Honolulu, HI

GOT RAW MILK?
Eliot Coleman is prescient when he notes, “I buy milk from a very successful local raw-milk dairy where the cows eat grass outdoors (as they were designed to do) and produce milk that studies have shown is far richer in many important nutrients due to the grass diet alone” [“Can Organics Save the Family Farm?,” September]. Grass-fed milk from cows and goats has higher levels of CLA, butterfat, Vitamin D, and a host of other nutrients. Unprocessed (unpasteurized) milk has a whole host of beneficial bacteria, such as acidophilus and lactobacillus, as well as antibacterial agents, or pathogenic inhibitors, including Nisin, Lactoferrin, and Lactoperoxidase. Pasteurization destroys those benefits and actually makes the milk more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria. The reason the large dairy industry constantly promotes pasteurized milk is because it covers their tracks when using sick cows in confinement settings. For a detailed look, see Dr. Ron Schmid’s book, The Untold Story of Milk, at www.drrons.com/untoldstoryofmilk.html. I applaud the way you open the door to fresh insights and would appreciate the opportunity to educate your readers further on ways to acquire healthy, nutrient-dense foods.
John Langlois
Foggy Bottom Farms
Estillfork, AL

POLICE BUSINESS
I just wanted to express my thanks for “Cover Letters I’d Like to Send” [And Now This, October 2004], notably the section about the Minneapolis police and their “lack of compliance” with basic traffic laws. It also drives me nuts that some people can get pulled over for being, say, in the wrong kind of car or some other driving infraction, but the police can misuse their privileges (not to mention being bad role models to the young people of the city). The part about endorsing a guitar would be great, too.
Christopher Audette
St. Paul

WAR VS. DIPLOMACY
In defining “deep-organic” agriculture, Eliot Coleman sharply demarcates his position, but ultimately, and unfortunately, isolates himself in contradictions [“Can Organics Save the Family Farm?,” September]. He notes how metaphors of war and conflict have distorted farming, but then he falls into the same trap himself, seeing the conventional agriculture establishment as an implacable enemy with whom no dialogue or compromise is possible. He observes the harm done by an economy built upon conspicuous consumption, but then salutes “astute consumers” and their “demand for exceptional food.” His call to focus on the underlying causes of problems is naive: Political arguments exist precisely because there is disagreement about what the root causes really are. Stop-gap measures aimed at symptoms are often the best that can be done because they enjoy the widest base of support. In order that the “organic family farm can save the world,” the energy and concern of Coleman and others must not be dissipated in just growing boutique produce for niche markets. Rather, the connections between farms and communities need to be strengthened; the linkages between the problems of society and agriculture must be seen as more than metaphors. Ultimately, it is because Coleman’s case must be made, that I believe his case must be made better.

Chuck McCallum
Osceola, WI

WILL AMERICA EVOLVE?
I wanted to write to thank you for giving this subject the attention it deserves. Eliot Coleman’s article on organic farming is an excellent tribute to the selfless family farmers. The idea that a governing body can’t touch the inarguably righteous deep-organic farmer never occurred to me. The way Eliot describes the family farmer’s striving for the very best foods as being the reason they would never resort to shallow-organic farming techniques simply to profit gives me a renewed hope for our country. I recently read an article about the pressure being put on France by the WTO to drop the subsidies they pay to their organic farmers so they’ll lose their farms or conform to WTO standards. The French are very proud of their good quality food and are resisting. The article, as good as it was, wrote our country off. It pretty much said that Americans were set in ways that don’t accommodate quality over quantity. I wrote the editor and assured her that there are a growing number of us Americans who would like to see us begin supporting quality foods from conscientious farmers. Eliot’s mention of raw milk was a huge bonus for me because I too consume raw milk.

Tony Rust
Minneapolis

DEFENDING THE FAMILY FARM
You must be commended on a wonderful and thoughtful article, Eliot! It is rare when the press sticks up for the family farms, especially those that are organic and are providing food direct to the consumer. You mentioned that you are choosy about your eggs and that you get your milk directly from the farm—how wonderful! This is something that we, as organic farmers have seen a great deal of in the past two years. More and more people are driving great distances to the farm to get food that they know the source of. Keep up the good work Eliot. Family-run organic farmers everywhere should read your story; it’s a blessing!

Janet Brunner
Midvalleyvu Farms, Arkansaw, WI

PROPERTY RIGHTS, CONTINUED
I am offended by Ms. Erdrich’s letter [Letters, August]. As she so clearly states, Mr. Lazor and his family have the right to build on their own property as they wish. Why would she think that a family building their home on a lot that stood empty and overgrown with weeds for years hurts anyone? When it comes to planting, clearly Ms. Erdrich is in the enviable position of never living through a remodeling or construction project. Typically, most people add plants and landscaping after all the major construction is over and its accompanying equipment has gone. (Nor would I presume to advise anyone, neighbor or not, to plant Virginia Creeper or any other plant in their garden.) Lastly, why is Ms. Erdrich singling out this new house which is fairly modest in size for the Kenilworth area—how about some of the behemoths around the lakes that cover entire lot lines, leaving no room for greenscape whatsoever?

Lori Ott, St. Louis Park

DEFEND YOUR MONOGAMOUS LIFE
I was enjoying Stuart Greene’s column, “Ménage à… Nah,” in your July issue [Sex & The Married Man]. I agree that sexual adventurism is definitely not for everyone. But I was amazed by this blanket statement he imposed at the end: “[Sex experts] who aren’t afraid to delve deeper into moral and psychological issues seem to agree that humans are essentially monogamous by nature.” This is highly untrue, at least if you examine the historical norms. In a recent study of 1,154 past and present societies, anthropologists documented that 980—a huge majority—have allowed some form of multiple relationship. Even today, a number of traditional indigenous societies allow either polygamy or polyandry. This isn’t to suggest that these societies didn’t also have monogamous relationships, or that those who only have one partner in their life are somehow deficient. There are many relationship styles: straight or gay, single-partner or multiple-partner, and Greene deserves credit for determining that he’s happy in a monogamous relationship. But we need to be very careful about assertions regarding which types of relationships are our “essential nature,” and extremely cautious about branding other types as “dysfunctional” or “hurtful,” as he goes on to do. This wasn’t a psychological judgment, it was a moral judgment. Greene seemed to need to defend his own lifestyle.
Steve Anderson
Minneapolis

TOO MUCH LOVE FOR ONE LOVER
Regarding Stuart Greene’s interesting ménage article, I have to say that I think Stuart should learn more about the subject. He says “humans are essentially monogamous by nature, and that this type of sex-play is usually evidence of some kind of dysfunction, often something very serious and hurtful.” Being polyamorous myself, I can say with certainty that he is mistaken. It may be true that some monogamous couples who occasionally participate in a ménage may have deeper issues, maybe not. There are large numbers of people who participate in open, honest multiple-partner relationships. Like all communities, the moral and psychological nature of these people ranges across the spectrum. By and large, though, most of us are emotionally mature enough to have gone beyond jealousy and possessiveness to allow ourselves to be open to long-term loving relationships with more than one person. Any casual observer of human nature and history knows that most men are not monogamous by nature. In some cultures men have affairs or mistresses, and it is not considered the least bit unusual or improper. In our prudish culture, this is less accepted but often ignored or overlooked. With the large divorce rate and the high incidence of infidelity, it should be obvious that monogamy is an artificial institution that correlates higher with dogmatically religious people. Participants in polyamory feel that the emphasis on sexual monogamy is unimportant, that fidelity with one’s partner(s) is being honest and truthful, and it is the mark of a mature relationship. Perhaps Stuart is unfamiliar with the broad community of adults who participate in swinging, open relationships, polyamory, and/or BDSM and is just jealous that his old flame has a more open sexual lifestyle than himself. Stuart’s final thought, “Great sex does not make a great relationship,” says it all. Why can’t one have great sex and great relationships?
Atom Aton
Minneapolis

THE LOOCH IS ON THE LOOSE
At last, Mary Lucia’s voice back into the consciousness of Minneapolis [Soundtrack to Mary, The Broken Clock]! I mourned the loss of REV, and then ZONE, not only for the music but for the honest, passionate, wickedly funny, loosely censored Mary Lucia. I anxiously and hopefully wait for the day that Mary is back on air. Until then, I will keep looking for written word from Mary.
Shellae Mueller
Bloomington

HEY GOOD-LOOKING, WHAT YOU GOT COOKING?
I thoroughly enjoy your magazine, finding it interesting, well-written, and good-looking. But a serious matter forces me to point out what I see as an error in the article “Getting Baked” [The Rakish Angle, August]. There is no clear evidence that “tanning booths are less likely than sun exposure to cause melanoma.” From everything I have read, the jury is still out on the various causes of melanoma, a horrible beast of a disease. One thing is clear: You won’t find many oncologists hanging out in tanning booths. The last thing consumers need is cancer information generated by the tanning industry.
Maureen Mitton
Hudson, Wisconsin

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND
Robin Shaw’s article “Unhappy Trails” [August] missed the point. It’s not what is the best use of the land, but who gets to decide how the land is developed, if at all. If the court rules that Brian Sandberg owns the land, do we label them “activist” judges? What I did learn from that article is that, in the end, Sandberg is SOL. Even if the state Supreme Court rules in favor of Sandberg, apparently the Legislature can still appropriate the land for the public good. So, it would seem Sandberg will eventually have to decide whether to defend his rights with his gun against the Legislature’s pen. I love the bike trails and use them frequently. Do all the real benefits of having the trails outlined in the article negate the rule of law? In a sense, Sandberg is in the same boat as Native Americans whose land was taken from them because they did not use it to its fullest extent.
Darryl Wheaton
Lakeville

Editor’s Note: We’re pretty sure the “rule of law” favors the state Legislature. It’s often referred to as “eminent domain.” Property-rights advocates who defend their views with guns tend to lose in these types of disagreements.

SPEAKING OF PROPERTY RIGHTS…
I was so surprised to read Louise Erdrich’s letter in the August edition of The Rake [Letters]. If memory serves, the lot where Charlie Lazor is building his house was for sale for a long time—years, even. I rollerblade that trail almost daily (I agree with her that the Kenilworth Trail is superb, one of the green gems of the city), and have marveled at the new house gracing the lot no one else would buy. If she wanted to preserve the green space, why didn’t she buy the lot herself, or rally her neighbors to buy it collectively? Since she didn’t, she can’t exactly complain about what someone else does with it. And, the house is not a concrete wall, as she so inaccurately described it. Gorgeous wood and glass are the primary materials of Mr. Lazor’s house. To my eyes, it’s much more sculpturally and sensitively designed than many of the bland older houses on lots nearby. And those older houses sit on what was once green space, too—just because they’re old doesn’t make them any less of an assault on bygone green space, or make them automatically beautiful. Mr. Lazor’s house inspires and thrills me each time I pass it. (And I love the humane beauty of its affordability.) Clearly, we are drawn to different expressions of beauty. Beauty is subjective, after all. (I do love Ms. Erdrich’s books and her bookstore, though.) I was shocked and surprised to read this from Ms. Erdrich—especially from Ms. Erdrich.
Solveg Peterson
Minneapolis

Covering a Nalgene bottle with duct tape [“A Watery World,” the Rakish Angle, July] is in fact a clever way for those “outdoor types” to cut down on supplies. Minimalism is key when space is limited. But who could leave home without a roll of duct tape? Some might even say it’s as important as water. Fortunately, the Nalgene can hold both.

Joe Hillary
Eden Prairie

Julie Caniglia’s article “Peeping Tom Goes Legit” [June] is an unfair critique of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Home Tour. Because the writer is having trouble finding an affordable home, she seems to want to take it out on the folks who have decided to stay in the core cities for the long haul, show the public what is possible with old, urban homes, and pay higher taxes in the process. I’ve lived in Southwest Minneapolis for the last eight years and have seen how remodeling a home can affect a street. Neighbors are typically happy and excited to see home improvement projects evolve. Once people see that it’s worth the investment, other homes on the block are refurbished. Shabby homes are given a facelift, and instead of a decaying street you have one that is re-energized. Personally, I’d rather have people invest in city homes and show them off than take their money to the suburbs and buy a McMansion. I guess Ms. Caniglia could then write about the tragic blight of once-grand neighborhoods in the Cities. I’ve visited Home Tour houses and found it uplifting that people choose to make a significant investment in places that were given up for dead a couple of decades ago. I found the homeowners to be down-to-earth, modest, and committed to city life. Going through Home Tour residences made me feel good about living in a city on the rise. Community is fostered in many ways, and there are much worse means than improving your house and providing fellow urbanites with ideas, inspiration, and comfort in knowing that others strive to make Minneapolis and St. Paul better places. Yes, we need more affordable homes incorporating good design in the city, but please don’t ridicule people who are making urban neighborhoods stable and attractive. Strong, successful American cities have beautiful neighborhoods filled with a variety of fine homes. Residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul should be proud of the improving their housing stock and make time to celebrate it.

Keith Ylinen
Minneapolis

My family and I walk and bike the superb Kenilworth Trail upon which Charlie Lazor’s Flatpak house has intruded [“The Prefigured House,” July]. Now, instead of turning off a city street onto a gorgeous trail flanked with green, bikers and walkers first see Mr. Lazor’s concrete wall. Every lost piece of green growth in a city hurts somebody, but I appreciate that Mr. Lazor has a right to build anything he wants on his property. Still, although he states otherwise in your article, I am hoping that he realizes that he does, in fact, have neighbors. The people on the trail are neighbors. Virginia creeper grows fast. How about planting some, Mr. Lazor?
Louise Erdrich
Minneapolis

Thank you so much for Clinton Collins, Jr.’s column [“Ghetto is as Ghetto Does,” Free the Jackson Five!, July]. I built a house in North Minneapolis in 2002 and am now regretting that I did. Before I moved, I thought that the brothers were always getting hassled by the police. My views have changed now. I wanted the American dream. My dream has turned into a nightmare. My neighbors rarely come outside. I can sit in my window and watch a drug deal or prostitutes walking the street.

Name Withheld By Request
Hawthorne Neighborhood, Minneapolis

Collins’ column echoes many of the feelings and frustrations that my neighbors and I have. I live in the Old Highland neighborhood and have been battling crime for more than ten years. In my book, criminal acts in a community include those that contribute to the deterioration of a neighborhood. Abusive and violent behavior (which includes loud profanity), littering, loud stereos and parties, and general neglect of one’s home and yard perpetuate the “ghetto” mentality and are serious crimes. Last year at our neighborhood Clean Sweep, a friend of mine was reprimanded by a so-called “neighbor” for picking up the trash in this person’s yard. His comment—“leave my trash alone, I like living in the ghetto”—elicited the response, “Well, you might as well move, because this is no longer the ghetto.” It was refreshing to hear Collins express a zero-tolerance attitude. I have no intentions of moving and no intentions of lowering my standards to accommodate a victim mentality. Thanks, Mr. Collins; we need more neighbors like you.

Tracy Loso
Minneapolis

Though I am happy to see positive publicity for air guitar [“Mock & Roll,” the Rakish Angle, July], I do have some problems with your article. First off, the production company filming the documentary on air guitar is not associated with Project Greenlight or the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon production company Live Planet Productions. The producers of the film, who worked as executive producers on season two of the Project Greenlight series, are shooting the documentary of their own accord, under their own company, Magical Elves Inc. There is no connection between the two productions. Secondly, I take offense to being called a “ringer” in your article. Though I have a history working with Magical Elves, I was not assisted by the production, especially when it came to the results of the competition. (There are specific guidelines that each regional must follow which, I believe, are created by the founders of the Air Guitar World Championships.) My decision to participate in the Minneapolis regional air-guitar championship was due to my love of air guitar and my desire to perform in front of friends and family in my home state of Minnesota (something not mentioned in your piece; I am from St. Paul and a graduate of St. Paul Academy). I also wanted to bring my vision of air guitar to the Twin Cities in hopes of inspiring others to participate in future competitions and to help establish a fan base of air-guitar enthusiasts for years to come. In all honesty, I didn’t believe that I could win the competition, nor did I go into the evening with intentions of winning. I just wanted to give a good show and to put some smiles on the faces of my friends and family. I believe that I accomplished my goal.

Michael Rucker
Los Angeles