The Mail
DRIVE ANOTHER NAIL IN
What evidence does Taylor offer that counters this statement besides a childish insult? How can someone who has seemingly been living in Bhutan without a LAN connection for the last few years comment on American politics? President Rove and Mullah Dobson would be laughing their asses off if they read this naiveté.While I admit it's easy to take potshots at this twit, in this case Taylor should attack the argument, not the person.
Alex Swingle, Manhattan
Heard the one about the Dalai Lama?
My son sent me Matt Taibbi's pope list ("The 52 Funniest Things About the Upcoming Death of the Pope," 3/2).I am a psychotherapist in Nassau County, and this is really not my kind of funny, but that matters not. We need desperately to be challenged, and wicked humor keeps some of the weary folks among us alive in these hard times. So I hope you try to help Jeff Koyen stay in his rightful spot as editor, and remember the crucial value of free speech, which is one of our only assets in the fight against fascism.
Think about this: Conservatives across America are having parties this week because Dan Rather is resigning from CBS. Doesn't that give some of us a knot in the stomach?
I say, Amen, funny or not.
Carol Smaldino, Port Washington, NY
#53
In any case, the pope seems to "pontificate" too much, anyway ("The 52 Funniest Things About the Upcoming Death of the Pope," 3/2).
Tim Bradley, Los Angeles
Win a Date With A Mormon
I understand your publication is supposed to be provocative ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9). I work in the industry and understand all of that. I like to be a bit provocative myself.
However, how about Joshua Cohen come meet me for lunch. A few reasons:
1. I'm a perfectly affable, educated guy.
2. I'm really not that strange or whatever, and I am a Mormon.
3. Mormons are harmless people, taught to respect others, help their neighbors and obey the law.
4. Saying that Mormons are CIA operatives or that J.W. Marriott is run by the Church is equal to all the many great falsehoods commonly told about Jews. If I wrote about Jews what Mr. Cohen writes about Mormons, there would have been an international furor roundly condemning him. Alas, Mormons are also taught to be forgiving toward those who know nothing about them.
5. Did I mention that I'm charming?
Michael McNiven, Manhattan
Prophet Smith
Joshua Cohen's writing on Hugh Nibley was good, but the parts about Joseph Smith show he doesn't have a clue ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9). He needs to check with some of those in the faith if he wants to write accurate accounts about Joseph and the church in general. Is he concerned that the Lord may have restored his Church back to the Earth in the Latter Days through a living prophet named Joseph Smith?
Rich Jarman, Manhattan
Shame Game
It's a shame you guys didn't stand behind Jeff Koyen ("The 52 Funniest Things About the Upcoming Death of the Pope," 3/2).
Nick Cerminaro, Montreal, Quebec
GUESS WHO USED TO LIVE IN BUFFALO
Matt Taibbi rocks. Russ Smith is a sniveling, cowardly pile of shit.
Paul B. Curtin, The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
The Other Religion Article
Re: Joshua Cohen's "Hugh W. Nibley, 94" (3/9): I don't know how you can allow such hatred and venom to be printed. If Mr. Cohen were talking about black people, he would be accused of being a racist. Why do you let him get away with it? This is not journalism. He cited no sources for his false accusations. Are you trying to sell papers in Utah? You can be assured that I won't read your paper anymore. I can no longer believe that most of what you print is accurate or newsworthy.
Kevin Stolworthy, Las Vegas
Thus Spake Mr. Gaskin
I'm glad to see that freedom of the press is alive and well in New York. However, do we really need more bigotry ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9)? Isn't there enough already? Or instead, has it become the case that Mormonism is now the only "safe" religion to bash?
I hope the advertising dollars are worth it.
Matt Gaskin, Columbia, SC
From the Other Rome
Re: Joshua Cohen's "Hugh W. Nibley, 94" (3/9): I can now see that it is possible to write any type of hate-filled drivel and get paid for it. Perhaps if I ever lose my real job, I can do something similar. No, on second thought, I have too much self-respect. I can now see why you call yourselves an "alternative" newspaper. Perhaps if you made a conscious effort to hire better writers, your stature might improve from bird-cage lining to serious reading.
Steve Hall, Rome, PA
B.A., BYU
Wow. While I understand that much of Mr. Cohen's diatribe against the Mormon faith is tongue in cheek (or so I would hope), I still find it troubling that any newspaper would choose to print such a bigoted article ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9).
As a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) who is an actor, I run up against discrimination on a fairly frequent basis here in NYC-the Brigham Young University credit on my resume is a dead give-away. I certainly have found that there continues to be much ignorance and lack of tolerance in the world. The sad part is that one would assume Mr. Cohen would have learned at some point how damaging and dangerous such language and unfounded accusations tend to be given past historical occurrences. I wouldn't even want to take the time to go into defending each of the lies and accusations that Mr. Cohen makes in his article and quite frankly, why the "freakin heck" should I have to? (Yes, we "Mormons" try not to swear; what a terrible trait to possess...)
David Elias Glick, Manhattan
Ah, Baseball
Re: "Clean-Shaven and Ugly" (3/2): Some of the things you say are true. But what you can't argue is the way the Sox have handled prosperity. They're still infatuated with the Yankees, even though they finally beat them. From Nixon to Schilling, they haven't shut up about the Yankees.
Funny thing is, Nixon praised guys like Jeter and Bernie after he insulted A-Rod. I just wonder if he realizes that by insulting A-Rod, he did exactly what guys like Jeter and Bernie would never do.
No, the Yankees are not without fault. (Well, at least the Yankees of '02-'04 haven't been. The Yankees of '96-'01 were about as classy as a pro-sports franchise can get.) But compared to the Red Sox, they are a pillar of class who refuse to get into the little-girl shouting matches that the Sox seem to love.
Matt DeMazza, Manhattan
Burns and Beards
Russ Smith: You are absolutely right about Bernie Williams being a class act "Clean-Shaven and Ugly," (3/2). Jackie Robinson was a great baseballer, and I never thought of him as a black man. He was probably the greatest second- baseman who ever lived. He ran the bases that way, anyway, and that's enough for me.
The only thing wrong with Burn's Baseball is that the guy is hung up on race. When I once asked my father about the dearth of black baseball players, his answer, which still astounds me, was, "They are probably too good."
The House of David was good. They wore beards, and it was the Depression, after all.
Bob Cooper, via email
Kay Okay
Re: "Clean-Shaven and Ugly," (3/2): Hey, great article on the Yanks! I have been a Yankees fan since '92, but last season I was for the Sox all the way. Unlike the Yanks, they played like a team. I enjoyed watching the Yankees getting their asses handed to them. They are not the team I fell in love with.
Sheffield is an ass, I agree. Trot Nixon was accurate when he said the only true Yanks were Williams, Jeter, Posada and Rivera. Everyone else can go fuck themselves (except Moose-I like him despite his antisocial behavior). Cashman is often referred to as "PipSqueak" in my family of Yankees fans.
It's nice to see someone not being "Yankee-correct" and telling it like it is. (I dispute the Michael Kay reference, though. He's one of my favorite people.)
Meghan Murphy, via email
Sticks and Soros
Uh, Russ, aren't you the guy that thought it was neat-o to have your kid knock over Voice boxes? Anthony Weiner is a stupid man. What's your excuse? And did your spine really suffer frisson at anything George Soros ever had to say? You may be too sensitive for this gig.
Terry Benoit, Larchmont, NY
Breaking Into a Trot
Mr. Smith: I want to mention up front that I enjoy your columns immensely for their fierce erudition and iconoclasm. You are a rare pleasure to read.
That said, one worthless observation about your latest piece "Clean-Shaven and Ugly," (3/2).
Of the 650 or so players Rodriguez namelessly compared himself to, only the "devoutly religious" Nixon felt compelled to respond, to an enemy he helped vanquish in humiliating, historic fashion no less, and assert his parental bona fides by presumably fabricating a quote about taking his children-who are, as far as I know, aged three years and a few months, respectively-to school? If he is indeed taking a months-old child to school, I'm not sure it's something he should be bragging about. Maybe this is more a case of Izzy Stradlin Disease, the frustrating diffidence and anxiety that comes with being known, apparently, as the quiet one on a team full of soi-disant "idiots." I never liked A-Rod, but I used to genuinely like and respect Nixon.
Shay Caglio, Manhattan
The Devil Made Us Do It
Why in the world would you choose to run such a hateful article "Hugh W. Nibley, 94" (3/9). Come into the 21st century. It hasn't been cool to hate Mormons since they were tarred and feathered in Missouri. You would never think to run an article with the statement: I hate blacks or I hate Jews. I'm dumbfounded.
Susie Fluckiger, San Antonio, TX
Buying the World A Coke
As an active Mormon, I can't tell you how much pity I feel for Joshua Cohen ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94" 3/9).If I had written an article like that and inserted Jew for Mormon, you wouldn't even have allowed it to be printed.
I work for one of the four church universities and see first hand each day what the church does with its "assload of money."My job takes me to Mongolia, Japan, Cambodia, Samoa, Indonesia, and a host of other countries where the church is working hard to provide education and humanitarian opportunities to people who no one else seems to care about. But, I digress. Mr. Cohen is not interested in any of the good the church does. His only interest is showing what a bigot he is.And boy is he good at that!
I'm sure New York Press can do better.
Michael Sudlow, Hauula, Hawaii
GLASS HOUSES ISN'T JUST A GREAT BILLY JOEL ALBUM
In the subject article the author claims to "hate" Mormons ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9). I assume by his name "Cohen" that he is Jewish. It's this kind of arrogance and piousness that makes me hate Jews.ÊIt's all a vicious cycle. Jackasses like Cohen saying he hates another religion (I know you will say his writing was "tongue in cheek") and then those offended hate back. What a great service your paper does for society-thanks for nothing.
Mark Clarke, via email
Kalevi Got Our Back
RE: "Keep Pope Alive" (3/9) by Matt Taibbi: I found this article very funny. It had many good points and I enjoyed it. Keep up the good work.
Kalevi Kinnunen, Hamilton, Ontario
No Polish Jokes, Please
Re: "Keep Pope Alive" (3/9): I am by no means a prude and I have enjoyed some of the stuff in your paper, but the thing about the Pope was way, way over the line. It was disgusting, insulting and discriminatory. I say discriminatory because we all know you would be apologizing profusely if you had done that to a black or Jewish leader. Please be assured that neither I, nor anyone in my family, will ever again waste one second reading your piece of garbage.
Philip Franco, Manhattan
Dear Editor:
If Joshua Cohen's rantings about "Mormons" were even a little bit accurate, they would have been interesting ("Hugh W. Nibley, 94," 3/9). His lack of information on the subject is apparent, and his hatred and bigotry rather obvious. I would think that with a name like "Cohen," his ancestors might find bigotry repugnant.
Oh well, so much for good taste and religious tolerance...
Don Ormsby, via email
Inquiring Mind
Honestly, I just didn't find most of it "funny" ("Keep Pope Alive," 3/9). I'm not Catholic. Hell, I'm not even Christian, but this still just wasn't funny. Was the point really just to piss people off/get attention for your sad little paper? I'm genuinely curious.
Stephanie Peterson-Ferrel, via email
Looking forward
Re: Alexander Zaitchik's "Sidewalk Sale" (3/9): Your cover illustration is inadequate. One of the oldest classics of science fiction is Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy and I will quote chapter 38 (page 300) in my edition (Cleveland: World Publications, 1946). This is a scene where the main character jumps back to the world on May 31, 1887:
"[In Boston of 1887] the walls of the buildings, the windows, the broadsides of the newspapers in every hand, the very pavements, everything in fact in sight, save the sky, were covered [with advertising.]"
Apparently advertisers back then sent out street artists to draw ads right on the sidewalk. I assume it was chalk since I don't know of any paint then that would dry quickly.
Hmmm. Something occurs to me. Maybe I better get one of those broad idea patents that the Republicans support (and no one in the rest of the world respects) but now that I've proposed digging up the sidewalks (some of them are cracked and we can't afford tax money to replace them) and besides selling built in advertising (brass, mosaic or bas relief) but also pressure sensors. On the moments when a single person crosses one it should be able to conclude that it is the weight and pace of a child for instance. That's an opportunity for a digital ad for sugared cereal to appear ahead. And it could easily detect an overweight adult and deluge him with both snack food and diet ads on the side of the news stand ahead.
Daniel Taupin, Tampa, FL
pope props
Re: "Keep Pope Alive," (3/9):
Well, I really do have to say (and I do regret saying this),Thats fucking off to Matt Taibbi!THis rationale for his moronic column about the Pope's death was right on the money.As someone who literally got sick at all the fucking Princess Di funeral crap (did we really need Sir Fat Elton John) to write new words to "Candle in the Wind?" And does anybody play that piece of shit he wrote anymore? I couldn't agree more with him. Somebody has to stand up and say, "I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" I was actually thankful for the invasion of Iraq last year, since it bumped the 24-hour coverage of Scott Peterson's nose-picking, ass-wiping vigil off the air.
Good job, Matt.Keep Pope alive.
Bob Walker, via email