Lame columnists: From what I've read and watched, I think a lot of columnists are afraid they won't be invited to the caviar and truffle parties if they are outspoken or critical. At the same time, they've lost touch with the Limburger and onion crowd.
One reason I enjoyed your article ("What, Me Worry?" March 14) is I love reading about the old newspaper men and women. Today, most writing about journalism is about placating and engaging readers, not ticking them off. I would think infuriating readers is engaging them. Editors consider "think pieces" articles on selecting a manicurist for dogs.
Brian Niblock
Ithaca, New York
Lameness all around: There is no question that one of the reasons Texas is so corrupt is the lack of quality journalism and competition in Texas. And it is only getting worse. If you think the DMN is bad, check out the columns in the Austin American-Statesman. They have a decent editorial page but no real serious columnists, just a humorist named John Kelso--and he is hit-and-miss.
Steve Speir
Austin
Forget about Kirk: Jim, you are no better than Ron Kirk ("Ron Kirk's Crying Game," March 14). As I read your article I was quite interested in what you said. Mind you, white people continue to cry "Not me" when it comes to being racist. That's OK. I find myself doing the same at times. But as a newcomer to Dallas I found your article quite informative.
Then, the blow. You go back four years to find something to bolster your attack on Ron Kirk. You referred to a statement he made to Ms. Albers, a white female, fighting for a cause. It is interesting that you said she was white. Does that make his statement less demeaning? I would hope not.
As a black female I find this whole episode quite interesting. Black male, angry white male, scorned white woman. Jim, you and your present bedfellows need to wake up and smell the roses. This is not a black man, white male, white woman world. The battles are not fought in your arena only. Rose-smelling time.
Jim, grow up. Your article made the point. You did not need a statement from Ms. Albers. Your word weighs enough. Spend more time writing what you feel and letting it be. You had a hard sell and lost it because you feared your product wasn't good enough. Move past Kirk and get back to strong, opinionated, workable stuff.
Ellen T. Simpson
Dallas
Should have waited a week: There were some terrible mistakes made in your March 7 edition.
1. No one wrote a full-length story about Laura Miller.
2. Eric Celeste failed to write his weekly Dallas Morning News bash column.
3. I couldn't find an in-depth story concerning the living, breathing greatness of Rhett Miller anywhere in your paper.
Come on, guys, what's the problem? Get on the shtick!
Tony Garrett
Mesquite
Invisible candidates: Great story on Ron Kirk ("Selling Ron," March 7). Thanks for doing it. By the way, whatever happened to local media coverage of the fact that John Cornyn had three opponents in the Republican primary Senate race? I don't recall seeing a single story anywhere on that race. Even if the three opponents turned out to be flakes, shouldn't the voters, and not the media, be the ones to decide that? I'd sure like to see the Dallas Observer do a story on what happened to media coverage of the Republican Senate primary.
Ron Bridges
Dallas
Cute, and sexist, too: It's one thing to insult the style of Dallas City Council members, but since when is it OK to apply ethnically biased, sexist labels?
As Jim Schutze flippantly applied tags to each city council member, the one that stopped me cold was "Oak Cliff Quinceañera Princess Elba Garcia" ("Laura and the Little People," February 28). Quinceañera Princess? Where did that come from? This is a woman who is a native of Mexico and a dentist by profession. It wasn't about her style of ability but a slur on her ethnicity and gender.
Maybe you all should think a little before you try to be cute.
Jane Shouse
Dallas
In the February 21 article "Today, a Generation Died," Carlton Stowers identified author Sara Mosle, who is at work on a book about the historic New London School explosion, as a "former New York teacher and journalist." Stowers failed to mention that she is also a native of Dallas. Stowers regrets the oversight and wishes to sincerely thank Ms. Mosle, who has been researching the New London tragedy for nearly a decade and directed Stowers to Felix McKnight, a source in his story.
