LET’R RIP

Tolly’s Followers Fight Back



In my opinion “Tolly’s Way” (December) was a thoroughly mean-spirited piece of poorly written prose and a disgrace to D Magazine.

The article was not only a disservice to Father Taliaierro, bul lo the hundreds of sincere men and women whose lives have been enriched by this man’s life and work.

I am surprised that the article passed the scrutiny of your editorial staff, unless, of course, the purpose of your publication is to discredit those rare individuals who make a lasting contribution to our city.

I gather the reporter is from Fort Worth and not familiar with the diversity of lifestyles in the Highland F^rk area. His conclusion that all Highland Park residents are wealthy is absurd. Equally incorrect is his statement that Taliaferro’s ministry is for the rich.

I understand the reputation of your magazine is slipping. If this article is an example of your editorial policy, I can understand why.

While I realize that freedom of the press is broad enough to accommodate even Mr. Camuto, it might benefit your publication to set higher standards.

JEANNE BLUM

Dallas



D has missed a journalistic opportunity with Mr. Camuto’s article. Intelligent journalism seems to have been deposed, as it were, in favor of a sort of self-indulgent play journalism.

TEMPLE WYNNE

Dallas



Your article about Father A. A. Taliaferro did not bring respect for your magazine, nor did it enhance its reputation.

Choosing this man of great compassion and wisdom for a target of derision is not worthy of D Magazine.

SUSAN MORTON

DALLAS



Robert Camulo’s statement that “Alcuin was never canonized by anyone except for Taliaferro” may or may not be true. I’ve looked into this question several times with mixed results. I’ve seen Alcuin called deacon, priest, teacher and Blessed.

If the “Blessed” part is true he may or may not have been “sainted” either by Rome or some other more local body in the church.

PETER RIOLA

THE ACADEMIAE OF ALCUIN OF YORK

EDGECLIFF

Tolly’s Intolerance



I was shocked, offended and profoundly disturbed by Father Taliaferro’s statement, “The Holocaust was done to the Jews because they, when they were not Jews, did it to others.” Of course, this is part of Father Taliaferro’s belief in reincarnation and prior lives. This intellectual veil for what is at best ignorant tripe gains credence by being in the article. To suggest that the one million innocent children who were victims of the Nazi Holocaust were gassed to death because in another life they had gassed and killed others is ethically outrageous, religiously blasphemous and ought to be placed beyond the pale intellectually and morally. What outrageous moral reasoning! If this theory is true, there is no such thing as an innocent victim. All lines between good and evil are obliterated.

I was further shocked and offended that the writer suggests that the Jews who follow Taliaferro do not take offense. I don’t know who those followers are. I still do not believe, even with Rabbi Bemporad”s attempted justification, that I am condemning the Nazis for what I have to work on in myself. I do not wish lo kill children. I can only assume that Rabbi Bemporad was speaking generally and not to his specific view of Father Taliaferro.

SHELDON ZIMMERMAN

Dallas



S&JV1 Not “Urban Fun”



Re: “If It’s Sunday. It Must Be S&M” (December): I am disheartened and truly saddened that you would think that this material should be included in the magazine and that it should be under the heading of “Urban Fun.” In a city that is struggling with so much violence toward its citizens, where more than 500 people will be murdered in Dallas this year, where drugs and crime and hate are of such great proportion, I find it sorrowful to my deepest being that something such as S&M could find a place of respect under the guise of Urban Fun.

I know these places exist. That is not the complaint I have with you. I simply cannot agree with the decision to bring attention to this type of aggression at the risk of elevating it to anything above the degrading practice that it is.

C. GLASS

WAXAH ACMIE



TGV “Thumbs Down” Off Track



Your ’Thumbs Down” on Texas TGV (December) alleges a promise was made not to seek federal assistance to develop highspeed rail service connecting Texas cities, and now they’re doing it. Wrong. The prohibition was and is against the use of state funds, and none were factored into the planning.

During the long hearings process about high-speed rail service, the possibility of federal participation was both foreseen and often mentioned. It was also mentioned often during the hearings that the developer of high-speed rail service would look to cities and local transit authorities to assist with access routes, station sites, joint financing of multi-modal transfer points and so forth. In no way is that a turnaround from any earlier plan.

Texas TGV did say recently that it might need to sell only half as many tax exempt bonds as originally indicated, which is a concession that, to my knowledge, no one building an airport or a ship channel ever offered,

RAYMOND E. HANNON

ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN

TEXAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY

DALLAS



Robert Hseuh:

“Truly Great”



Congratulations to Chay Florentino-Hofilena on her story “The Minority of Minorities” (October 1991). It is about time someone acknowledges the presence of the Asian-Americans and their accomplishments. I have met and known Robert Hseuh quite well through our business deals and ihe man is truly great. He is honest and wants only the best for everyone. He always has time to listen and a kind word of encouragement. Those who speak ugly of him are jealous of what he has done and wants and intends to do. Again, I say job well done- you couldn’t have written up a better person than Mr. Hsueh.

Y. NAHAMURA

DALLAS



Freedom and Filth



Chris Tucker, in “Life, Liberty and Four-Letter Wbrds” (September), seems to be saying the same thing the ACLU and the courts said about the filth of 2 Live Crew; i.e., “nothing we can do about it because of constitutional freedom of expression.”

Then how does he justify the squelching of freedom of expression of the Denton High School band? Just how were they harming people more than this filth Tucker wrote about, or the filth of 2 Live Crew? Can anyone explain this to me?

RAYMOND RIDGELL

ROYSE CITY



Correction: In our January “Best und Worst” issue; we mistakenly reassigned Channel 4’s Bud Gillette lo Channel 5. Apologies all around.



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