Metro hum

[Re: Letters, June 21] Ron Goes might be correct in that the three-note “hum” one hears upon acceleration is “simply the sequenced addition of power to different coil windings,” but the tune played could not be more special, to my mind.

It is, after all, the first three notes of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” the theme of which was used extensively during the 1976 Olympics.

>> Neil Schwartzman

Anti anti-globalization

[Re: Riff-Raff, “Psycho circus,” June 21] Cheers to Raf Katigbak for pointing out the true consequences of globalization in his latest column. Isn’t it already obvious that anti-globalization is fascism’s cute left-handed little sister?

>> Ryan Livingston

More on Moore

[Re: “Moore or less,” June 21] Why should the left be more righteous than the right? Why do neo-cons and their ilk have a right to manipulate and misinform the public as a means to their end while the left doesn’t?

Caine and Melnyk seem to think it’s so we aren’t “dismissed by the right,” as if they aren’t going to dismiss liberal types no matter what they say. Michael Moore isn’t trying to be respected by conservatives, he’s trying to wake up the left to what they’re doing.

>> Hugo Levesque

Noah and Leonard

[Re: “Hell on earth,” June 21] Noah a Christian myth? This from a film critic living in the same town as the justly renowned “little Jew who wrote the Bible?” Can’t you recognize a Jewish riff on a Sumerian myth when you see one?

Forgive my resort to Ye Olde Official Shakespearean Insult Kit (petelevin.com/shakespeare.htm) in proffering this advice, “resign not thy day gig, thou errant, clay-brained jolthead.”

>> Sheldon Teitelbaum, California

Leftist bias?

Almost every week, the Mirror publishes at least one letter, often vehement, taking one stand or another on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

I have also noticed that in the very limited space you devote to international affairs, your paper tends to lavish attention on this conflict, but barely addresses anything else going on in the rest of the world.

This imbalance in your coverage seems to follow the fashion of left-leaning activists in the West today, who usually focus on Israel-Palestine at the expense of conflicts elsewhere, such as in Sudan, Somalia or the Democratic Republic of Congo, that have killed many times more people and continue to endanger many millions more.

Now, the Israel-Palestine conflict is without a doubt full of outrages that demand our attention. But are you trying to report the news, or merely to join a circus of self-righteous naiveté? I think it’s the latter, and it makes it hard to take your paper seriously.

>> Daniel Douek

Fringe democracy

Call me a naive dreamer, but to me, the Fringe is a good example of democracy. Firstly, you don’t have to listen to critics to choose what suits you. I liked some plays, but for others, during the performance, I wondered if I should be getting paid to see them. But I don’t care, listening to people’s voices, even the bad ones, makes me believe that if we can talk and listen, peace is not far away.

Secondly, I remark that many languages were spoken, in few plays. During the Fringe, race, language and religion are not boundaries, rather, they create a space where people can come together to share their thoughts, happiness and anger. To me, love doesn’t conquer all, but communication can.

A big thanks to the staff. You guys are friendly and enthusiastic. See all of you next year.

>> Thuan Nguyen

Correction

Last week’s Insect mistakenly stated that the American no-fly list ran to almost half-a-million names. In fact, that’s the number on the FBI’s Terrorist Watch List. The no-fly list contains an estimated 44,000 names.