ustxtxb_obs_1974_03_29_50_00016-00000_000.pdf

John Ferguson wrote the recent piece about Boston and train wrecks. Any A.P. story on train wrecks is as well observed as Mr. Ferguson’s report, and the assertion that Texas culture is younger than Boston culture must be about the millionth on record. I’m a new subscriber to the Observer. Mr. Ferguson has convinced me in two pieces that his longueurs are what, in the future, I can skip. Dick Phelan, 1000 Lund, Apt. B, Austin, Tex. 78204. One of Bode’s articles for the Observer, his piece on Amado Muro \(see Obs., March Institute of Letters. Bode received the 1973 Stanley Walker Journalism Award for the article. Woodfin hailed My new Observer came today, and as usual I enjoyed going through and reading the goodies first I start with Fortnight and then go to the back page for letters. Each time I have seen you print a “Max Woodfin” I have intended to write and say thank you. The third time, you got me I think he is great. We appreciated him while he was on Newsroom at Channel 13 [in Dallas] , and love being able to tell what he is up to while doing his CO thing .. . Generally, I think the Observer is better Ferguson is a plus, and I lbve the caricatures. 16 The Texas Observer I thought “J. Edgar Good Dog” was great, but then I am a dog lover people, too. Austin was home for seven years and during that period I did not understand the criticism of “Austin-itis.” Now even though the heart is still in Austin I can understand how the less fortunate use the term. I see a breaking away from too much River City stuff now, though. Nancy Rice, 2206 18th, Plano, Tex. 75074. K.N thanked Thanks for [K.N.’s] delightful story “J. Edgar Good Dog.” In this age of hate and horror, there is a greater need than ever before for light-hearted humor, what was called “gay” back when “gay” was a happy word. One who can write such carefree stories will write, just as the sun must shine. . Rus Purifoy, 600 N. Dotsy #14, Odessa, Tex. 79763. Flippo so-called My job requires that I travel throughout South Texas and I recently picked up an old copy of The Texas Observer, dated Aug. 24, 1973. It so happened that the first article was about the Texas Rangers’ 150th anniversary. I believe that the so-called author goes by the name of Chet Flippo. If I have ever read a piece of trash, this certainly takes first prize. Just how you can allow junk of this category to be published in your paper goes beyond comprehension. If the article is any indication of how you and your staff feel about our Texas Heritage, then I must be honest in saying that I will not encourage any of my friends to subscribe to your paper. Free press is one thing and slander is another. As for Chet Flippo, it was quite obvious that he had no business attending the Dinner, because his mind was set on slander before he even attended the affair. In my opinion, the truth has been grossly misrepresented. Will you allow a rebuttal? Will you allow the other opinion to be printed? James B. Geer, 12633 Memorial Dr., Apt. 221, Houston, Tex. 77024. Red mayonnaise My daughter, who evidentally subscribed to this crap, is 23 years old, self-employed, her own woman and no longer influenced by her Christian, American and if you will WASP home life. I will not have this type of trash in my home, and sometimes I do not get to it quick enough to prevent others in my home from seeing it. If the subscription has not elapsed, will you please refrain from forwarding any further issues ,and hang them in your bathroom, if you have one, and use them in the only appropriate manner and usage which I can imagine. W. N. Lyon, WASP, 8390 Beverly, El Paso, Tex. 79907. Not in Tyler Regarding your “Observation” entitled “Punishment by low tax rate” of Feb. 15, I believe your statements are essentially correct. I want to point out that a few fellow citizens here in Tyler have combined resources and energies to provide a half-way house dedicated to the rehabilitation of prison returnees, parolees and alcoholics. We attempt to provide temporary supervised living in a comfortable setting with freedom, hot meals and counseling services. We think we are doing a good job in this area that no one else has attempted in our city. Thus far, we have been unable to acquire any local tax money. Kerfoot P. Walker, Jr., M.D., The Way of Life, Inc., 231 S. Beckham, Tyler, Tex. 75701. For unity Thank you greatly for reprinting my editorial, “Why Go To Dallas?” in your Feb. 1 edition. I found it quite humorous and flattering. I would like to explain that the editorial was not meant as a cut to Dallas. Both AURA as an organization and I as an individual believe firmly in cooperation between the two cities. It was AURA’s dedication to this cooperation that led to the formation of the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex Gay Council which is comprised of the gay organizations of Dallas and Fort Worth. .\(It was the Dallas representatives who suggested that Fort Worth be listed first so that the abbreviation FWD, It should also be pointed out that while we do believe in cooperation, we at the same time must try to support, strengthen and improve our respective cities. I probably would not have printed the editorial if Dallas members of the council had objected. We cannot learn unless we criticize, and we cannot be happy unless we believe in ourselves and our intelligence. Fort Worth and Dallas are as different as night and day. That’s why I say: If you live in Fort Worth, support it, believe in it and try to improve it; if you live in Dallas, support it, believe in it and try to improve it. Compromising for the sake of unity is useless. But unity in the belief of common goals is what will benefit our entire society. All colors, brothers and sisters, gay and straight, cities, states and nations, some day we shall all live together in peace! Isn’t that worth uniting for? Ken Cyr, Director, AURA, P.O. Box 7318, Fort Worth, Tex. 76111.