Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe NM 87504, deliver them to 132 E. Marcy St., fax them to 988-5348, e-mail them to editor@sfreporter.com, or use our online form.

  CRUEL, NOT FUNNY    

It has been a while since I have read something so bad that I felt compelled to write a letter to the editor, but that is exactly how I felt after reading the excerpt from "

" [Cover story, Sept. 12]. ***image1***

The author mistakenly believes that his insensitive and juvenile commentary on those less fortunate than himself is actually witty and amusing.

I am sure the author would say that he is being irreverent, but irreverence is a very subtle literary tool. It works best when applied to authority, the status quo or any number of monolithic and faceless aspects of our society. This can include our educational system, but not students who come from such tragic and heartbreaking backgrounds. Instead of being irreverent and funny, I found Rob Wilder's writing to be nasty and cruel.

  GOOD VS. BAD  

Wow. The juxtaposition of the two teachers' essays was…vivid.

Let us, since they are English teachers, compare and contrast.

Each makes reference, without naming names, to Santa Fe schools and businesses. Ours is a small community, so identities are readily evident.

Mr. W exploits bathroom humor and crudely denigrates his "batty-ass" special-needs student. Mr. B is wryly funny at no one's expense and presents issues of substance in an entertaining, understated manner. I think that the latter is more difficult to accomplish.

Traits like "narcissism" and "arrogance" would characterize the one and "dignity" and "integrity" the other. Mr. B seems aware of the power inherent in the teacher-student relationship, its limitations and its respectful use. Mr. W evidently derives his sense of power from ridiculing students.

In the public schools, there is an ongoing effort to teach preteens how to relate to others without bullying. Perhaps Mr. W missed that class during his student days and got promoted through school despite not having mastered that curricular objective. One has to conclude that Mr. W must have impressive redeeming qualities in order to remain employed as a role model to youth.

  KEEP IT UP  

Thank you for this week's article on what the press is not reporting [

]-very informative and timely!

Thanks again and again and again!!!

  A TRUE PATRIOT  

Kudos to you for putting Mr. Zinn and his commentary on the cover on the Fourth [

]. By reading the letters you received it looks like it upset a few people who are not familiar with his work and his background.

I found it to be genius and was happy to see a commentary so thought provoking and intelligent on this special day.

I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

Thank you for printing it.

  PROGRESS NEEDED  

The Santa Fe Trails has four managers and one maintenance person for the entire fleet! This guy should be the manager and send those worthless warthogs back home! They sit around and play tiddly-winks all the days of their lives. A city that refuses to progress-WON'T.

The Reporter welcomes original, signed letters to the editor. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. They may be edited for clarity and space. Please include address and phone number for verification purposes; these will not be published.

Santa Fe Reporter