Just a short note to let you know you failed to write about the amalgams in most of your readers’ teeth [“Grin and Bear It,” December]. Yes, I know that my health is better without the mercury in my body. Jesse Ventura was the first governor to appoint a mercury-free advocate to the Minnesota Dental Board—Ron King, D.D.S.
Leland Roth, Spring Park
I’m a fan of The Rake, but do you just toss that award-winning attention to detail and critical thinking to the wind when you write about anything concerning animals? In December, you (1) profiled Horst [“The Fine Art of Living Well”] without mentioning a top Aveda selling point—their refusal to test their cosmetics on animals, (2) extolled the virtues of hat-wearing [“Put a Lid On It”], and reminisced for beaver-donning days without mention of the fact that this little fashion trend nearly extinguished Minnesota’s furry buck-toothed population and (3) detailed Katie Quirk’s transformation from vegetarian to butterburger lover [“Minnesota Fats”]. Now, don’t get me wrong, Quirk is a fantastic writer, but shouldn’t something as common as “Former Idealist Returns to Hamburger” be left to The Onion? In November, you published “Oh, fer cute! Ouch!” and offered a glimpse into the hip pocket-pet trend of the year, sugar gliders—from a pet dealer’s perspective. To balance this out, I sent the article to Nick Mooney, a wildlife professional in the gliders’ native Tanzania. It turns out that the cute little animal whom Dan Gilchrist describes as “desperately trying to get out of your hands” is probably “stressed and not happy about being handled,” says Mooney. And even when the glider seems mellow and content—Gilchrist describes owners who put the marsupials in their shirt pockets “while they watch TV or work on the computer”—they’re really freaking out, according to Mooney. Gliders, he says, “curl up and withdraw as a response to stress.” Mooney wrote, “All in all I’m appalled to see our wonderful marsupials become ‘pocket pets’ with little or no dignity, a likely sticky end with no benefit whatsoever to sugar gliders.” Want more? Mooney was also concerned about the impact on individual gliders and the local environment should they escape and compete with hollow-nesting birds and animals, and the temptation to declaw the claw-needing critters. Mooney was curious to know whether welfare legislation protects such unconventional pets. Concerns for animal and environmental welfare have prompted many states and municipalities to make ownership of the marsupials illegal. According to the online store K & D Exotic Pets, sugar gliders are illegal or restricted in nine states (not yet including Minnesota) as well as many municipalities. Keep up the good work, Rake editors. But maybe you could leave the critters be.
Sue Rich, North Minneapolis
I enjoyed the beautiful pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary [“Something About Mary, Mother of God,” December]. However, the accompanying article is very offensive to me in a few places. Being that I was raised a Catholic, I want to know the source for stating that Mary is a “figure of adoration.” I’ve always been taught that only God is to be adored.
Stella Lundquist, St. Paul
Jeannine Ouellette claims increased interest in Mary has caused the Church more trouble trying to manage her image, meaning, and legacy. It’s been a problematic, unnecessary, and equivocal sore spot with modernist Catholic theologians, catechists, and in various liberal Catholic circles. This has been especially true in U.S. parishes, colleges, and seminaries since the Second Vatican Council in 1962-1965. Soon after Vatican II, many priests—tacitly approved of by their bishops, and despite the protests of their own congregations—willfully spawned their own iconoclasm in churches, convents, and seminaries. Yet while these misinformed Catholic “experts” were trying to take Mary from her pedestal and lock her in the closet, pockets of Catholics—especially conservative and traditionalist groups—never would or could let Mary “die.” Just as the traditional Latin mass never disappeared depite serious opposition from many bishops and priests, Marian devotions not only survived but thrived, even in parishes where modernism took a powerful hold during the 60s and 70s. There are more churches celebrating the Tridentine Latin Mass today than there were in 1975. Maybe, just maybe, the renewed interest in Mary, especially among secular and Protestant groups, is simply a fad. (A few years ago there was apparently an interest in “angels.”) In those circles, perhaps the “cult of Mary” will stick. I’m not betting on it.
Howard A. McQuitter, Minneapolis
It’s silly to suggest that American men stopped wearing their hats just because JFK took his off during his 1960 inaugural address. In fact, he wore a silk top hat that whole day—and tails! Some people claim that he actually revived this tradition; Truman wore a topper for his inaugural, but Eisenhower wore a homburg. And both men—especially Ike—went around bareheaded all the time. I guess you could make the argument that they weren’t as young and handsome as JFK, and thus had less influence. Still, the hat was undoubtedly already in decline, as the 50s gave way to the more permissive 60s. It’s always been interesting to me that this myth persists. It’s obviously more about glorifying the memory and the martyrdom of JFK than it is about explaining why men just don’t wear hats anymore. And show me the Minnesotan who insists on going hatless through the winter, and I’ll show you a moron with frostbitten ears.
Noel Sims, Cambridge
It was great to discover that I wasn’t the only person who wondered what happened at Supervalu [“Superdeval-ued,” November]. My mother (retired, living on a fixed income) owned 400 shares of Supervalu and she was thinking about selling them. I researched the stock and recommended holding the shares, because the stock had good ratings and with the stock market and the economy not doing so well, I figured a grocery store stock would do well, after all, people have to keep buying groceries. Then the stock tanked. I tried to talk my mother into hanging onto the shares until the price came back up but she sold at the very rock bottom. Of course, my mother and my siblings blame me for all the money my mother lost. It’s great to have your article to show them. Also, I was completely unaware of the class action lawsuits. I hope my mother can still get in on the lawsuits, just in case anything comes from that.
Rick Cheney
Thanks for covering the Bolshoi Ballet [“Head to Toe,” December]. I’ve never been to a ballet, but my kids liked the idea—so we went. Even though it was the most expensive ticket I’ve ever bought for anything, it was worth every penny. Amazing! I had no idea that the Twin Cities dance scene was as sophisticated and popular as it is. The liner notes in the program, unfortunately, were almost impossible to make any sense out of, so I was grateful for The Rake’s clear and concise overview of the Bolshoi’s productions. I had plenty of time to think about that afterwards, as I sat in the car for an hour trying to get away from the clogged campus of the U. Thank God I had a copy of your magazine in my car. The kids were mercifully asleep in the back, but I would have gone crazy without you.
Nancy Flanagan, Prescot
What is this we Dakotans hear about you folks wanting to move your football team to South Dakota [“Gopher Football: New Stadium or We’re Moving to Yankton!”, The Rake’s Progress, October]? Don’t we have a say in this? We don’t want your team. You may be having a good season but it will probably be followed by probation and embarrassment. Not only that, but you’d probably send the Vikings along with them. Why not think about a new home in Canada and leave us alone?
Barry Hoover, Sioux Falls
The idea that other regions of the country contain more grandiose beauty per acre than does Minnesota is hardly to be disputed [Good Intentions, October], but the sublime vision lauded in the review of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s show is also distorted and pretentious. As a landscape artist who’s chosen to live here precisely because the beauty of the upper Mississippi takes a little more soulful inspection and reflection than does the Grand Canyon, I’d remind everyone that nature’s beauty is universal. The subtle Taoist plain can be as thrilling as a ruined mountain top. Not only has Minnesota inspired its own bouquet of native impressionists like Alex Fournier and Seth Eastman, natural realists, but the work of our contemporary painter Mike Lynch stands beside the finest work anywhere in the nation. Like unseen poetry, there’s always an aesthetic pay-off if you’re calm enough to really appreciate it.
Michael McKenzie, Minneapolis
I’m with you: The smoke has got to go [Good Intentions, November]. My deep disgust for breathing other people’s poisonous crap, not to mention the stinging eyes, stinky clothes, achy head, and nauseous stomach that result from the poison keeps me from enjoying a multitude of otherwise fabulous venues here in the Cities and I’m sick of it. Less than 25 percent of Minnesotans smoke and yet 100 percent of us have to put up with the effects of such a nasty, disgusting, and lethal habit. I don’t give a crap about their “presumed” civil right to kill themselves in public. What about my right to breathe clean air in public? What about my right not to die from the long-term effects of second-hand smoke? What about my right to enjoy what I probably paid damn good money to see or listen to, without interference? I’m a native Californian who very much enjoyed the benefits of smoke-free entertainment venues. I loved going out and spending money at these places. But no more. Since I moved here, I have earned some serious mileage on my credit card at video and music stores. And since the powers that be obviously have not caught on to the fact that business can only become more profitable by going smoke-free, I’m sending them the only message I know. I’m keeping my money for myself and Mr. Video. Given this miserable state of affairs, I find it ironic that recently the nonprofit United Health Foundation said Minnesota is the second healthiest state in the nation. The ranking is based on several measures, including infant mortality, uninsured rates, violent crime, smoking, premature death, and children in poverty. It was ranked number one last year. The reason it slipped is doubly ironic: Smoking rates went up from 19 percent to 22 percent. Maybe one day all the non-smoking folks will pause and ask themselves why this is inequity being allowed to continue. And maybe that day something will be done. In the meantime, it’s not looking good for Minnesota, and my DVD player continues to get more use than I care for, but what are my alternatives? I want to go out and play again, before I’m too old to care. Optimistically, our voices will be heard and something will be done. Realistically, I’m not holding my breath.
Dianne Rowe, Minneapolis
I enjoyed your November 2002 issue very much, especially the piece regarding Supervalu’s stock collapse and subsequent local media (under)attention [“Superdevalued,” November]. How-ever, I must admit that my favorite part of the magazine was a bit more obscure. One of your contributing editors, responding to the question on “Thanksgiving side dishes we avoid,” offered “Long pig” as his answer [Masthead, November]. Hilarious!
Bob Clyborne, Deephaven