Non-virgins fight back

Regarding the article on Montreal's virgin club, Chastity ["The Virtues of virginity," May 18], how can anyone say that virginity makes one a more complete person? Amira says that "so many girls sleep around... they don't understand the importance of virginity and saving yourself for your husband."

Girls today aren't that stupid. If a girl has sex, it's not ALWAYS because she doesn't know what she's doing or because she's unable to resist temptations. Times have changed. Sexuality is not something to be afraid of. If Amira honestly thinks that girls like myself get influenced by watching Dawson's Creek she needs a reality check. Marriage guarantees nothing. Amira says that the hymen is "a sacred barrier which should not be broken." The hymen is a piece of flesh. It's funny how she talks about it as if it defines who a person is.

A member of the group says, "Today, virginity means having respect for your body." Is sex so much of a sinful act that it puts you to shame? It's very unfortunate that some young people end up feeling shame or regret after having sex. Oppressing sexuality is not the way to go. I agree with Amira that sex is a "powerful, beautiful thing between two people" and that many girls are not emotionally ready for sex, but saving oneself for marriage isn't going to guarantee a great first experience.

Does she seriously think that just because a girl waits for the day a man can slip a ring on her finger that sex is going to be more fulfilling, loving and satisfying than what the non-virgins have experienced? The bottom line is: TV shows don't define people's values. The hymen is a membrane. Marriage guarantees nothing. Love is not sex. Sex is not love.

--Jeanne Louise Shih

Diarrhea controversy!

I love Sasha's wise and humorous advice in her weekly column. I look forward to reading it right after I check what Rob has to say about Leos. However I think she erred in her response to Anna LaBelle, the woman with diarrhea and bowel incontinence in the May 25th issue ["Exercising your sphincter"].

Ms. LaBelle needs to see a physician. She needs a medical assessment and stool cultures to rule out the cause of her problem. The potential causes for diarrhea are lengthy, but the investigations are usually straightforward. Is there fever or weight loss? Does the stool contain blood or pus? Diarrhea can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Perhaps she travelled somewhere and picked up a few parasites along the way. She may have irritable bowel syndrome which can be controlled with dietary changes and stress management. She may even have lactose intolerance. Ms. LaBelle should forget about plugging up her problem and instead find out the cause.

--Dena Godfrey, R.N BScN.

Ode to BOM

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who's the cheapest of them all?

Fascists do you represent?

Must McDonald's be so omnipresent?

Value in Chapter's books?

Haven't you been to Mont-Royal's nooks?

How can you cite HMV?

No better place to buy a CD?

Your tabloid epitome of the "best"

Remind me more of corporate incest.



Out-of-town capitalists can't find their way?

Maybe we should make them pay!

As for most Montrealers

We know better where to spend our dollars.

Mirror, mirror you have some gall

Pretending to know anything at all!

--The Plateau Dudes

[Ed's note: Dudes, the Best of Montreal issue is neither a scientific survey nor a reflection of editorial opinion. Rather it is a reader's poll. If you don't like the results, why not rally the rest of your Plateau pals and vote en masse for your favourite "nooks."]

Correction

In Len Dobbin's review of Dave Holland's album Prime Directive [Compact discs, May 25], the reference to Holland's time spent with Miles Davis should have read "a 10-year stint", not "a year stint." We apologize for the editing error.