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VOX POPULI

Our "LETTERS" Page

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We LOVE to hear from you! Glad you're taking the time to be part of the commentary of The World's Magazine.

BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PEOPLE tell us the URL of the article you are writing about!!! There are LITERALLY THOUSANDS of articles on this Web site. Don't make our Editor have to guess which writer to send your e-mail for response. Thanks in advance. We appreciate your cooperation.

Below you'll find the latest letters from YOU.

Kudos, brickbats, you'll find it all right here.

Let's play!

by YOU

THE WORLD - From Alex E. London, UK:

Subject: Re: Feedback on articles (Aamena Jiwaji, Simiyu Barasa)

Dear Rod,

Aaemena Jiwaji may have forwarded a recent email of mine to you. It was a comment on the punning title of her last "Day One" essay, a truly brilliant and deeply moving reflection. the article is a product of exceptional courage, and has reminded me, in more than one aspect, of Kafka's "Letter to his father". You have titled it "Indentity" and that was darkly brilliant too - evoking indenture and indented, and both allusions indeed fit the article ever so well. I am looking forward to reading more by her, and am in email contact with her now - very refreshing. You established this exchange by virtue of the magazine, and for this I wish to thank you heartily.

And I wish to unthank you in another context, because I am appalled about that weak article by Simiyu Barasa - the weakest I have so far *ever* read from a Kenyan pen (or keyboard, presumably).

It is not what he says or whether he likes or despises pornography (a statement which would be just about as sensible anyhow as "I like / or despise / music"). It is how absolutely, irredeemably ignorant he is about the extensive debates of the 1980/1990s, the famous - and now settled - "porn wars" and its many arguments. How ignorant he is about the seminal importance of porn for sexual freedom and sexual identity, for women, and especially for queers. And of course about the wider liberty issue that is always embroiled therein. It really boggles the mind - so much mindlessness.

You don't publish rebuttals (the readers' letters section just offers short feedback), but why didn't you have the author at least rework his article substantially before accepting it for publication.As it stands now, it is so weak and ignorant that it is unworthy for the standards of G21, and a deep disappointment. Basically, it's unreflected moral majority hiding behind a smokescreen of pseudo-liberal phrases; Peter "the primate" Akinola with a flimsy feminist veil (and, just as to note that once again, I do not say so because of his standpoint: the Pope is also against pornography, and very respectably so. But he at least makes a consistent and respectable argument).

Best regards,
Alex E.


ROD RESPONDS:

Dear Alex,

Thanks for visiting G21 and for writing.? I'm glad to hear you and Aamena have begun a "conversation."? That's one of the purposes of this entire endeavor.

As to Mr. Barasa's piece and your critique:? As you may have read over time, I often find myself publishing articles whose point of view I vehemently don't agree with or might even find misguided and/or misinformed.? I can think of one writer in particular (not Mr. Barasa) where that is most often the case.? But the point is NOT to have parrots.

As to your assumption that I don't publish reader rebuttals -- other than the short e-mails published on the VOX POPULI page -- that's certainly incorrect.? I've done so in the past, when the reader bothered to submit a well-considered rebuttal of appropriate length.? I did in the most recent edition here:? http://www.g21.net/gb39.html -- a reader rebuttal of the piece you criticize.

I'll certainly pass your sentiments on to Mr. Barasa and hope that he'll share any response with me for our VOX POPULI page when it is next updated.

Cheers!
Rod Amis
Webslinger
G21:The World's Magazine

SIMIYU RESPONDS:

Hi rod,

Thanks for forwarding the responds to my articles.

To joy Mutuku, thanks a lot for giving me a ladies perspective to the whole issue. Well, your arguments on some of the things you said are thought provoking and am digesting them.

Alexander E., I will look at the great debates again and learn something from them. I believe am not irredeemably ignorant, with some accumulation of knowledge i will write better articles. Thanks for directing me to where i can accumulate more info.

To both, we learn from each other, life is a process, not an end point.

Barasa

From George P., London, UK

SUBJECT: Re G21

Mr. Publisher,

Sir,

I just became a regular reader of your online mag last month. It is informative. The writers are very talented. I am particularly impressed by a piece you serialized: TENANT IN THE CITY. The language is sophisticated and the descriptions?are at fever pitch. Can I in any way get access to the author of that piece? I will be grateful for this assistance since I want to correspond with him.? I am a South African resident in London.
George.


ROD RESPONDS:

George

Thanks for writing. It's appreciated. I've passed your e-mail on to Clarius and believe he'll be in touch

Your e-mail reminds me of the saying, "A prophet is never appreciated in his own country." It seems that you people across The Pond better understand my project than those in my own land.

Oh well.

Cheers,

Rod

From Peter P., Snowmass Village, CO, USA

SUBJECT: With Washboard Sam

I was looking up Mississippi John Hurt on the web and came across this nostalgic piece by Randy Burns. I used to play the folk clubs in Greenwich Village back in the early to mid sixties as well. His story broght back memories...Then he mentioned about how Jack Elliot announced John Hurt's passing. That touched me because John was my friend. He took me under his wing when I was a student at American University. Every weekend and his wife Jessie would have me over for a jam session with a bunch of old blues men. They even had me over for Thanksgiving one year when for some reason I couldn't go home. He was one of the most genuine and wonderful people I've ever met...they both were.

It made me mad when I found out how little his manager "Fang" paid him. Fang's comment: "I gotta keep him ethnic." Anyway thank Randy for me. I'm 8 years older then him and I used to play right near the corner of Bleeker and MacDougal at a place called "The Dragon's Den" among other places.

Peter P
Snowmass Village, CO.

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ROD RESPONDS:

Pete, Glad you loved the piece. I did too.

I'm constantly amazed that pieces we produced years ago still find visitors. Amazed and happy that my little Cathedral of Words is beginning to fulfill it's mission.

Cheers!
Rod

From Tesfay W., (No City Provided,) ETHIOPIA

SUBJECT: Billy Jackson-Too Young or Too Fast U couldn't sound better?

Dear B. Jackson,

I wish I could say it as I felt it! It is so sour; most of your are statments rediculous and unfair!

I am from Alitena, Irob, the place you were talking about, Where Sr. Rita used to work. Like all Irobs and other Tigrians, I was victim of this Ethio-Eritrean war. I was attending my University that time in south Ethiopia, when the Eritrean Solders inavaded Ethipian Territories with out any warning. Since that day for whole following two years, including my graduation day, I heard no word of my whole except two brothers, even about their very existence. Place yourself in mine and please how would U feel?? especially, when you read some thing like u put on this web.

So My dear, the war wasn't 'Africa's most none sense', That is waht U and your collegues may say, but yet not the fact, compare with the war in Iraq, I would put our war as 1000 times just then. U mentioned about, Mekele Aider elementary School bombing. What else should Ethiopia do men? We asked the so called UN, and the West to call a spade a spade; to request the Eritreans go back to their territory, let the displaced civilians come back to their homes and if the there is border claim, we said you are welcome to resolve via table disscussion. We begged, all you, USA, and every one; not for two or three days; for two years even, under occupation! Damn! Then it's a none sense that u didn't do any thing about it, instead you sold your evil weapons for us, for what U again blamed us for it! No, not fair; Ethiopia is not be blamed for this!

Aider is an Elementary School; school of Childern, where about 50 mudered as you knew! It was by Eritrean Students in Mekelle, Ethiopia, trained for this purposes, spying, like also the ones cought redhanded in Adi-grat, that were comanding these raids with Radio-communication!

U know some thing I never forget about this, I have seen in Ethiopian Televesion some foreign Journalists taking photographs of this Aider event! and what did the say! really no word for two years untill we start war! It was forst time when we expes these criminal murders, communicating with Shabia, that Amnesty for the first time made a statement siding for them, how terrible! how on earth then, can a nation bear some thing like this for more than two years?

SO WE WENT FOR WAR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OPTION! BECASUE ISSAIAS WAS EVIL OF THESE DEEDS AND AGAIN BECASUE YOU THE BIG BOSSES, FAILED EVEN TO TRY TO ADVICCE THE CHILD KILLER TO STOP THIS!

Therefore the war wasn't none sense

And you also undermined this war saying a 'claim for strip of terrain', It is not only the physical resourcce like 'Oil' that matters us; it is the humanity, history, dignity and human rights! U think we don't care about all these I think we care more than u do! I am sure U wouldn't even think of them if u, the west, were staying in the hardship like we are in, as you have seen during your visit and felt it as 'dirty all' in your very first paragraph! You sound too young to put thinksgs about Kichin on Inernationals arena! I would expect you to spend that time to a bit about some thing more important about one of the oldest Historical nations of the globe. But I know that is all none sense for this world of Materialism!

And Alitena, Irob people are the people known as People of 'Punt' read about it. So doesn't matter the terrain quality brother, it is like that because it served its people for more than 7000 years in written record and places like Asa-koma in Irob-Afar border are the origin of the oldest Human ansestoral Fossil ( > 5million years). So no surprise if it is dry or roky.

And one more thing, you also mentioned about Italian occupation; Do U also know, forget about the past evils, but even today, this very recent Ethio-Eritrean war is the harvest of colonial seed sawn decades and centuries ago! ya pitty! Last but not the least the worst is even today the current Int. court decisison itslef seems did well not to bring any lasting peace! May be that was still the objective!

So that is how your article sounds to every Ethiopian citzen, and to eny one who knows the fact and and want to be neutral.

T.W.


From Peggy W., New Orleans, LA, USA

SUBJECT: Ninth Ward Article

This is the most interesting article.? Several months ago, I rode on one of the buses which was followed by a NOPD car.? The others on the bus were people going home to see their homes for the first time.? The police car was there to prevent anyone from getting off the bus to look at his/her home.? It was unreal.?

Regarding the barge, is there any information about what they claim happened?? I was not aware that no one knew whose barge it was.? Why does the mayor want to hide this?? Why does the mayor want to get rid of the 9th Ward?? As several people told me, if they can build back St. Bernard, then the 9th Ward is on higher ground and should be rebuilt.? The property owners ought to decide what they want to do and the city should provide the utilities as needed.? What is the reason for his taking this position?

Peggy W.
New Orleans, La. 70130


From Marcia H., (No City or Country Provided)

SUBJECT: Great Site!

Just wanted to thank you for the True Blue RooPoo link.?Been laughing for 2 days about their product line and the descriptions. Have already?forwarded your URL to several siblings and friends, and I'm saving you as a favorite. Goodonya!

Regards,
Marcia


ROD RESPONDS: Marcia,

Thanks for writing! What? Is that from five years ago? It amazes me how long it takes people to catch up with our hipness. Joke!

Welcome aboard.

The Webslinger

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