Rise up, American doves

I've become very irritated by Americans who write to say that they don't know anyone around them who supports the war. Those Americans who complain about the Bush propaganda machine, and how we shouldn't believe the polls. The ones who didn't elect Bush, and are now apologizing for him.

Yeah right. If so many Americans - the majority as they claim - actually believed the invasion of Iraq was illegal, we would have seen demonstrations like the ones in England or Spain, Bush's two allies. The U.S. is not Egypt, where there were three policemen for every demonstrator, so where were the protestors? We would have noticed the general dissent in the government, on TV, somewhere. The minority who voiced their opinions were the usual suspects (students, leftists, Sean Penn). Isn't the U.S. a democracy? Isn't it the land of the free?

The Americans elected Bush. Enough of them voted for him knowing who he was: a dumb, oil-rich, ex-alcoholic who's very proud of having executed 152 people and making fun of them while he was governor. Bush's support stands around 70 per cent now. He openly targeted Syria last week. He's going for it, and the Americans will wave the flag and cheer like idiots. Note to Americans: if that many of you oppose his policies so much, then show yourselves and do something before the next 9–11.

» TAREQ BISHTAWI

Don't push back

Do you remember when you were roughhousing with your siblings and your mother would say, "Take it easy, kids, somebody's going to get hurt"? Mom knew how harmless antics could easily escalate into all-out mayhem and angry aggression. Human nature hasn't evolved past the point of this base behaviour; when pushed, our instinct is to push back, regardless of logic or consequence. Violence simmers beneath the surface of most of us, tightly leashed or severely disciplined by the best of us.

That being said - and I'm sorry if your parents didn't share that simple insight - take heed of what's simmering between U.S.- and Canadian-defined citizens as a response to the Bush administration's decision to wage war against Iraq. Watch what's going on even in the e-mail section of this worthy journal. One angry American, E.B., pushed a button and four others responded - albeit three of them with intelligent, encouraging and balanced replies [Letters, April 3]. It's the fourth response from Andrew Scott that worries me, concluding "Fuck you and fuck the USA."

Dividing people by definition of geographical borders is immature. We are all one human race, defined only by our deep need for each other. If everyone understood and lived by this very simple truth, there would be no war.

The next time somebody tries to push your buttons, remember what Mom said and resist reacting. Mom was right. Somebody will get hurt, and then we have to start all over again.

» LORRIE BEAUCHAMP

Concerning curatorship

I would like to point out a rather significant error that Artsweek writer, Mark Slutsky, made in last week's Mirror [Artsweek, April 17]. In "Out with the old, n with the new," Mr. Slutsky erroneously states that the Group of n will be taking over curatorship of Studio 303. While co-artistic directors Miriam Ginestier and Paul Caskey warmly welcome the wondrous Group of n into the folds of the Belgo and 303, it is as curators of Galerie 303 and not Studio 303, the dance and interdisciplinary arts training, creation and production organization that houses it.

For any Studio 303 faithfuls who may now be scratching their heads in wonderment: Rest assured, Miriam and I have no intention of jumping ship, especially now that Colin, Flo and Maclean are on board!

» PAUL CASKEY, CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, STUDIO 303

[ED: SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION, BUT WE WERE RELYING ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY THE GROUP OF N.]

Local liquid

I love your forum. Living in northern New York, I visit Montreal at least once a week, and the first thing I do is look for the Mirror. Your paper keeps me in touch with the real world instead of being forced to read the local paper from the town of 30,000 that I live in.

I have found female ejaculation to be a subject that most men are not aware of. I've met women in Montreal who do ejaculate. Most are married and all they want to do is squirt for the night, then go back home. Some were married and some were alone. I would stay with a women longer than six months. Male over 40 wishes to meet women who makes the bed go squish.

» JOHN, NEW YORK

Superior Court spineless

This is in response to a past story on chirpractors ["Chiros in crisis," Nov. 21]. The Montreal Superior Court has demonstrated a regressive form of subservience to outside interests, and, among chiropractors, is the laughing stock of the worldwide judicial system at the moment. While the rest of planet Earth forges progressively ahead, the Montreal Superior Court flounders on a conspicuously directionless course, apparently bogged down by vulnerability to illicit outside pressure and influence.

Leaders of the Quebec Chiropractic Association would be highly advised to commence investigation into recent interactions between the OPQ and the Canadian Medical Association. That is if things like conflict of interest are frowned upon in Quebec - though the thought of taking its findings again to the Montreal Superior Court makes me shudder.

» DR. NICK MIRRO, DALLAS, TEXAS

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