Love Letters/Hate Mail

Savage Beasts

Dear Editor:

I doubt this will be printed, as it is long and kind of ugly, but if you do print it, I'd like NOT to have my name included. I blogged this last night after the WWE show downtown, and my friends and family put you on the list of people to send it to- here's what I wrote:

Another reason for me to be afraid of the police-I mean really, are Tulsa cops just crazy? They did this in a very public place- and the person being knocked around was in no way resisting or threatening them.

A guy who was being obnoxious and drunk at the Smackdown/ECW show tonight was knocked around by some cops- I was shocked, because he was TRYING TO GO WITH THEM, and just seemed to be amazed that he was being removed at all (but he wasn't resisting- I must STRESS that) It all started with him wearing a Texas Longhorns hat, and the section right next to him was full of Sooners fans. Shit talking was tossed back and forth, and some cops showed up to have him removed from the arena- only they basically attacked him in front of all of us.

He was drunk and silly- he seemed suprised and hurt that he was being removed, but looked to be trying to cooperate with the two uniformed thugs who came for him, until they just started throwing punches and locking choke holds. A blonde female cop, and a younger cop with dark hair were already being VERY rough with him, and it seemed like he said something and made the "rockn'roll" sign with his hand (NOT IN A THREATENING MANNER) and giggled a little, and the dark haired cop straight up punched him in the side of the head. Then they put him in a hold and flopped him around (into the railing and walls a few times) until they were all out of sight.

He didn't look like he had any control or ability to fight with the hold he was in, so why they slammed him around is beyond me.... IN FRONT OF ALL OF US. I was mortified. He was a drunken fool, and a Texas fan, but was NOT physically threatening or even resiting those pigs in any way. How can that "officer" justify his actions? I worry what happened to this dude once they got him out of sight, I mean this cop just snapped at some remark the guy made- literally you could see this look on his face of pure rage and he lost it- hitting him about three times in the head, one a square punch to the face, and the other cop seeming to approve- IN AN ARENA IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE (at least a hundred of us staring right at them) So for the rest of the night, all of the kids on that row were balling- red faced, tears and snot, unable to stop no matter what happened in the ring, because they just saw their Daddy or Uncle or whoever he was, not only get arrested and dragged out of the show, but get brutalized by the pigs in the process.

Can anyone figure this out for me? Is that what happens to people who don't like the same team we do in Tulsa? I HATE the Longhorns, but I don't think we need to allow cops to behave like this-no peace was kept, this guy would have got up and left with them, maybe throwing wisecracks, but not making the type of scene the cops created by blatantly punching him (sucker punching, at that) - they did the opposite of what they're supposed to be doing, and I am disgusted. Any suggestions on who I call or report this to? Or is that just a waste of time in this town?

-Anonymous

High Price of Art

Dear Editor:

I guess it is just another sign of the times.

One hundred dollars for an art show that lasts only seven hours! Even the Blue Dome Arts Festival decided this year to charge a fee but their fee was $80 and it was for 3 long days during Mayfest. That is, at least, very reasonable.

Perhaps, the Utica Square Merchants Association does not realize that many, probably most, of the artists who participate do not make their living selling their art but try to supplement their income during these difficult economic times. It is sad enough that art must take a back seat to other more pressing purchases these days, like gasoline and food, housing and clothing, etc.

I personally find it unconscionable in these troubling times that artists must pay to show their art outside at Utica Square when, for that day surely, it is the artists who bring so many customers to the Square. When artists cause hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people to visit Utica Square that day it benefits all of the businesses located there. Why should the artists be singled out to foot the bill for this one day art show?

I can not speak for any of the other artists who have done the show in the past but I will not be participating in the Utica Square show this year because of the ridiculous fee they hope to charge us artists when it is the artists who make the show what it has been in the past....one of the best outside art venues in the state. I do believe that such a reputation has been placed in jeopardy.

If there are other artists who feel as I do that we are not only being taken advantage of but that we are being asked to foot the bill for this show in the toughest of times, then I hope that others will join me in expressing their distaste for this change by Utica Square. Perhaps, if enough artists decide that the show is not worth $100 (non-refundable even if it is rained out), then maybe those in charge will lower their fee or lose many more artists than just myself. As I mentioned before, I can only speak for myself but I find it disgusting, disappointing and a damn shame that such a wonderful event has been hijacked and a ransom fee of $100 is being charged to all artists who wish to participate.

I leave it to other artists to make their own decisions about this situation but I will not be among however many (or few) artists decide that it is okay to put the cost of this show on the backs of already burdened artists. I would like to know what other artists feel about this situation and the citizens of Tulsa as well.

-Dennis R. Scott

Tulsa, OK 74104

www.dennisrscott.com

Hot for HB 1804

Dear Editor:

Recently Judge Robin Cauthron placed a temporary injunction on the employment sections of the popular 1804. These sections stated employers doing business with the state had to verify that employees could be legally hired. The government has a short e-verify system in effect which takes little time to utilize and effectively monitors the legal status of workers.

What happened is that the cheap labor shills at the chamber and their Hispanic allies will go to any lengths to insure the continued flood of cheap illegal alien labor. HB 1804 was approved by over 80 percent of the legislature, signed by the governor and is very popular with most Oklahomans.1804 reflects the democratic will of the people of Oklahoma.

What do the weasley cretins at the chamber and their allies do? Look around for ONE federal judge to rule against 1804. They found their dupe in Cauthron. The majority will of Oklahoma has temporarily been thwarted by a small elite of cheap labor exploiters and their Hispanic race hustling allies. This decision, thankfully, will probably be overturned on appeal. Thank you Randy Terrill for standing up against the lawlessness of the fat cats and their multiculturalists lackeys.

-Charles Dyer

PS: In response to "Judge's Orders," June 12-18, 2008.

Paying for It

Dear Editor:

My son's alma mater, Oklahoma State University, is being run by a wolf in sheep's clothing. In his first test since taking office, O.S.U. president Burns Hargis had a choice of standing up with University of Oklahoma president David Boren or his own students.

Hargis chose to dance with Boren and chew on the legs of his students. He approved his regents' second consecutive 9.9 per cent annual increase in undergraduate in--state tuition and fees at the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.

That is almost a 20 percent raise in two years for students whose state has a median household income of $37,109, fifth poorest among the 50 states.

Boren backed 0.U. regents approving the same 9.9 percent tuition and fees increase. Regents take orders from college presidents who should be following the state of Georgia's example by offering four years of college free.

Our presidents are pricing a college education beyond the means of the average Okie family.

Shame on Hargis and other presidents who live like little kings, rape their students with tuition and fees and suffocate them under tens of thousands in loans.

The only hope for po folks to get relief from robber barons like Hargis and Boren, is to elect Barack Obama because Obama and his wife had to take out loans to get through college. College loans should be forgiven by the government.

We forgive loans to third world countries. Why not our kids?

Knowledge should be free.

-Virginia Blue Jean Jenner

Insight Appreciated

Dear Editor:

Thank you so much for the story [Nat McKnight] did on Momentum Tulsa (see "Momentous Occasion" in the June 19-25, 2008, issue). I love that when I read his stories, I can tell that he actually spent time thinking about the subject.

I think too often, especially with the arts, press releases are just reprinted and I appreciate his thoughtfulness.

Thank you so much!

-Kelsey Karper

Streets For Free

Dear Editor:

We could get the Federal Government, or perhaps the United Nations to repair Tulsa's streets. Here's how... Mayor Kathy Taylor would publicly announce that Tulsa is an Al Queda refuge and already has a large number of terrorists occupying all areas of town.

She should be convincing in this announcement, as she has had practice of misleading large numbers of people in her past quests for new taxes in the past.

After about 30 days Mayor Taylor would address the United Nations saying that the town had been bombed repeatedly by US planes. The UN would then send a fact finding team to Tulsa, and would examine for bomb damage.

Upon looking at the condition of the streets of Tulsa, the UN would declare that indeed there was extensive bomb damage throughout Tulsa streets.

Shortly thereafter a relief team would arrive from the UN, and with US tax dollars, Halliburton would do Billions of Dollars in repairs to the streets of Tulsa. Now if only we could figure out how to convince them to build a new baseball stadium in downtown Tulsa, so that we can confine the terrorists that currently live here.

-Steve Meador

Kicker

Dear Editor:

Hello, how are you? I have become a bit concerned about some of your latest issues of your newspaper in regards to a lot of Negatives about the new BOK Arena.

Just a note to say that pointing out using a dude holding a cardboard sign.. pointing to BOK Center one way...then Ho's and Hookers and Drug Dealers the other direction etc etc...made it's point ok? (See "Archer Street Blues" in the May 29-June 4, 2008, issue) But...After Tulsa spends over $178,000,000 on this incredible structure of most unusual architectural design, wouldn't it be a good idea for all of us to Back It??

I mean it IS being constructed to HELP Tulsa's economy and bring in more tourists and people to enjoy great concerts and sports activities...etc.

By supporting it I think it's only Fair to Tulsa to do more of that rather than point out how Parking seems a difficulty and location and some of the goings on in said neighborhood....not to mention how it's being presented as it's mostly for the RICK People of Tulsa to enjoy.

Check out the ticket prices for the concerts...WOAH....! I certainly can't afford to buy the kinds of priced tickets they advertise for a Show. But...none the less....Let's make it look GOOD for all to enjoy..!

Fair Nuff...???

Let's bring those Fans in for Rascal Flats...and Celine Dion...and Neil Diamond..and Much Much More..!

-Jerry Hawkins

No Love for The Mexican

Dear Editor:

I was flipping through a recent Urban Tulsa and was shocked to see a column with a stereotyped toothy, sombrero-wearing caricature of a Hispanic man with the heading, "Ask a Mexican." This Mexican caricature is racist and reminded me of similar caricatures drawn of Jews and Black people in propaganda to promote hate and anti-Semitism by Nazis throughout Europe prior to WWII. Visit the Holocaust exhibit at the Jewish Museum in Tulsa if you don't believe me.

It is NOT okay to promote racism and hate against Mexicans in our community and Urban Tulsa should immediately stop printing this column. Promoting intolerance is neither humorous nor entertaining. "Ask a Mexican" is insulting to Hispanics and a disgrace to our entire community.

Please remove this racist caricature and column from Urban Tulsa, simply because it is the right thing to do.

-Heather Fallek

Local Landmark

Dear Editor:

There is a saying..." If you try to make every street a perfect street, none of them will be." A beautiful structure, like I personally think [the BOK Center] is, can be like, a pond. Something pleasing around which other things can be built, an open space, something to view. It is also the nature of "Iconic" buildings to stand apart and aback from the usual. The Eiffel Tower, and many other iconic concert halls, museums, etc. as examples.

Again, not every street, or block, needs to have ground level retail, there are worthy exceptions. Now if this had been placed in say the Brady Arts district, an area which I hope becomes more pedestrian friendly, I would have objected. But where it is, shunted off in a different corner of downtown, near other "unpedestrian friendly" buildings, its fine. But ....even here the entrance and exit is facing what could become a pedestrian friendly area, a gateway if you will, to the rest of downtown.

Imagine exiting the new arena and right across the street where the Tower View property is, a great pedestrian friendly development, hotel, shops, etc. Imagine sitting out at those shops and looking out at this wonderful sculpture of an arena. (Though I would hope that in the future some fountains or water features could go in front of the arena to add a little more "splash" to the effect). Imagine exiting this arena then right in front of you the rest of Downtown Tulsa beckons.

One can argue about whether this spot could have become more pedestrian friendly between the Convention Center, several parking garages, etc. It could have been, but, I think this is an equally nice result for this particular area as well. Another area, I would have agreed with you, it could have done more harm than good. This particular location was a great place to have such a structure. And I personally like having something like this for Tulsa.

One other thing. Have you ever heard of a place in Paris called, La Defense? I was looking at a photo thread of it in an international forum and couldn't help but respond negatively to what I was seeing. The buildings and set up of the places there screamed disaster to my Midwestern sensibilities. After having lived through the destruction of our downtown by having buildings that pay no attention to the pedestrian, to outdoor "mall" like areas with contemporary architecture, etc. I felt that I should warn these Parisiennes that they were making a mistake. I got roundly criticized and rebuked. They explained that it works there and indeed upon looking at the photos again, there were indeed plenty of people walking around and enjoying the spaces there. Basically it boils down to context and density. The people argued that things that would be a disaster in one location, can work perfectly well in another.

One shouldn't be too rigid and hold to too simplistic a bag of rules. There are caveats and exceptions. With a little more finesse and a richer understanding one can see how, when and where, the exceptions work.

-William Franklin

Kicker

Dear Editor:

Good article! However you guys are missing one of the best Tulsa teams that play right now. The Oklahoma Thunder football team that plays in the WFL (World Football League) has won (not to say demolished) every single team they've faced this year. 48-3, 73-0 and 42-19 (this last score was facing the previous champions!). Anyway... Keep the good work!

- Rodolfo Sosa

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe (who thinks Global Warming is a hoax) currently has a local TV political ad bragging about how he has supported the troops. Here's what he hasn't done to support the troops:

He voted no to increase veterans' medical care in March 2005;

voted no to increase veterans' health-care funding in March 2007;

voted no for additional funding for veterans' affairs in April 2006;

voted no for additional funding for veterans' programs in March 2003;

voted no for armor for tactical wheeled vehicles in October 2005;

voted no for safety equipment for U.S. forces in Iraq in October 2003.

I hope you can expose the hypocrisy of this man.

Barbara Santee

Tulsa, OK

Dear Editor:

You've seriously got to be kidding. Any "momentum" the TU basketball program had ending the season is laughable. Artificially generating atmosphere by paying tens of thousands of dollars and then talking media outlets into portraying this tournament as a big deal is incredibly sad. Come on!

Your criteria for being Tulsa's team is very distorted. TU had what 2 sellouts this year. #1 Memphis and the afore mentioned CBI championship game. The coach had to come out publicly and slam his own fans before anyone actually started coming out to watch.

The city of Tulsa has fickle fans to say the least. If TU has a couple of hiccups early next year all that euphoria will evaporate faster than sweat in Phoenix.

-Eddie Redden