Moby gripe

Who decided to give the Moby cover article to someone who had nothing positive to say about him ["Moby's Tricks," Sept. 2]? Mireille Silcott's biased opinion was a bitchy critique with the purpose of putting Moby back in his place. Moby's got attitude, an opinion and a big mouth--so what? Isn't that also typical pop star behaviour, along with the orgies and hiring prostitutes?

Also, I doubt very much that hamburger eaters ever got offended by someone promoting veganism; it's like saying that smokers get offended by someone not smoking in their face. What annoys me is the way Silcott is very happy that we live in the back-lashing anti-PC late-'90s, when someone like Moby has to tone down his opinions, in order to not offend his audience!

--Eric Rancourt

Monkland should bar none

As an NDG resident, I think the mutiny on Monkland is misdirected ["Mutiny on Monkland," Sept. 2]. Mojo's is small, the food is great, I enjoy the world-beat music and the ambiance precludes the installation of a video-poker terminal. The owners want to be able to sell drinks at their tiny bar without a food order, partly in response to customers like me, who tend to get put off by a congealing plate of poutine when sipping a pinot noire. I think this is a reasonable request.

I am not an elected official of the City of Montreal, although Lord knows I tried. Instead of attacking existing small, local business people who--like local homeowners--pay high taxes, Mr. Applebaum might consider protecting us from any large developers attempting to turn abandoned bank buildings into chain restaurants, bars or dance halls. If he did, he would certainly have my support. He doesn't now.

--Rob Bull

In defence of the World

Matthew Hays is flogging a dead horse. His own. Every year he kvetches about the Montreal World Film Festival, but so far I haven't heard him utter a single constructive suggestion ["Spinning the world," Sept. 2]. One year the festival doesn't have enough stars and the next it tries too hard to get them. One year films are too obscure and the next they're too commercial.

This year's festival was, in fact, an excellent vintage. But film festivals the size of Montreal's are always dependent on world film production (not to mention the vagaries of local film distribution), so to say that the films were better or worse in any given year is to say very little about the festival that programmed them. If you want to see American films, clearly Toronto is a better bet. But if, like tens of thousands of local moviegoers, you want to see films from countries (like Iran, for example, which won top prize this year) whose films are unlikely to get general distribution in North America, the Montreal World Film Festival wins hands down.

--David DeMille

Drapeau still rules

I'm writing in response to the Kristian Perspective titled "Drapeau was crap-o" [Aug. 19]. This is rather crude, derogatory language used by one of your journalists.

Ex-mayor Jean Drapeau gave 29 years of his life in the service of the Montreal Urban Community--he must have done something right! I don't know if you've noticed, but ever since Drapeau retired as mayor in 1986, Montreal has been on a downward spiral, a city that seems to be heading towards economic ruin and anarchy. There are more homeless youth than ever before, drug consumption is up and so is the sex trade.

Under Drapeau, Montreal had a healthy image but now what does Montreal have to show for "M" as in "mediocrity"? Just look at the Montreal Canadiens hockey club or the Expos baseball team. If Drapeau was still mayor, he would have made the provincial government invest in a new stadium for the Expos.

If you truly call yourself a Montrealer, then you would begin by honouring the memory of Jean Drapeau. Otherwise, who are you to judge him?

--Richard Fontaine

Survival Guide corrections

The correct number for the Welfare Hotline office is 1-888-643-4721. Trêves pour elles does not have a 24-hour crisis line. They're open Mon­Fri, 9­5, offering a listening service, prevention info, individual and group follow-up for victims of sexual assault (251-0323).