Defending Gary Blair: “Anarchy and Public Murder”
I find Mark Donald’s article on Rodney Clark [“The Private War of Rodney Clark,” June] offensive, reprehensible, and disgusting-not to mention biased. Officer Blair’s death did not occur in a back alley as the result of police brutality, but in front of witnesses, one of whom chose to attack and assist in the death of a uniformed officer.
In my opinion council members Lipscomb and Ragsdale supported Tillis only because he was black. I view that as racism. If there are problems with police officers abusing citizens, then surely there exists a more civilized approach to correction than supporting anarchy and public murder of police officers. It was a sad, sad day when the man who assisted in the killing of officer Blair was acquitted.
I suggest that you go back to restaurant reviews. Kindly cancel my subscription.
Dave Thompson
Richardson
Six Flags: “The Magic is Gone”
John Bloom captured the essence of the original Six Flags [“Innocence Lost at the New Six Flags,’1 June]. It was a magical place even for us eighteen-year-olds who opened it in 1961. We cleared the river ride canal and were told to watch for real alligators (can you believe it!). We occasionally sunk the Skull Island raft a few inches so we could jump in the water and “save” the passengers whose shoes were soaked. We chased runaway goats with screaming kids in carts. Near closing time we would sneak off with a pretty co-worker for a little tete-a-tete in a dark corner of the park. A wonderful summer before college.
Years later, you take your two pre-school kids to the park, ride the elevator with them to the top of that awful orange derrick, and suffer acute acrophobia when they get too close to the edge of the platform. The magic of Six Flags is gone, but the memories aren’t. Thanks for them.
Michael N. Maberry
Dallas
Being born in 1961 and raised in Arlington, Six Flags was a yearly tradition (notice I say “was”). When the park began to drop the history and go commercial, a lot of memories were lost. I enjoyed the employees’ pride and enthusiasm and their abilities to make me giggle, or make my stomach flip-flop on the rides. I also, like all true Texans, am extremely proud of my heritage. (One of my ancestors is the only revolutionary war hero proven buried in Dallas County, and Lemmon Avenue was named after one of his grandsons.) I’m one of many Texans who keep up with their genealogies. To me, Six Flags was tangible evidence that we all have a great history worth remembering. Texans, by nature, brag, and Six Flags represented us well. Now, it’s concrete and metal and our remembrances are in our minds. What a waste.
Cynthia Lemmon
Dallas
It seems to me that John Bloom did not go to Six Flags for the apparent reason that Six Flags is there. He seems to have gone to Six Flags to re-create his childhood.
Six Flags has changed a great deal since the opening in 1961. Many new rides and attractions have been added due to the advancement of society and the advancement of the level of entertainment that children expect, The employees of Six Flags Over Texas still try to make the “guests,” as they are called by all employees, feel welcome and have a good visit.
However, Six Flags is still a business and a profit is still important to the owners of the amusement park. The owners would be unable to achieve this goal if the park had not changed. Bloom failed to mention that the price for a one-day ticket has gone up since 1961. People expect more due to the price of the admission.
Six Flags is still the amusement park it was in 1961 as far as the attitude of its employees and the atmosphere of the park itself. The rides might be different and there may be more games to play, but Six Flags is still the excitement of many little kids.
Elizabeth Fitzgerald
Six Flags employee
Arlington
Header to Reader: “Effete One-Upmanship”
Oh my, what a cutesy-tutesy letter written by reader Claire Heymann of Addison (re Richard West’s article: “Why Priscilla Davis is a Celebrity and You’re Not,” April). Heymann had me somewhat going her direction at first, but stabbed herself (to use some of her language) when an obvious effete one-upmanship attitude finally displayed itself for what it is. And, obviously, she made West’s thesis. I believe Heymann is not doing the real volunteer workers any good by overflying her “Aren’t we wonderful, and we can ruin you” banner.
Her stated frustration over the supposed hundreds of volunteer women who slave over such often self-indulgent duties “long before they ever get to don glass slippers for their respective balls” really shows itself. Not only is that frustration there, but the open threat in her letter to the little people like mere journalists (and most of the rest of us plain folks) exhibits some real lack of finesse, nay class. Why, that could single-handedly bring back whole volumes of “limousine liberal” stories-and in the media, too, of all places.
It just plain reeks to say that one of her tireless volunteers can.. .”see that you spend the rest of your journalism career editing racing forms.” And, “Be careful that you don’t accidentally stab yourself with the sour, deadly green venom of your poison pen, for you might awaken in an emergency or hospital room attended by some of those glittering ladies, sans tiaras, of course.” Even if that is her clumsy way of trying to be funny (for which she criticizes Richard West), it ain’t, It’s just that old “some are more equal” syndrome raising its ugly head again. In the end, Claire, you’re not doing your “group” any good (or probably even justice). With you as their self-appointed spokesperson, they don’t need detractors.
Hooray for all those who are helping, and with the correct motives. They know who they are. And, they do it for the values inherent in the giving, not for the fancy balls or because it’s just the thing to do if you have (or want) status.
And, if I somehow have misunderstood Ms. Heymann, heck, she’ll understand, as we’ll both really be striving for just the real values of serving others and society, sans balls or mutual stroking ad nauseum.
John Gillan
Piano
The Bridewell Affair: “Sensationalism”
Attached please find the mailing label from my current subscription to your publication. Please be advised that I no longer wish to subscribe. I am appalled at the sensationalism exhibited in the cover story in the May 1987 issue [“The Black Widow”]. While I am sure your story on Sandra Bridewell helped sell magazines in Highland Park, I can see no useful benefit to society by delving into the past and renewing the pain for those families who have suffered so much already.
The Bagwells are good and decent people, and certainly deserve to be allowed to go on living their lives without the intrusion of the National Enquirer of North Texas.
Cynthia L. Jenkins
Stowell
