060502sara

Bartcop,

Yes, you are a tireless believer in the American way and a courageous one at
that. And yes, we are amongst the growing legions (we hope) who visit you
site daily. But you still bug me.

If I read your report of Juliefest right - though it may have been a post
from a reveler - it was mentioned that there was a lamentable absence of
people other than White people in attendance.

I fail to get your point.
Everyone who reads this page was invited, and yes, there could have been more
non-white people there, but what would you have me do? Arrange a quota?

If you are wondering why, perhaps it's because your site lacks diversity.

ha ha
You want me to be blacker?
You want me to talk more about Snoop Dogg or Tupac so my black audience will grow?

There are lots of voices of dissent and resistance to Bush in America and elsewhere
(England and Canada for instance) that aren't just good old democratic white boys.
Now I have nothing against good old democratic white boys - I'm married a version
myself - but you could occasionally link to a story by some of the notable voices out there
who aren't of the same persuasion as yourself. For instance, Toni Morrison said recently
that we are "witnessing the Nazification of America".

I don't link to white stories or black stories.
I link to fun stories and important stories.

Now I know you have been a staunch supporter of Congressman McKinney, so this isn't meant
as a rant or attack - just a reminder to do more (as if you didn't have enough to do blah-blah-blah).

Do more what?
You want me to link to Toni Morrison?
Does she write a weekly column?
If so, send it to me. If it's a fun read, I'll print it.

And please quit with the Bono kiss-up. After September 11, this is the guy who said disparaging
of rock and roll: "...the sort of suburban angst that has been such a big part of rock lately (lately?)
seem like something pretty small -- the guy who is saying, 'I'm so angry with the world that I'm
going to hurt myself.' It's enough to make you laugh."

Tell you what - why don't we each pick our own tastes in music.
That generally works better.

I guess Bono means he should embody all that is rock and roll, sort of
like Bush who thinks he should embody all that is America.

If you don't like Bono, don't buy his CDs.

That angst Bono was so quick to dismiss is a core of resistance to Bush et al. It is the path to
subversion and it certainly leads to better music than that of U2. It is your beloved Garbage.
Though my music is more urban beat, like my faves Lauryn Hill, or the rock/blues group
Indigenous or even Ben Harper, they write and express their angst - the personal is political.

Bono's little trips with the Bush administration may seem like he's playing them for all they're worth,
but evil empires don't give anything away for free, nor do they have sudden conversions along the road.

...and if Bono pulls this off?
If O'Neill goes back to Bush and recommends cancelling some major debt,
will you give him credit for that? Or just change the reason you don't like him?

Forgive the debt?
In Bono's jeans (I mean dreams).

Best regards,

Sara T.
(of the Cree Nation)

Y'know, you opened with "Don't be so white," then you attacked a man who's doing
the most of anybody in music and then mock his attempt to lighten the debt of poor nations.
Rush feels the same way about Bono that you do.
Fine, this is America.

Maybe you're just one of those bad first-impression people, but I'm glad we're
not in the first twenty minutes of a cross country trip in a small car

Maybe on a different day you would've written a different letter.