Debra the Driven
Deron Neblett
Bayousphere Marking time: Usher Rose Williams at the "Watch" service on New Year's Eve at Holman Street Baptist Church.
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Smart, not bitchy: I commend the writer on a job well done ["Heir Time," by Wendy Grossman, February 15]. I found the article to be both insightful and honest; and while some might have interpreted this piece as an exposé or an unmasking of a superficiality, the true essence lies in the hardships that Ms. Duncan has faced in her life. This article paints Debra in a way that most fans and critics alike have very rarely seen: as human.
Hers is a compelling story of ambition and the strength of the human spirit. Her determination is something that others can look up to. She is a woman with a dream, and she's reaching for the stars. The problem is that when a woman is determined to succeed, she is often deemed a bitch, when a man would be praised as ambitious.
Does having an "overbearing" assistant make her a stuck-up bitch or a public relations genius? This is a world of overzealous paparazzi and fanatical TV worshipers who tend to place personalities on pedestals to either knock them down or exalt them as the risen messiah. Therefore, why wouldn't Ms. Duncan choose to keep some degree of distance between herself and the masses? Why should she risk playing "the heavy" and possibly come across as a total "celebrity bitch" when she can hire an assistant to do the dirty work -- thus preserving her "sweet and approachable" sisterly image?
The real Debra Duncan is someone who should embrace the characteristics that make her who she is: pride, ambition and intelligence. They are assets. They are commendable traits when balanced with her humility and compassion. She'd do well to reveal these to her audience a little more, for then they truly would respect her as the rising star that she is.
J. Malibu
Houston
Awakening the Avalon:I really enjoyed your article on Debra Duncan. You did a great job capturing the essence of her style and the work that goes into putting on a daily talk show.
More important, I enjoyed your writing style. I laughed at all the analogies and metaphors. My favorite was about an anxious assistant awaiting the arrival of the tardy star: "She was more nervous than a stage mother watching her daughter twirl fire batons."
I laughed my ass off and woke up half the breakfast crowd at Avalon Diner.
I hope someday I will be famous enough for you to write about me. Until then, keep up the great work.
You rule!
Paul Staton
Houston
Remember the Main
Mayoral mismanagement: I'm a 22-year-old UH student who would like to commend you on your article about Councilman Bell ["First Out of the Gate," by Tim Fleck, February 8]. I am not a committed supporter of Bell, but anyone who will challenge idiotic Mayor Lee Brown has me very interested.
I have lived in this great city all of my life, and I know that Houston is constantly under construction. I followed the news of the broken water mains that plagued the city during the past summer months and saw how impotent Mayor Brown and city government were in handling the situation.
You make a reference to the "Lake Brown" situation, and it outraged me that the mayor put the blame on the contractors. Well, the mayor continues to bungle management. On Wilcrest near Beechnut in the Alief area, a road crew has been "working" on the street for months -- but I haven't seen a crew there in more than a month. A right lane has been closed, and the street is so uneven that car tires are popping. There is still a hole, and the orange barriers are falling apart.
I have called the city, and still no one has come out. The bureaucrats tell me that it's probably the contractors. Well, who the hell hired the contractors? If the mayor can't handle a block of maintenance, then how can he manage a whole city? It seems that only the media will put a fire under this administration's ass to get things done.
I commend Tim Fleck and the Houston Press.
Mark A. Crane
Houston
Inspirational Tune
Graph by graph:Your story of the shuttle driver was excellent ["The Ballad of the Singing Shuttle Bus Driver," by Jennifer Mathieu, February 8]. Ellen is an inspiration to all of us who have had our lives turn out differently than we planned. It is difficult to name all the things I like about the writing. In the words of William Zinsser's book On Writing Well: "Good writing has an aliveness that keeps the reader reading from one paragraph to the next." Thanks for the work.
Nancy Halloran
Houston
Return Trip
Send Leah to D.C.: I was utterly disgusted with the faculty of a school that would break their word to their students as these did ["An Intern's Downturn," by Kamilah Duggins, February 15]. I was under the impression that teachers were there to educate the students in the ways of democracy -- not as dictators -- when an election was involved.
I can certainly understand now why President Bush is pushing for a better education for our children. Maybe he should start with the teachers in this school. I found the poem original and funny and did not see anything disrespectful about it.
