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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Letters to the Editor
Flying Lessons
To the editor: After reading Last Call (Aug. 10, 2005), I started researching the drink mentioned. A cocktail called “The Aviation Cocktail” seems similar to what your e-mailer was talking about. Dating from the 1930s, it’s made of gin, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lemon juice. The maraschino isn’t overly sweet, like the cherries, but is far drier.
Further scouting led me to “The Aviator,” inspired by the movie of the same name. It’s a mixture of flavored vodkas, raspberry liqueur and purée, and lemonade. So it sounds as if your guy doesn’t really know what drink he’s criticizing Blade’s for not having. An “Aviator” cocktail wasn’t around during Sinatra’s time; the drink he appears to be thinking of is the “Aviation.”
Greg Shirey
Fort Worth
Islam’s Internal Debate
To the editor: Shomial Ahmad’s article (“Awakening Islam,” Sept. 7, 2005) very eloquentlysummarized the strengths and weaknesses of the Muslim community in the United States. Although the piece is focused on the Fort Worth area, the broader issues apply to the entire Muslim diaspora in North America and Europe. It was refreshing that the writer looked at the diversity of groups, including first-generation immigrant Muslims, their children born in the U.S., and African- American converts to Islam. She showed the ways these different groups tackle difficult issues facing their community and gave a glimpse of internal debate among Muslims.
As a first-generation immigrant, I’ve noticed that a lack of frank and serious discussion about vital issues in mosques has resulted in some curious social changes. Some of the younger kids are simply putting their religion aside. They are not openly denouncing it or confronting their religious leaders (which is taboo and may earn a fatwa of “apostasy”), but simply stepping aside from religious discourse.
At a time when every Muslim is seen through the prism of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Ladin, such articles help provide a better understanding of the Muslim community and the complexity of the issues revolving around it.
Hamid Hussain
Port Jefferson, NY
IMedia on Media
To the editor: I’m an ex-journalist (now a student), and I always appreciated it when someone acknowledged my stories. So I’ll say that “The Muddy Waters of Race”(Sept. 7, 2005) was honest and went directly to the point. Race is still a symbol of status distinction in much media coverage. The stories of heroism that slowly creep in after the fact do not replace the stereotypes of blacks looting or helpless black women on the ground crying over their loss. This is human compassion, to be crying or grieving, and the media has portrayed it to suggest that whites in New Orleans are exempt.
I too was bothered, as the writer mentions, by the photos and their captions: white people “finding” food and black people “looting.” Perpetuating this stereotype hurts the victims and makes it seem that relief efforts aren’t worth the trouble.
Thank you for the wonderful read. It was truly mind-opening.
Afshan Kamrudin
Denton
Get a Weekly
To the editor: Pablo Lastra and Jeff Prince’s compelling article (“Get A Room,” Aug. 31, 2005), which demonstrated superlative investigative reporting for its thoroughness and sweep, along with Dan Malone’s article (“One Party, One Cop Platoon,” Aug. 31, 2005) seem to point to an endemic corruption problem with the Fort Worth police. With every article I read in Fort Worth Weekly, I continue to appreciate the alternative press. I wonder just how many column inches the so-called mainstream media would have committed to these stories. All of you at the Weekly are to be commended. I won’t miss an issue of this excellent newspaper. Congratulations!
Mitch Land, Director
Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism
University of North Texas
Editor’s note: Dan Malone is an instructor at UNT.
Gas Remedy
To the editor: Great article in the Sept. 14 issue (“Gas Pains”). You captured the essence of the relationship between many surface owners, mineral/royalty owners, and oil and gas operators. The Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association is a statewide advocacy association whose members are farmers, ranchers, and royalty owners. We want to protect and enhance the property rights of the surface and mineral owners, while reducing litigation and protecting our precious groundwater resources. The TLMA — www.tlma.org — is the only organization in Texas working exclusively to protect the rights of land and royalty owners. We seek to reinstate a sense of fairness in the relationship between those that use the land and those who live on it. This is the missing piece of your puzzle. We are that nonprofit organization the people in the article are looking for. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Kitty-Sue Schlink, Executive Director
Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association
Austin
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