Dangerous fear
I want to thank you for printing Bernardo C’de Baca’s profound letter to the editor [SFR Letters, July 30: “What a Joke”]. He does an excellent job exposing his own xenophobia and superiority complex.
The notion that “nameless idiots” who are not “locals” can’t know anything about Santa Fe’s history is simply outrageous. Does Mr. C’de Baca truly believe that only his Tortilla Flats breakfast group can authenticate John Lorenzen’s name and his pinche 12-year immersion, study and interpretation of Santa Fe’s culture and history? Further, if he and his friends are the Local Accreditation Board, why then are their meetings held privately? Why doesn’t he at least invite us to review the specifics of their superior historical knowledge? How come all we get is a vague, disjointed and whiney letter to the editor?
Mr. C’de Baca calls Mr. Lorenzen “pompous and arrogant,” but that better describes his own letter. Words like “so are his kind” and “outsider” ring of bigotry and separatism. The idea that a dog’s hemorrhoid is worth the same to the community as an outsider shows a disturbing opinion of migrant citizens, and a hatred of the diversity that is Santa Fe. It betrays the truth about who really is “shallow and uninformed” in this case.
The fact is that many good people who “weren’t from Santa Fe” have come here and contributed new ideas, talents, energy, determination, businesses, foundations, organizations, jobs, success, economic growth, prosperity, culture and history for generations now.
If Mr. C’de Baca wants to truly discredit all outsiders, then why doesn’t he boycott Tortilla Flats, whose success and recent renovation was surely fueled, in part, by “outsider” patronage? Why not boycott “local” bands who have “outsider” musical influences like the blues, hip-hop, and reggae? Boycott tourism and “outsider” money. Boycott the interstate that brings them all here!
At what point will the judgment and fear end?
Chad Bennett
Not from here
Fair taxing
I agree with Zane Fischer that the “burden of workforce and affordable housing is a mutual responsibility for us all.” [Zane’s World, July 30: “Cognitive Association Disorder”]. However, the proposed transfer tax on house sales over $750,000 doesn’t meet that goal.
Using a $750,000 benchmark or anything like it smacks of one more “soak the rich” scheme. It doesn’t seem to matter that most of the “rich” have worked hard all their lives in order to be able to afford a higher priced home. If Zane wants to walk the walk he should advocate a transfer tax on all homes over the affordable housing limit. The tax would be based on the difference between the affordable housing maximum and what that particular house sold for. For example, if the affordable housing maximum is $200,000, the sale of a $300,000 house would result in a tax on $100,000.
Jerry Marshak
Santa Fe
Tell it like it is
Hhhhmmm.
SITE Santa Fe Biennial—civilized anarchy, oxymoron or symptom of the collision and collusion of the analog and virtual worlds [Visual Arts, July 23: “The SITE Stuff”]? A mess is still a mess, regardless of how much one reconstitutes, resuscitates, re-jives and re-contextualizes the curators’, architects’ and artists’ presumed intentions. If I want challenging chaos, I’ll just drive down Cerrillos. At least that way I won’t have to study hard beforehand.
And re: copyright laws—they do exist for a reason [Zane’s World, July 23: “Mine, Mine, All Mine”]. Stealing is stealing. Those of us who have had creative work swiped and used by others know that it crosses professional, ethical and legal lines to do so. And “why swipe” is the question. Isn’t the fun and joy of creativity making something yourself? Just because we are buried in an age of imagery, things and ideas does not make creative work community property.
In an age where spin=reality, I am old-school for sure. The Oprahfication of our communal mind has gone so far that one must apologize for self-defense and for holding an international art exhibition to the (hopefully) high standards of the field and the audience.
A cigar is still just a cigar?
Thanks Zane—press on.
Zoe Danae Falliers
Santa Fe
It’s ok to Quarrel
Your well-reported story regarding Rick Lass’ 1999 arrest for domestic violence [Outtakes, July 23: “Manning Up”] illustrates a frequent occurrence and fact of life, which is that under current law, domestic violence includes mild behavior such as yelling at a woman or making a woman feel uncomfortable, perhaps by sneering or frowning.
In fact, if a woman merely claims, with no evidence, that a man made her feel afraid, he will be arrested and convicted of domestic violence. Often this causes children to lose their fathers since DV convictions are a factor in custody decisions. Also, genuine DV victims are harmed when pretend victims absorb resources. See the Web site dvmen.org. Such mild incidents occur in virtually all households, so domestic violence statistics are exaggerated.
Genuine domestic violence is a real problem, but the police and courts have overreacted. We need to scale back the legal definition of domestic violence to physical violence, intimidation, stalking and violence threats. Quarreling should be legalized.
Bill Smithson
Santa Fe
Right on
Thank you, Seth Biderman, for an intelligent, out-of-the-box commentary on the rampant partying culture in Santa Fe high schools [First Person, July 23: “Just Say Maybe”]. There are a multiplicity of factors impacting drug and alcohol use among young people. However, this is the first time I’ve heard someone articulate that there might be a healthy, (albeit unconsciously and unskillfully executed) drive behind such behavior.
The desire for a sense of community where racial and economic divisions give way to the greater identity of being peers and being human is noble. Young people have so much to teach those of us (I include myself) who think we have it all figured out. Imagine a City Different offering an Education Different to young people of all ethnic and economic backgrounds. Imagine interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence skills being prioritized in every curriculum.
Luisa Kolker
Santa Fe
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