Offended by frogs

I always found Sasha's column perceptive and non-judgemental, as well as--most importantly--humorous. However, as a Franco American with roots in Quebec, I am troubled by what seems to be an overt bias towards things French.

The use of the word "frog," in reference to males who carry pocketbooks, was very disturbing to me ["Attack of the shemales," April 8]. Sasha, talk your way out of it, please?!

--R. Pearce

What's with Sasha, anyway? I can deal with her comments of penile implants, ass piercings and the like, but what's with her and French people? Scorned love or something?

I usually look forward to her view on things, but for the past few weeks she's been making some pretty lame racial comments on French people: "retard" French and "frogs." Pretty original... While she's at it, why doesn't she make her ignorance "equal opportunity" and pass comments on "fags, wops, ginos, kikes, niggers and rag-heads"? This way, absolutely everyone would be able to enjoy her point of view.

She could also change the title of her editorial from "Sasha" to "White-assed trash." I think it has a nice ring to it.

--Jean-François Cormier

[Sasha responds: I would like an opportunity to respond with a quote from Horace Walpole: "I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighbouring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded airs of superiority." In no way did I aim to insult Quebecers, whose French I find poetic and unpretentious, and who have done things with cheese and potatoes and gravy which guarantee them all an exhalted place in the afterlife.]

Let Spanky eat grease

As a regular reader of your restaurant reviews (I'm really not interested in the squeegee mentality inescapable in the rest of your rag), I must suggest that you lose your reviewer Spanky Horror-vitz. He apparently is more at home at McDonald's than at the Ritz. Blindfold him and he wouldn't know the difference. Instead of his reviews, I could call my friend Mike. After all, he eats out a lot.

On the other hand, your Ivy Tolchinsky knows food, takes an interest in the preparation and gives some background as well. She also has a great writing style.

Send Spanky back to the Gang at La Belle Province for poutine!

--Richard Louise

Save Tibet from Chinese fonts

I don't get why the "Visions of peace" cover article about Tibet [April 15] had its title written in a bad Chinese delivery-menu font. That's kind of bad stereotyping, isn't it? I mean, if Tibet is free from Chinese rule, they'd still be understood as this stereotyped Oriental place. Isn't the point of the photographers going into Tibet to show us what's really there?

I know the cover was supposed to somehow look Tibetan, but if I did some big Shakespearean thing with the fancy costumes and all, and the Mirror decided to cover it, would the title of the article be written in curly swirly Victorian font? Probably not.

Also, regarding the letter called "The future of apartment hunting" [April 15]: if everything was one big complex and if we didn't have to leave our homes, we would all suffer from sunshine deficiency and die. Of course, people might go to Miami or use tanning beds, but a lot of people cannot afford that. And how would we get to appreciate architecture? What about all those ice cream sellers on the streets--they'd have no business. Pigeons would starve to death because there'd be no one outside to feed them. The city would turn into ugly ruins because no one would care how it looks.

--Vienne

The world Trembles

Many of us in the Montreal comix community want to commend Rick Trembles for his consistently great work over the years (and especially now with his "Motion Picture Purgatory" feature) and the Mirror for publishing him. Comix are always welcome in an alternative paper and Rick's are truly original, influential, honest and grotesquely(?) beautiful.

--Howie Chack'z

I used to think that the Mirror was lame. Since you've brought back Rick Trembles I've been forced to revise my opinion. Please keep surprising me.

--Bernie Mireault