In Christine Biederman's article concerning Paula Jones' recently dismissed suit against the president ["The Jones Boys," April 2], her Dallas lawyers were described as "the nation's most unlikely feminist heroes." I find such a description wholly inaccurate. Ms. Jones' lawyers are no "heroes" to anyone, much less women. It does women no good to see lawyers publicize and exaggerate a frivolous sexual harassment claim for what is clearly political and monetary gain, as Ms. Jones, her political advisors, and her attorneys have done. Indeed, from the suit's filing to its dismissal, the whole charade has served only to demean women who have legitimate claims for genuinely actionable conduct. Ms. Jones and her lawyers have done a disservice to feminism.
Leslye Silver
Coppell
Dead goats
Those men are total idiots and should be in jail ["The goatslayers," March 26]. They could've done any number of different things to solve their goat problem--the first of which should have been moving back to the city--where all "city boys" should stay. (And where all attorneys should stay. They're not intended to commune with nature--it's against all they stand for. They need to stay in the city with all the rest of the bloodsuckers.)
Texas is goat country. I know there are hundreds of goat ranchers there that would have been more than happy to come and bring their Border collies, or other stock dogs, and rounded up those feral goats and taken them either to their ranches or to a sale. Or, the Department of Wildlife could have used tranquilizer darts to make it easier to catch the goats. If not them, a veterinarian could probably have done it. Texas A&M has a large research center not too far from that area, and maybe they could've helped. I'm sure if White Bluff estates had put an ad in the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association newsletter, they would have gotten more than enough help in this situation.
It sounds like Mr. Jones decided that he couldn't sue the goats for damages, so he held his own court and imposed his own death penalty on them. He should be in jail for cruelty to animals! And he should be kicked out of the community--not just slapped on the hand and not allowed to play golf or tennis!
As for the name Jerry Jones--I think the Cowboys owner wouldn't even stoop this low--and he's gotten pretty low in the years since he bought the 'Boys!
Betsy Ferman
Via e-mail
When all other avenues of relocation have been tried and exhausted, there may well be a need for a clean, humane cull of wild goat flocks, although they are quite easy to tame. But the accent is on the manner of its doing.
Good marksmen who know what they are doing as opposed to these butchers can do the job with probably less stress than rounding up wild animals in order to euthanize them. There are tranquilizing darts. Mankind no longer in his supposed humanity has to resort to these sorts of tactics. I was particularly appalled at these men pushing them over the cliff; the last time I heard of this happening, it was done by dogs. The results were appalling and the screams terrible as I imagine they were here.
There is no need for this sadistic cruelty. Not in 1998, thank you.
Anonymous
Via e-mail
Cabrito cuisine
There are a couple of corrections that I would like to make to the "Goatslayers" article. In the first place, goats were the very first domesticated animal. Although the majority of the American public may not realize it, the goat is a major meat source in the United States. At least a million goats per year are shipped from Texas alone. The price per pound of chevon (goat meat) is at least double that of beef. The meat is lower in fat than skinless chicken, and has as much protein as beef and more iron than any other meat on the market.
Goats came to Texas with the Spanish explorers and were present at the first Thanksgiving, at El Paso, in 1598. See the April '98 issue of Texas Highways.
Ron Yoakum
Via e-mail
Not the goatslayer
Apart from his all too apt assessment of Jerry Jones, John Hine's response to your Sherman Lewis article ["Black out," February 26] appears to be missing several points.
1. No one ever felt good about being a victim of discrimination because someone else had it worse. Just ask that white schoolteacher in New Jersey.
2. Even if someone else does have it worse as far as discrimination goes, so what? I never met a Mexican-American who pretended anti-Hispanic discrimination was OK because blacks historically have had it worse.
3. Bigots always justify discrimination on the grounds that the people against whom they are discriminating are unqualified. Yet any black or Mexican-American over the age of 50 will tell you that it was not exactly unknown in the 1960s for a non-Anglo with superior qualifications to lose out to a white non-Hispanic with inferior qualifications. So much for meritocracy.
4. The article in question does not advocate affirmative action for those Landry wannabes who have potentially poor coaching skills. It advocates a fair chance for those black assistant coaches who have already proven themselves by meritocratic standards.
5. Just because Jerry Jones has the right to run his own team into the ground does not necessarily mean we should just shut up and not bother to discourage him.
Rogelio Mendoza, Jr.
Garland
Tina Peyton, team player
Regarding the Buzz item ["Trouble in paradise," April 9] about Tina Peyton, Dallas County Republican Party Executive Director: The stinging accusation by the gentleman from Mesquite of Ms. Peyton's incompetence as Republican Party Director is false. Tina is a hard-working and motivated beacon to the Republican Party. She gives a great deal of effort to this position, and she is not compensated.
Tina Peyton oversees the party elections, finds precinct chairmen, makes certain workers and clerks are at the polling locations to let our citizens vote, and then takes the irate phone calls that "it took too long to vote" at the polling location.
She can have the job. And anyone with the patience, time, integrity, and level-headedness that Ms. Peyton has ought to work with her.
James Hairston
Dallas
Psalm wrath
I found Robert Wilonsky's paragraph in the April 9 Street Beat very callous and disrespectful of Psalm 69's recent lineup change. Judy Hill, the heart and soul of Psalm 69, has been a mainstay in the Deep Ellum music scene for going on 10 years now. Her talent as a songwriter and performer needs no defense from the small-minded and asinine sarcasm, which Wilonsky dished out while noting the band's recent lineup change.
Psalm 69 fans will be happy to know Judy will soon be back with a leaner and meaner rhythm section made up of bassist Chadwick and hard-core drummer, Daniel Garza, both formerly of Diablo Sol. Hopefully, this new and improved Psalm 69 will earn Judy Hill the respect she deserves from music-journalist snots like Wilonsky.
John Marlow
Dallas
Armey's army
If you have made any mistake in your defamation of the majority leader, I can assure you that you will find your news publication in court for the rest of the normal lives of the editors involved. I hope you understand the import of the reckless action your so-called newspaper has taken. This is not a threat, just a fact.
Robert A. Clark
Kirkland, Washington
Your hatchet job on Dick Army was disgusting. After seeing your editorialist on the Geraldo show, I came to your Web site to ascertain the facts in your article. It was sadly lacking in objectivity, just as one would expect from a biased Democratic toady (TODAY???). I can believe you would equate flirting with such crass behavior as Bill Clinton is thought to be capable. Apparently you have trouble discerning civil behavior from boorishness.
Gene Woolly
Via e-mail
Caulk squawk
This letter is in response to Zac Crain's slam ["Learn to play," April 9] against one of Dallas' more innovative bands, Caulk. I completely disagree with his opinions of the musicianship of the band. I agree that on every album there are one or two songs that lack substance. However, to insinuate that the songs have no meaning is ludicrously closed-minded, and to an extent, lacking culture. The songs are written to make you think beyond the surface. I suggest that Mr. Crain rid himself of the predisposition he has with the band and listen to the songs with an open mind, instead of hearing them with an opinion that has already been formed.
As far as the sound of the band, dissonance is a difficult sound to work with, which they pull off almost effortlessly. This band uses its musical talents well, and many of their fans are their fans because they can appreciate the musicianship of the band, not because they are impressionable children. I believe that Mr. Crain needs to enroll in a few music-theory courses before he continues to trash bands he can't possibly understand.
Anonymous
Via e-mail
I can't quite put my finger on why the local weekly mags are so intent upon seeing One Ton Records fall on its ass. Your review of Caulk's new album, "Imaginary Enemy," was mean. I know not everybody digs their sound--it's abrasive and atonal--but was it really necessary to mock the band for the entire piece? Then we get to hear about how all the damn fans of this "average band" go and mess up Zac Crain's life by supporting Caulk and One Ton founder Aden Holt, and how such support has produced such odious events as Slow Roosevelt rightfully becoming one of the most popular and respected bands in Deep Ellum, and the cruel injustice of all the "kids" who voted One Ton "best label."
I'm surprised Crain didn't object to the foul benefits One Ton staged to pay alumni Casey Hess' medical bills last year, or even the insidiously cruel way One Ton has supported local music, and generally helped to revitalize the entire local music scene in Dallas over the last four years or so.
Anyone who denies One Ton's influence is shortsighted; and any uppity journalist who mocks it and its fans because something positive and cohesive is finally taking shape in Deep Ellum and they don't approve of the "sound" doesn't understand his readership. I'm with the "kids." One Ton is here to stay. Unimaginative slam articles and shots at the label's growing number of fans get Dallas nowhere and make you look immature.
Craig May
Via e-mail
Passover praise
I liked the Passover seder article ["Passover plot," April 16]. Nice style, wonderful look at a family and a tradition. Thanks.
John Hines
Via e-mail
