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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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Unheralded Cool
To the editor: I cannot tell you how delighted I was to see your review of James Hinkle in the Fort Worth Weekly music section (“Everything Else Later,” Nov. 25, 2008). I have long held the opinion that he is an undiscovered star here in his hometown. More famous in Europe than in the States, he needs to be featured more in city music events as Cowtown’s own son, so that other people in town can realize how fortunate we are to have a hometown musician with such talent.
His unique take on Texas blues is rooted in a historical Fort Worth perspective. He is a phenomenal guitar player who sings and writes his own compositions with the help of some great backup musicians and the two amazing and wonderful women, Claire and Betsy, who make up his family.
I have several of his CDs and play them constantly in my car. I love his newest one. For those of us lucky enough to know him and his family, there is no question that he is the personification of the 50’s term, ultimate Cool.
Dr. Shari Julian
Hurst
Vann’s No Turkey
To the editor: Reading the character deDELETEion of the section in the Nov. 19, 2008 issue of Fort Worth Weekly entitled “2008 Turkey Awards” by Gayle Reaves, it is easier for me to respond to the remarks made about Bishop Kevin Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.
I am an historian with a doctorate as well as a master’s degree focused on Catholic history and decades of teaching history at the university level, and many publications about Catholic history (working on my fourth book, 50 contributions to books, almost 50 published articles and over 40 book reviews). I can see that regardless of the character of the Weekly as described by Reaves, the comments made about Bishop Vann were inaccurate and biased. Myself having been an editor of a journal for 16 years, I know that no matter what the focus of a publication, when publishing articles written about people or developments in society, the writing must be unbiased and truthful.
From its beginning, America, both as a nation whose philosophy was founded on the Declaration of Independence regarding the colonial revolution and the Roman Law as embedded in the Spanish Catholic heritage of new Spain, religious leaders of whatever tradition have enjoyed the right and responsibility of reminding public leaders of the posture of their churches on public morality, including the necessity of protecting the unborn. Bishop Vann was engaging in that historical purview in his letter to Catholics written with Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas. Whoever wrote the poorly-thought-out article portraying Bishop Vann a turkey simply failed to understand America’s religious history, and thus is himself, or herself, perhaps the real turkey.
Patrick Foley
Azle
Reading Betty
To the editor: Merry Christmas to you.
There’s only one reporter working in Dallas-Fort Worth whom I will read, whatever this person writes regardless of topic. That’s Betty Brink. I’ve always said, if you’re a corrupt official and Betty Brink walks in your offices, you’re already in deep doo-doo.
I so appreciate her work, and I’m delighted she’s still out there hammering the keys after many long decades. There’s no reason to retire unless you just want to.
Chris M Waring
Hurst
Boughs of Folly
To the editor: Dan McGraw’s “Boughs of Poly” (Second Thought, Dec. 17, 2008) ignited my memories of decades past, of artificial Christmas trees we used. Particularly interesting in his piece is the fact that artificial trees are now manufactured in China, as are toys, pharmaceuticals, and pet food, all with potential poisonous additives. Christmas trees are no exception — PVCs are known carcinogens. Our Federal Drug Administration standards wouldn’t allow U. S. manufacturers to use this cancer-causer, but it’s fair play for China to export these products to us with impunity, so that we and our children can inhale the fumes and suffer the medical effects.
Haven’t we had enough of imported poison? Why can’t Congress pass legislation to encourage U.S. companies to make safe products for the consumer, or has everyone become so avaricious that outsourcing becomes their biggest path?
This is a sad chapter in American free enterprise.
Teresa Johnson
Fort Worth
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