Getting Mooned

Getting Mooned

A rave for Dave: I enjoyed the article about Dave Criswell [“Moonstruck,” by Wendy Grossman, February 28]. Dave has been a good supporter of research here at UH Clear Lake through the Institute for Space Systems Operations. We appreciate his vision and your nice article.

Tom Harman
Clear Lake

Fanning the Flames

Native American assets: I was shocked by this article’s unsubstantiated personal attacks on Franklin Swimmer-McLemore [“Tribal Warfare,” February 21]. Unfortunately, it overlooks the factual basis for the concerns about the Native American Chamber of Commerce. Even the article’s title reinforces negative stereotypes and does nothing to promote understanding of the real issues.

Blood quantum, personal agendas and egos aside, the Native American chamber has not presented to its supporters or detractors any credible evidence of financial accountability. An annual, published audit, as well as substantiated public benefit from the organization’s activities, is paramount to maintaining public trust, support and funding stability. Unfortunately, the chamber has failed to provide such credible documentation. Until the board (assuming it is functional) takes such action, the chamber and its activities will remain suspect.

I am saddened because the article’s tone is divisive and may harm the genuine efforts of the American Indian Business and Heritage Center in addressing the needs of the area’s 20,000 American Indians. They are the real losers in this issue. There are no social services or community programs that specifically address the diverse cultural, spiritual, psychological and social needs of the American Indian community. The heritage center and the Cherokee Cultural Society do so through the efforts of Swimmer-McLemore and Deborah Scott and others like them who have proven accountability. These organizations deserve support and validation for their grassroots efforts. Grossman was given ample documentation she could have used to further the cause. Instead, she chose to fan the flames of dissent. This is not responsible journalism.

Sherry Cardinal
Richmond

The Role of Rusty Yates

An irresponsible husband? Your article is the first I’ve seen that touches on the inadmissible questions about the Yates family [“Otherworldly,” by Margaret Downing, February 28]. The inexpressible sadness of these deaths is that they were anything but inevitable. Clearly there was ample warning and opportunity for intervention. One wonders how Russell Yates managed to ignore the elephant camped in his living room. The man must be an ostrich.

I think you managed quite artfully and inoffensively to illustrate the constraints under which Andrea Yates was operating. Frankly, I think Russell is a moral imbecile. Allowing (let alone encouraging) a mentally ill person to continue having children strikes me as the worst kind of irresponsibility and hypocrisy. Russell appears to think that family planning is some sort of latter-day invention of the godless.

Thank you for your article and for letting me get this off my chest. Honesty compels me to inform you that Andrea and I share a diagnosis, and I don’t believe that she wanted to get rid of her children or harm them. I’m certain that she believed she was saving them from a worse fate. Maybe the unspeakable suffering of the mentally ill has to be experienced to be appreciated, but my heart breaks for her. The difference between Andrea Yates and me can be summed up in one phrase: better living through chemistry.

Diane Greene
Phoenix

On the mark: Thanks for the article on Andrea Yates. Somebody finally wrote exactly what I’d been feeling about this case.

Brian Anderson
Seabrook

Tears from above: Your article echoes the thoughts of multitudes of people, I’m sure. It was very well written.

If people’s feelings for these children could change the past, I’m sure they would be back on this earth now, because I know I’ve thought and thought about this and wondered and wondered, and it all just seems unreal. But you are right about children, how they always get caught in our adult troubles — and often they pay with their lives.

It is just all so sad, I’m sure the angels wept.

Peggy Stoy
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Words and Deeds

Compliments for Crescent: I am one of the two attorneys on the 16th floor you quoted in the article [“Freddy’s Nightmare,” by Brian Wallstin, February 21] by referencing correspondence we wrote to the property manager upon receipt of the memorandum announcing the closure of Freddy’s.

In our letter to Crescent, we expressed our positive sentiments regarding the character of Foteh family members and the operation of their deli, stating we were “disappointed” and that the news of the lease termination was received with our “regrets.” You stated we were “offended.” The words have very different definitions. The result was a presumably unintentional mischaracterization of our correspondence.

We did not address any legal issues or controversy, as we were not privy to all of the facts, and that is precisely why we carefully chose our words.

Over the past nine years we have enjoyed a great relationship with Crescent Real Estate Equities and its predecessor as our landlord. Jennifer Miller, our property manager, has always been professional and attentive to our needs. I would personally recommend her to man any commercial tenant building.

Peter C. Coselli
Houston

Enron’s Little People

California dreamin’: I have been following the Enron case since its inception. The scandalous behavior of Judge Rosenthal is appalling [“Enron’s Judge Not,” by Tim Fleck, February 14]. Rosenthal did the dirty work for Lay, Skilling, Fastow and the other bigwigs, while allowing those who lost everything to live in dire straits. I believe it is time to start impeachment proceedings. When will we stand up for the little people?

Leon W. Fainstadt
Los Angeles