W the Madman
I loved your article “Bush: Planning an exit strategy.”  It made so much sense, but what I can’t understand is, how did our nation become so brainwashed by this madman? 

Can’t they SEE?  I am just totally astounded by the Republican party, by the way they look the other way, when their president makes yet another and another blunder. The past five years have been mind boggling. How can this one man get by with all that he does? How? How can people look the other way, or not look, at all the thousands of people who are dying because of this genocidal killer? Yet, when Bill Clinton lied about a blow job, oh my God, they were ready to start a civil war. How can a human being with some form of a conscience even compare a blow job to the deaths of thousands of people over a lie that George W. Bush told? Am I crazy? Or are they? Why aren’t people revolting, taking to the streets in mass numbers in protest over this madman?  Look at the Viet Nam debacle. Thousands upon thousands of college students were out in the streets protesting at every local university.

Now, the students (the ones who may be potentially drafted), just sit back and live in their little computerized dream world. Well, they have cell phones, X-box, iPods and computers. And guess what?  If this king/dictator gw bush decides to have a draft, HE WILL GET A DRAFT ... the democrat government officials are too weak to wrestle with that one, and they will be the ones who go to g.w. bush’s illegal, immoral wars. 

Ah, thanks for letting me vent, Ed, and keep up the good work.  I really do love your articles, and I stand behind your beliefs. 

Jeanette Smith
Minneapolis

Rollergirls Rebuttal
It has recently come to our attention that a former skater with the Minnesota RollerGirls has made claims attacking nearly every aspect of our organization. It’s not common that we have issues with former skaters, but there is usually an exception in every situation. While the former skater is entitled to her point of view regarding the league, we wanted to clear up any confusion caused by her comments regarding our donation status. The claims this former skater has made against our charitable gift-giving efforts are completely false and the questions she has raised are wholly unfounded. The charities we work with can attest to that. We want to make it clear that none of our skaters are paid to practice or to compete. Team uniforms and skate-gear are paid for by the skaters themselves. Founding members do not receive pay, nor do they accept bonuses or any other financial gain for their hard work. It seems that this former skater did not take the time to research our event costs or insurance costs, or to ask for financial reports when she was with the Minnesota RollerGirls. In her letter to the editor, she attempts to convey that there is some sort of secrecy behind our financial activity, but that is simply not true. Had she asked for financial information from the league while she was a member, she would have been given ready access to it. If she had asked, she would also have been given a complete breakdown of costs associated with our events to balance any income. She would also have been given details regarding our private sponsorship agreements that would have cleared up any falsehoods she may have been dreaming up.

While we are saddened by the obviously poor experience this former skater endured during her very short stint with the Minnesota RollerGirls, it should be known that she made an exit from the league at will, and before the first season came to an end. No one shouted at her, caused her physical harm, or put pressure on her in any way to leave. As far as the league putting pressure to make her self appear sexy on press visits, that is also completely untrue. We do notify our skaters when there will be press at practices, but not so they’ll “look sexy,” as the former skater said. We do it because our practices are mandatory for every skater, but they are given the option to not be present when the press is there in an effort to protect their privacy. It should also be noted that each team was given 100 percent initiative when it came to their uniforms. Each individual player is responsible for the length of her own skirt (if they choose skirts as part of their uniform) and the items they represent on their uniforms. No sponsor information or branding was ever made mandatory for any skater. To the contrary, clauses in our sponsorship contracts protect our skaters against having to brand themselves with anything against their will. The former skater also mentions a sense of malicious violence at the core of our sport. We don’t feel that a sport with training as intense and structured as the roller derby can be intentionally malicious. There is an element of physicality in every contact sport. We have had a handful of women leave the league for several reasons, including pregnancy, work conflicts and other personal conflicts, but the reasons this former skater is stating are a real first for us. Though she has made it clear in her letter that she had a troubling experience during her short stint with the Minnesota RollerGirls, it’s not clear why she, in good conscience, would try to negatively influence fans and future attendees with such an attempt to slander and disgrace our organization. Despite all the name-calling, finger pointing, bad-mouthing, and unfounded claims of dishonesty against the Minnesota RollerGirls, this former skater has also succeeded in creating the possibility that some readers may believe what she has written about our organization’s efforts to help those in need. It seems that in her attempt to point some attention in her own direction, she might have also influenced some visitors not to attend our events. No matter how upsetting this is to our hard-working skaters, in the long run it’s charity that may suffer.

Flora Flipabitch, Atomic Bombshells: Minnesota RollerGirls
Knocker Blocoff, Dagger Dolls: Minnesota RollerGirls
Head Trauma, Garda Belts: Minnesota RollerGirls
Sayonara Pussy, Rockits: Minnesota RollerGirls
Rat Bastard, Head Ref & Coach: Minnesota RollerGirls

Winter Soldiers poetry
Jennifer Nemo’s article about the rebirth of the Winter Soldier’s hearings reminded me of my reaction to them when first televised in 1971. I tried to write something to convey my feelings and ended up with a poem once published in a short-lived alternative magazine, “SEZ.”

TESTIMONY FROM THE VIETNAM WINTER SOLDERS’ HEARINGS: Detroit, 1971

“WE BLEW THEM AWAY,” you say, cloudy eyes shooting right and left. (Dandelions, I muse—fluffs of gray on a bright summer’s day.)

“WE BLEW THEM AWAY,” you say. (Flickering flames on birthday cakes and wishes begging still lit tapers.)

“THEY WERE LITTLE KIDS,” you’re whispering soft, “STANDING ALONGSIDE THE ROAD WHEN OUR TRUCKS SPED BY, GIVING US THE SIGN WE’D GIVEN THEM—THE FINGER—”

“SPOTTED BY THE CAPTAIN WHO SHOUTED LOUD ‘STOP—ALL GET OUT—AIM AND FIRE.’”

“WE DID. WE DID,” you say and turn your face away. “WE BLEW THEM AWAY.” Like dandelion fluff, like candle flame.

I’m not sure if John Kerry testified at the hearings but I remember seeing him on television about this time testifying before Congress, sitting at a table—so young—so earnest. He’d thrown away his military medals in disgust. When he later was elected to Congress, I thought great! He’s going to turn this country away from its predilection for war. I waited and waited to see what legislation he would introduce. He was elected year after year. And I waited and I waited and I waited. I hear his is contemplating another run for the presidency. I’m really tired of waiting for the young John Kerry to emerge. (letter unsigned)