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DIALOGUE No More Parochialism I feel that a word in defense of the Observer’s editorial policy in matters of foreign affairs reporting is in order. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could neatly separate national and international events dealing only with one and not the other. To accuse the Observer of a “cop-out” by dealing with Central while the “Republicans and rightwing Democrats are carrying off the store at home” is just not fair. Like it or not, what happens in Central America affects the U.S. directly and Texas in particular. The days of parochial politics are long gone. Furthermore, the great majority of articles appearing in the Observer deals with Texas anyhow. Henry Darcy Austin Moody Response I read your article, if it can be called that, under the heading, BALLAD OF THE MOODY CAFE. \(TO amused at your use of Patsy Cline Music and singing. To me you indicate that this is like Moody, Texas, rather hard to take, yet what is so puzzling, Patsy Cline’s songs were your choice, you were playing a tape which you undoubtably put on yourself, also in comparison, also this turn off from the interstate was by your own choice, not Moody’s. You state you were looking for something as sad as Patsy Cline’s sad songs, and from your description, you found it. STAY ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT NIGHT IS HALF-PRICE P.O. Box 8 Port Aransas, TX 78373 Therefore you should have had a real good day finding the things you were looking for. What possibly you did not think about was your trouble was coming from mental discontentment, not from the beauty of the big Capital City of Texas. You by accident walked into a little peaceful, happy, satisfied community who enjoys Patsy Cline’s music and the little things of life. After all, happiness comes from the mind, not from beautiful buildings, plush cafes, or cocktail bars. You failed to see, or failed to mention the nice things visible, like the new clinic located in down town Moody, operated by Scott & White Hospital, which was partially built by $85,000.00 donated by Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas. You failed to mention the new churches in Moody, the beautiful historic homes located here that have historic markers on them. You did mention furniture stores, which belonged to one family and covered a whole block and one half with inventory in excess of $1,000,000.00 Dollars. You undoubtably failed to see the beautiful Country Club, golf course, swimming pool, lake and many other attractions. The badly faded Chamber of Commerce Building, feeds approx 50 senior citizens each day and gives them a place to play dominoes, quilting bee’s and many hours of happiness. There again is an example of happiness, service without outward elaborate beauty. I have shown your article to quite a few citizens in Moody, even those at the cafe; there is very little humor from this useless piece of writing. This to me reflects the thoughts, political views and personal attacks by the Texas Observer. M. Herrington Moody Classy Anyone that didn’t like your story “Paradiso, Perhaps” \(TO like home cooking. I was sitting near Tommy Hancock during a break at that Third Coast party a year or so ago, and some older woman admired his belt buckle, and he took it off and gave it to her I thought that was real classy. I’ve been spending most of my time here at the Tahlequah Tanning Salon and at night classes in chicken judoeing. Tom Ballenger Tahlequah, Okla. Less Interesting I think your strength has always been in covering the Texas legislature and telling your readers the news that’s not in the papers, and further, I think the present lege is one of the worst in the 15 years I’ve been a Texan. But your main articles aren’t about it. Rather you deal with national issues a lot, issues I can read about elsewhere. In short your strength has been your regionalism. On that you are falling down. So, sorry, but I find the present TO much less interesting than earlier versions. F. W. Plapp College Station Facing the Future I rarely feel like making a contribution this size to any undertaking, but I feel constrained to do so for the Observer. As a retired Methodist minister, who always served smaller churches, I have accumulated little. But the Lord has blessed me in many ways. I wish you every success as you face the future. Sherwood S. Davis Kerrville Market Analysis As a long time subscriber and contributer, I really regret having to say it is probably time to let go. It does not appear to me there is any hope to put TO on a sound financial basis and, if it survives, it should do it in the marketplace. John Hilliard O’Fallon, Worthy Antagonist I have been a subscriber for a mighty long time even though I disagree with you on many, if not most of the positions you take. I do however believe you are a worthy antagonist to the comfortable, and therefore send a few bucks. Hardy Sanders Colleyville JUNE 28, 1985