Letters from our readers-June

LETTERS: More Whorehouse letters

Terry,
Thank you so much for your kind words and your incredible review in The Bulletin. (The Whorehouse Finds a Home, ISSUE 25 by Terry Deane) The whole edition kind of has a "It's All About Us" theme, and we are so very grateful for it. It is a real shot in the arm to a group of really tired performers who still have some work to do.

Nancy McCoy
Willis

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was a damn fine show. I could not have been more impressed with the cast and crew. Did you know that they built that entire theatre, stage and seating from the carpet up. It truly was a professional production and funnier than you can imagine. Not only did the Montgomery County Theatre Group overcome serious financial, political and personal hurdles, they did it with pride and integrity.
If you did not get to see this show, you really missed one of the best, if not the best show. This group featured long time actors and actresses, as well as first timers who performed with the best of them. The music, the lines, the colors and the clothes all were done in true 1970's fashion. Everyone fit their characters, they all did an outstanding job.
Thanks to the Bulletin for your coverage of this group and their show.
As for the opposition, you had your say and much more publicity than we all needed. The funny thing is though, all your actions and comments brought many to the show who just could not believe what you claimed. And you know what, they found out that is was just a very well produced musical comedy about a small piece of Texas history done by a group of folks who love the art of community theatre.
One more comment to those who should be ashamed of themselves. THANKS !!!

D. Connery
Tomball

LETTERS: Please find my daughter

My daughter was visiting in Conroe Texas, and ran away from her brother's house on June 17, 2002. She called the next day to say that she was OK, but that is of little consolation. She is 15 years old.

Patti Northrup
Tulip Winds Collies
Phone: (512) 424-5074
Helpline: (800) 346-3243

LETTERS: Change hearts not laws

Dear Editor,
When it comes to abortion I often hear, "You can't legislate morality." "Stopping abortion will not happen through changing laws but from changing hearts."
Isn't that special? This is simply the position of someone who knows that abortion is evil but lacks the courage to take a stand, has a financial or political interest in abortion, or is trying to appease both sides. The reality is, no one disagrees that the answer to all of humanity's problems lies in changing hearts. But, practically speaking, what would our crime rate look like if we just waited around for that to happen?
Should we erase all our laws from the books? Maybe the criminals will change their hearts.
Martin Luther King once pointed out that laws are not intended to change hearts but to control the heartless. He was right. And in modern society, no one is more heartless than the gang of moral degenerates who work at abortion clinics. Until laws prohibiting abortion are restored, abortionists will be free to kill helpless unborn children, while maiming, raping, and killing many of their moms. Maybe some people think this is acceptable, but I don't. Women and children deserve better.
The bottom line is, if abortion is not wrong then why do we need this change of heart? And if it is wrong, why do we allow the heartless to do it? I say, let the law lead and maybe the heartless will follow.

Thomas Messe, M.D.
Groton, CT

LETTERS: Just to clear things up

Hi Nancy, this is Terry Deane, thanks for your letter. In response to your letter, (Whorehouse is coming to The Woodlands ISSUE 24 by Nancy McCoy)The community that was meant, was the Crighton Theatre community. As for me, I cover every production it's possible to get to. I'll be there to see The Best Little Whorehouse Texas with bells on!. Funny thing is, I do comedy shows for an area entertainment agency, and "Miss Mona" is one of my favorite characters. Thanks for reading the Bulletin, and for writing in. And aces to the Montgomery County Theatre Project. Break a leg, guys.

Terry Deane
Bulletin Writer

LETTERS: Abortion is not the answer

Abortion is a permanent solution to a temporary problem I am 38 years old. When I was 19 years old, I was shot by an intruder in my home and I was left paralyzed from the armpits down. I have lived half of my life with a normal body and half of my life with a disabled body. The experience of living with a disabled body has influenced my point of view on many issues. My point of view on abortion is one of the issues that has been influenced by my experience.

I am against abortion. The only exception that I make is when the life of the mother is at stake. She has a right to defend herself. I believe that the fetus, in all other cases, is a human being with a temporary disability. I believe that the mother is a human being with a temporary problem. Abortion is a permanent solution to the mother's temporary problem.

The fetus has a temporary disability of not being born. However, as soon as the child is born, the disability no longer exists. The mother has a temporary problem in that she is pregnant and she may not want to be.

However, when the mother gives birth, the problem no longer exists. Nine months seems like a small price to pay to save the life of a human being with a temporary disability, even when it is the life of a child that may not be wanted by its own mother.

Charles Henry Schoonover
Harlingen Texas

LETTERS: A real play with real actors?

Before I saw the pictures Linda got for the front cover of this weeks Bulletin I was going to go to the play to show support for a brave group of people that were willing to make a stand for what they believed in. Now I'm going to The Woodlands just to see these people act.

All of the pictures of the cast I had seen prior to the ones Linda got suggested this would be the same old boring local play. The pictures she got reveal a completely different atmosphere and story. They show a group of people that can't wait to get out there and put on a great show.

The show is about a hypocritical small Texas town that looks the other way when a whorehouse operates in their fine city.

The story is about two groups of people that disagree on how the play should be presented. One group thinks that words should be edited out. The other group thinks they should stay. One group seems think that new young performers who love what they are doing should be given an opportunity to act. The other group thinks its better to have the same 50-year-old people who are in every play at the Crighton change and adapt the story to fit their age, and comfort zone.

I still wish the play could have been performed at the Crighton. After all, it is one of the best little theaters in Texas. I only hope that The Crighton Players could find a way to grow up in the future. After all, how hard can it be to simply rent the theater to other groups of performers who want to present plays the way they were written to the best of their ability?

Mike Ladyman
Bulletin Publisher

LETTERS: Conroe is a racist town

As I read the opinions page of this weeks bulletin I couldn't believe my eyes the man was say how our town is not racist well it is may I remind everyone a few months ago who was at the county courthouse their a group called KKK & the county allowed the KKK to be here so if thats not racist then what is because from where I stand it is racist I see people in Conroe look at black people in weird ways all the time & Oh GOD forbid if you are a white person with a black person people look down at you so In my belief this is a racist town.

Faye Fullen
Conroe

LETTERS: You call that Pornography?

Yeah, to the wacky lady who wrote in last issue...(The Bulletin is Pornographic, ISSUE 23 by Terressa J. Gomez) You thought the cover of The Bulletin with the girl wearing a bikini was pornographic? Uh, Do you live under a rock? Get a life!!

Jerry Daniels
Living within the geographical boundaries of The Woodlands

LETTERS: More on the Whorehouse

I am very concerend about the production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" that was supposed to be preformed in Conroe's local theatre. It won't be because the board (local folks) won't let the production go on without censoring it. The director (a personal friend) walked out after refusing to make the "illeagal" (rights are purchased for the play as it is written, changing requires permission) cuts to the script. (32 God D m's & 2 f word) The board doesn't want to exclude families from their productions. But shouldn't the good people of Conroe make the decision as to what they want their familes to see? With the word whorehouse in the title, what were they expecting? There are so many movies and music ect that is readily available to todays young people that is far more damaging then the message put out in this production. Let alone just pure entertainment!

Mary Wolfe
Montgomery County

LETTERS: Whorehouse is coming to The Woodlands

Dear Editor:
I noticed in last Friday's Bulletin Terry Deane's article on Pump Boys (Pump Boys at the Crighton, ISSUE 23 by Terry Deane) that at least twice mentioned The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. One such reference suggested that the play is now lost to the community. It is not. Fortunately, Miss Mona (played beautifully by Mary Mathis) will sing right on cue.
Specifically, the Montgomery County Theatre Project's production of Whorehouse plays June 10 at the Alley, and then from June 20-23 at the All-American Gymnastics and Cheerleading Center, 127-A Sawdust Road, The Woodlands, TX. Tickets for the Mont. Co. performances can be obtained by calling (281) 397-8124.
This great Texas play and its fine cast will perform the real, complete, uncensored, properly licensed version. The play is not lost. It has been preserved, through private donations and in response to the support of the Montgomery Co. community that wants to see it.
I would greatly appreciate it if you'd give this wonderful play, and its hard-working, deserving cast, the same coverage you gave Pump Boys.
Finally, I would take issue with Terry Deane's review only to the extent that I would suggest that, if there is an overriding irony, it's that Whorehouse is about the hypocrisy of a community caught very publicly in a compromising situation. Nevertheless, the show goes on.
I loved Mike Ladyman's letter in the last edititon. (A Park for Big Kids, ISSUE 23 by Mike Ladyman) Please tell him we'd love to have him come see our production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. We can't sell him a beer, since we didn't have time to prepare a first class play AND get a liquor license, but we promise him a great time.

Nancy McCoy
Willis, TX

LETTERS: Help with the Rap Lingo

This is for Mark Williams. Your summer music guide. (Summer Music Guide, ISSUE 22 by Mark Williams) It has some great bands. And can you tell us what lets roll up a blunt means. My son wanted to know. did you grow up without a radio in the house. Or did you just have to many 40 ounzers and forgot. Tasteless article. Or was you just stoned when you wrote it.

J.W.
Montgomery

LETTERS: A refocus on School Property Taxes

This great country was founded, via a revolution, on the concept of representative government and fair taxes. Years later, many battles were fought on Texas soil to ensure our freedom of life and to determine a fair tax structure to help preserve that freedom of life. We must recognize that we have strayed from that fair tax structure. Let's review 4 areas of weakness in our current school property tax system, which punishes all Texans for being homeowners.
Currently the source of school taxes overburdens all Texas homeowners. A fair alternative source of taxes needs to be determined by the Legislators and set in place.
Distribution of funding needs to be equitable for all public schools based on legitimate need. This then also eliminates the Robin Hood issue.
Accountability for a) proposed school budgets and b) the actual expenditures needs to be determined, monitored, and set in place. Proof of need is required prior to the request.
The term community college should refer to the community of Texas rather than more localized communities within the state. Under this definition, ALL Texas children have the right to a free higher education. All Texas children have the right to attend the community school of their choice. The tax source for operating the community schools must come from a fair tax from ALL members of the Texas community.
The resolution of these four issues would eliminate most of the problems in our current school property tax system.

Peter Stern,
Driftwood, TX

LETTERS: Homeland Security

Editors:
When there is intelligence-sharing between the US alphabet agencies (FBI, CIA, INS, etc.) it is of the 3P variety: People, Paper, and Phones. This may have been a cutting-edge approach in about 1950. It is a sad reality that terrorists are now more adept at sharing information than is the US Government. Rearranging chairs and tables inside the beltway as President Bush has proposed will result in nothing more than a new furniture layout unless it is accompanied by the development of a comprehensive Government-wide and worldwide security information system to which every involved agency contributes all the relevant information it gathers as soon as it gathers it and which any US agency worldwide can refer to as a first source for background checks on foreign nationals. The FBI's National Crime Information Center, commonly called the NCIC, is a good model for a start. A similar but more sophisticated system applied worldwide and available Government-wide must be a critical element in our homeland security planning.

Charles D Toney III
The Woodlands

LETTERS: Testing a child with behavioral problems

I really enjoyed your article on child behavior. (Playground Politics, ISSUE 21 by Charles Downy) I would like to add: When behavioral problems appear, parents should see their pediatrician and arrange for psychoeducational testing. This testing can be done for children 3 years old and above through the local school district and for children under 3 through the Early Childhood Intervention Program, found at www.nectas.unc.edu.

Sherry Vinson
Houston

LETTERS: Why don't our taxes pay for basic services?

This is just another example of where city planners have not planned ahead for the growth of their communities. (False Alarm, ISSUE 19, by Deseree Martinez) If the revenue for these ESD's comes from property taxes, and they aren't collecting enough revenue to cover their costs, then simple common sense dictates to raise property taxes! Duh!

Or better yet, lets take a look at why the tax collected already is not sufficient to cover these basic services. What entitlement services can be cut to alleviate the budget stress on these departments?

Lets concentrate on financing basic services before we start financing services better left to caring, responsible parents.

Thanks,
John DeCesare

LETTERS: Good Article

The article Deseree Martinez wrote on the Java Jazz Coffe House was exellent! (Five Bands, Free Coffee, ISSUE 20, by Deseree Martinez) She nailed the bands right on for the most part! I'm glad she enjoyed our show! i am the drummer for the Tokyo Space Cadets and I'm pleased to know that she had a good time while we were on, if you could please send her this e-mail. to visit our site to see upcoming shows, talk to the band, buy merch, etc.. please head on over too www.TokyoSpaceCadets.com!

Thank You,
B. Mauk

LETTERS: Bashing the Farmer's Friend - Hemp

Thanks Jim Hightower for pointing out the truth about environmentally sound hemp.(Bashing The Farmer's Friend-Hemp, Bulletin Online Story, by Jim Hightower) Speaking of, " examples of `drug war' idiocy in action," can I share some more with you?

The sordid messes involving all branches of our police (re: Tulia/Dallas), whether for money or job promotion, are eroding the integrity of our codes until we are experiencing a breakdown in our criminal justice system. Maybe we should call a spade a spade and rename it the Injustice System. The name certainly fits if you are poor, Black or Hispanic.

DynaCorp is the knowledge manager of the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Fund and make the bigger goal ... the concentration and control of cash flow. Drug Warriors and a lot of lawyers are laughing all the way to the bank because the reality is stopping the flow and use of drugs is not their real agenda anymore (if it ever was).

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP] in 1998 commissioned a report from the Institute Of Medicine [IOM], an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, and cost US taxpayers almost a million dollars. They would like this report to fade from our memories.

The United States Drug Czar, John Walters and his ilk have the mendacity to claim. so much misinformation as truth it really proves the case that drug policy needs to change. Unbiased scientific evidence including their own ONDCP report refutes each point they spout as fact. These half truths and skewed statistics cause many young people to have contempt for authority figures who repeat them.

Who will benefit the most by a drug policy change to regulation and treatment? Us, we the people, especially our children who have never tried drugs. It would kill the economic incentive to turn them into users. It would stop prohibition violence and corruption in law enforcement, just as it did with the end of alcohol prohibition.

The US has 5% of the world's population. The hearts and souls of the American people are crying over the fact that here in, "the land of the free," we have 25% of the world's prison population.

The spirit, core and essence of our founding father's ideas of liberty and freedom are threatened by this unholy, hypocritical war against our own people. The drug war tramples the quintessence of ideals Americans have professed to believe in since 1776.

Who would suffer the most by a change to drug regulation and treatment? The people involved in milking the black market, of course. Also, law enforcement and lawyers who milk the system for all its worth in cash flow to their pockets or in asset seizures to the DOJ.

What message do our present policies send to our people? "Alcohol and nicotine are the best choice in recreational drugs?" Unbiased statics certainly prove otherwise.

There is a pervasive public disrespect for the law. So, is our message, "Laws are made to be broken"? Or is it even worse, "If you're going to use - use alcohol or coke, etc. - anything except marijuana because it stays in your system longer, you'll be more apt to get caught on a pop urine test"?

There is no record of marijuana ever killing anyone. We can not say the same of alcohol, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, etc.?

Recently other countries are re-examining their policies on drugs and opting for regulation and treatment. The messages our policies send and their fundamental nature must be clear.

In a more humane and realistic approach, it might be, "Abstinence is best", but accept the fact people won't always abstain. In that case we can say, "Don't use hard drugs." If they choose to do that we can offer treatment and say, "Don't inject and especially don't share needles."

We can have a Justice System that flows with the milk of human kindness by adopting a policy that causes less harm than good. Don't be afraid! Be brave, it's the right thing to do.

A drug-free America is an unattainable utopian delusion. It is within our power to change policies that prevent self-government. Let's never say, "The vision of a free America, might have been."

Colleen McCool
Stephenville, Texas

LETTERS: The Bulletin is Pornographic

To the editor of the bulletin what kind of people are you trying to bring to our community printing nudity and pornography on the front page of your paper what happened to the bulletin when it was a paper you could sit and read all weekend and find good deals on sale now everytime i pick one up in our store every issue is sexual. Racist or nudity i will never allow another bulletin in our store again and i speak not only for my self but i will go to other business and suggest the same conroe is suppose to be a nice family community and you think we need to promote our town and women with this kind of garbage if you continue to print this kind of trash maybe you should but a brown wrapper around it just like playboy and hustler you could have put a picture of our beautiful lake our newly decorated downtown the creithton theater there are a million of beau! tiful things you could have lured people to our town with but you chose this filt i will never read or suggest that anyone pick up one of your papers again

Teressa J. Gomez
Former Bulletin Reader

LETTERS: A Park for Big Kids

Call it a place for big kids. Call it the Heritage Amphitheater. Name it after a local business leader. Just don't call it a city park. Most parks have swing sets for kids, a few merry-go-rounds, and some seesaws. The new amphitheater in Conroe has none of these. The place was not designed to entertain children below the age of 10. The place is designed, and should be used , to entertain kids a little older. You know, big kids, from the age of 13 to 75.

Most cities make the little kids park thing look easy. It should look easy, give a bunch of five year olds a place to run and yell "GO RUN." How hard can it be?

The hard thing has always been to give young adults a way to gain both independence and a connection to their community. Montgomery County has the dubious distinction of losing more teens to accidents and suicide each year than any other county in the State of Texas. (see www.thebulletin.com/archives/2001/may/teendeaths.htm)

Like always some of the old community leaders in the area can only point out the evils of providing a place for any form of organized activity that doesn't include sitting around a wood rack with a thimble and some quilting thread. Not that I think there is anything wrong with quilting. I would just rather go listen to a good band and drink a few beers. I may even want to see a local production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Adults having fun seems to be such a crime to some people in our community. They gripe and bitch about every little thing. If a large segment of the population wants to pursue a little fun why does a small segment of the population object so strongly? The answer would be simple for me. If I don't like what was going on somewhere, I simply don't go. I don't try to keep other people from quilting. I just don't go to quilting bees.

When The Friends of Conroe bring The Sounds of Texas Music Series to the Crighton, the place is packed. They sell beer outside and there has never been a problem.

The pavilion in The Woodlands is another great example. Kids of all ages gather there for all types of entertainment. They sell beer, wine, and if you have the right ticket even mixed drinks. The environment is clean, safe and fun.

The argument that the amphitheater is built with public funds and should not be used for anything other than pure family entertainment is just plain silly. Most buildings where people gather are built with one form of public funds or another. When a church pays no taxes it receives a very healthy government subsidy. Other places such as ballparks are built with public funds. The field where the Astros play was built with public funds then leased to a separate corporation. Minute-Maid just agreed to pay 170 million dollars for naming rights. They will donate one hundred thousand dollars a year to youth charities for 28 years. Minute Maid apparently thinks it's ok to be associated with a place that sells beer and wine. Minute Maid Stadium not only sells beer and wine they have full bars. Luxury boxes also come complete with open bars.

Come to think of it, that may be the way to name the new amphitheater.

All Conroe has to do is find a company with a few bucks, and the guts to overlook the very small, very vocal minority in the county. A company that caters to a demographic profile of people who live in this century may be interested.

Mike Ladyman
Bulletin Publisher

LETTERS: More Whitewash

Interesting article on Conroe (Whitewash, ISSUE 16, by Mike Ladyman)

I saw the Clarence Brandley story on HBO this afternoon. I am outraged and disgusted at the lack of justice for Clarence Brandley. I know that he is free now , but he spent nine years on death row for a crime he did not commit. He would be dead now if the TV show 60 minutes had not aired his story. Clarence has not received an apology from any state official nor has he received any type of compensation for his wrongful imprisonment. Most important, the real killers are free and no one is trying to put them on death row. I wonder if Texas law enforcement would pursue convicting the real killers if they were not white?

The fact that no charges have been brought against the DA who withheld and destroyed evidence that would clear Clarence is repugnant. That DA is now a judge.

Does the justice system in Conroe reward white criminals? I ask this because the DA is white also! Where is the justice!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Hubert Salary

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