Anything Goes?
Was just exposed to Desert Exposure for the first time with the November 2005 issue. The second section I enjoyed very much with the pieces on hunting, General Pershing's chase of Pancho Villa, gangs, Jim Lee's account of his mission to Louisiana, and New Deal Shooting Sports. The first section, however, was another story (no pun intended). The Desert Diary, with its jokes about God, praying, sex, women's anatomy and bestiality (your little warning notwithstanding), was not enjoyed. It's not that I am offended, heck, nothing much offends me. But I wouldn't want my grandkids to read that kind of crappy humor, so why would you print it? America has been diving into the "anything goes" mire for a while now and you can see where it has gotten us. Unless you raise the moral standards of your tabloid, I am afraid you will have to count me out.
Roger Lanse
Silver City
Editor's note: Readers, what do the rest of you think? Admittedly, Desert Exposure is targeted at adults, not their grandkids, but do we need to take a tougher line with potentially offensive material? Let us hear from you: Desert Exposure Letters, PO Box 191, Silver City, NM 88062, email letters@desertexposure.com.
"Romanticized Drivel"
I've never read more romanticized drivel about the maiming and killing of wildlife by humans for sport or food as with Jesse Wolf Hardin's article, "The Vintage Hunt" (November). The ghost of mythologist Joseph Campbell is invoked to remind us of the primitive tendency to needlessly massacre the defenseless members of other species. Neo-Freudian Erick Fromm is resurrected to reestablish this "passionate" psychopathology in modern times. The great land mammals fell prey to the same mentality.
As noted in the article, the Merriam's elk was hunted to extinction in the Gila bioregion. Now transplanted in their place is the Rocky Mountain elk for sport hunters, with the population maintained largely by gender-based lethal licensing to assure an annual supply of hapless victims (as with deer).
Let's cut the crap! "Hunting" is about the slaughter of wild animals for the pleasure of it and the support of game departments. Eating their unneeded flesh amounts to consubstantial debauchery.
Bob Young
Las Cruces
If This Is Tuesday. . .
Thanks for adding the days of the week to your calendar of events!
Cathy Holmberg
Silver City
Editor's note: Thanks to several readers for
requesting/suggesting it.
(See? We really do listen to what our readers say.)
Making Us Blush
I too agree with your many readers in New Mexico. The article "Borderline Insanity" (October) was very informative. I have shared it with friends and co-workers who need a little more education on this issue.
We really enjoyed David Fryxell's piece on "Thanks for the Memories" (Continental Divide, November). My husband and boy lived in New Mexico from 1975 to 1980 and have wonderful memories. Your article brought back many.
We are very thankful for your very enjoyable community newspaper each month.
Pam Cunningham
Crawfordsville, Ind.
Every month when I read Desert Exposure, I intend to write and thank you for your GREAT paper, but I procrastinate and it doesn't get done.
Today I walked in to the Bountiful Restaurant in Las Cruces and there was your wonderful November edition for my reading pleasure—and what a pleasure it has been. "After the Storm" should be required reading for all those people who are grousing about helping these poor (and I do mean poor) people. Maybe they should just try putting themselves into their shoes for one day. Maybe the conservatives believe in "to each his own," but I'd much rather be a liberal bleeding heart who is touched by this great tragedy. As the old saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I."
But I read all of the articles, conservatives, hunters, gun-shop owners—the works, and they were all wonderful and informative and indicative of your great and fair and balanced newspaper. I borrowed the "Fair and Balanced" phrase from Fox News, which is anything but.
Thanks again for this fabulous publication—the best I have EVER read anywhere.
Renee Murray
Las Cruces
Let us hear from you! Write Desert Exposure Letters, PO Box 191, Silver City, NM 88062, fax 534-4134 or email letters@desertexposure.com. Letters are subject to editing for style and length.
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December 2005