Letters: March 29, 2001

Anti-escorts

I'm writing you concerning your March 22 issue. In the classified-ads section, you spent not three, not four, not five, but seven complete, full pages on the Escort services. Don't you think that's a little too much? I've been really disappointed to see that you are wasting that much paper on the selling of women, and especially selling sexual objects for those poor men who are the slaves of their sex.

Before, you had to look for those services to find them, because they were written in small characters. Now, they jump up in your face, encouraging everyone to use those services. You're really not helping the women's situation by doing that--just in case you thought you were into defending their rights.

On top of all that, you also put half-page pictures of naked women, pretending to hide their genital parts with a star. Seriously, do you think that all your readers are well-informed adults of 18 years and over? Just for your information, my little sister, my little brother and all their minor friends have access to your free paper. It's a good way to show to my little sister that if she becomes a sexual object, she has a good chance to be a part of one of the seven page of the Mirror escort ads.

Wow! Why don't you make a career in the pornography zine industry? Anyway, even if you are not losing any money from me, you are losing a reader. Hopefully I will awaken some other smart people.

--Proud to be a feminist

What the hell is up with the back end of your rag? Is the entire female population of Montreal currently available for sex at an hourly rate? Like, almost EIGHT PAGES of women for rent. Wow. Someone turn off the executive lunch machine.

--Joe Hamilton

Honest Abe

Ladies and gents--this letter is long overdue. Regardless, I want to thank the Mirror for the story on boxing coach Abe Pervin ["Blood, guts and sweaty balls," Feb. 1]. The article was very deserving and something special, as he is one of the nicest human beings one would ever want to meet. He has helped so many people, inside and outside the ring. As a senior citizen myself, I have been around Montreal, and I know what Abe Pervin has done. Ask the people who served with him in the service and they have two words for him: Prince and a straight-arrow.

Your paper always tells it like it is. How people can spend money on the Gazette is a joke. Plus, your article on the Musée des Ondes ["Radio, radio," Feb. 1] was something grand. Please accept my greatest appreciation for both articles.

--Earl Noel

Critique of a critic

It strikes me as telling that Matthew Hays would choose the impending Hollywood strike for discussion ["Critical gridlock," March 15]. He ought to worry about it--after all, his critical opinion dominates 80 per cent of the films the Mirror reviews, and 100 per cent of all the decent films the Mirror reviews.

I stopped reading the Mirror not only because I agree with him about 30 per cent of the time, but also because a publication that unabashedly stresses liberalism should even-out the booty with respect to writers. The answer to the question for Mr. Hays, then, is: the Hollywood strike means that you will have to move in and pillage another aspect of the paper. How about books?

--K.K. Woofter

Sexy Montreal

It's been four years since I left Montreal, but I miss it dearly. It's like a bad and unhealthy relationship, but with great fucking sex. It's the worst kind of heartache.

--Ophelia Croft, New York

Correction

In last week's article about the Alternative Academy Awards results, in the category for Movie Most Overlooked, the wrong percentage of votes won by The Virgin Suicides was printed. It won 36% per cent of the votes.

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