Letters

Barry bad deal
After reading an advance copy of the Observer this week, I must comment that the Switzer article ["Losing it," October 16] seemed spineless, comfortably floating pro/con reasons why he can't motivate the Dallas Cowboys. This analysis of the Cowboys' losing streak may be comforting to all the "Switzer-haters," but true fans of the Dallas Cowboys know that the owner sold the team up the river on "deals" like Deion. Everyone knows why Jimmy Johnson left Dallas, and Barry deserves a little credit for accepting the challenge. Of course, anyone could coach the Dallas Cowboys and win the Super Bowl, right?

Anonymous
Via e-mail

The Anti-Switzer
Thank you for the excellent article about the Dallas Sidekicks team and Coach Jago written by Robert Wilonsky ["Net loss," October 9]--something Dallas Sidekicks fans are not likely to read in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Thank you for the insight into Coach Jago. Coach Jago and the players have class--something few professional players have today. I have always felt that my family's time spent watching the Sidekicks play professional soccer on TV or in person was and is always time well spent!

Carolyn Dunmyer
Via e-mail

It takes a village
I am responding to your article written about Carlos Jackson and the oasis that he created in West Dallas ["Hollow victory," October 9]. Carlos is one of the greatest African-American minds here in Dallas. His vision was ahead of its time in a city that opposes any kind of mental freedom for African-Americans. The power structure of this city's management team made Mr. Jackson Public Enemy Number One in the early '90s. The real crime that was committed was that the so-called leaders in the African-American community did nothing to assist Mr. Jackson with his efforts. If it cannot put them in the limelight, then they feel that certain topics are not important enough for their celebrity status.

Dallas' marketing is based on the Wild West, from the Cowboys to the Rangers--even the Mavericks. The fashion is ropers, boots, stirrups, and let us not forget the ten-gallon hats. This city is definitely not an inclusive, multi-cultural environment that is productive for everyone. This "Old Western" image is portrayed to the world to hide the extremely abhorrent racist activities that occur in this city all day, every day. Come to think of it, how many African-Americans did you see in Bonanza, or The Wild Wild West, or Maverick, or John Wayne films? None.

I would hope that one day all of these self-appointed leaders would stay out of the limelight long enough to actually accomplish something. Mr. Jackson is proof that when you are really trying to make a change for African-Americans in this city, you don't have to be a stage monkey for the media for people to notice you. Unfortunately, those city officials who were watching Mr. Jackson wanted to make sure that no one else saw him or his endeavors.

Mr. Jackson and his family are a testament to the struggle for the mental liberation of African-Americans here in Dallas. The compound was a catalyst of knowledge for African-Americans that is still present in their minds to this day. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson.

Kaatid Asad
Dallas

Human beasts
I feel so sorry for the animal owners that were victimized by this "vet" ["Dr. Lucas' little shop of horrors," October 9]. Yet I can't help wondering why, with all the complaints that were lodged against her in the past, it took so long for the State of Texas to do something about it. She is obviously seriously impaired, and I hope the sentence handed down includes rehab and a psych evaluation before they [Texas] ever reinstate her license. She needs help.

Maggie Wasso
Via e-mail

I can't express the horror I felt while reading about Dr. Lucas. What possesses someone to do things like this? The animals can't tell us their feelings--the trauma and horror they went through. What a truly wicked world we are living in!

Anonymous
Via e-mail

Thanks are in order for the Observer for their recent article on the veterinarian Lissa Lucas. What would have passed through the metroplex's collective consciousness as a barely perceptible blip on the media horizon, a grisly tale that rated a mere "tsk, tsk" during the evening news, became an important reminder to us of just how heinous our fellow man and woman can be.

There is an additional footnote worth mentioning when one comes across outrageous incidents like this: These human monsters that arise from time to time, abusing and raining cruelty and torment on animals--they didn't just pop up like a poisonous toadstool after a summer front blew through. What is most frightening about these individuals is that they never operate in a vacuum. They have done this before, on a lesser or greater scale, and will do it again and again until someone or something stops them. And worst of all, if they're not caught in time, they are the ones most likely to graduate to greater crimes.

These are exactly the kinds of people that become our cruelest murderers--because they've already had so much practice on other victims.