THINK AGAIN
Your article on "The Thinker" at the Cleveland Museum of Art ("A God Among Men," by Erin O'Brien, July 30) was one of the finest pieces of writing I have read in recent memory. The poetic grace and broad sense of compassion of your writing moved me to tears. Thank you for writing such a beautiful account of the evolution of this famous artwork, from our community's emotion surrounding the story of the sculpture's bombing to the subsequent re-installation. It was so well written, I wish I had written it myself! Being a writer, poet and artist in the Cleveland area, I felt especially touched by your words. Thank you again. I look forward to reading more of your wonderful work. Kim Grey Willoughby The piece about Rodin's "The Thinker" was glorious. It made me think of the healing properties of art, your writing and how important you are as an artist/writer, taking us into the depth of the facts, the possibilities, the scenario. It was a piece filled with some of the best writing. I am grateful to you. For I am a writer who forgets our power and the need for us. Our truth is found almost nowhere else. Candor is what the world needs.
Thank you.
Mario Savioni Walnut Creek, California
ONE LARGE WITH PEPPERONI AND TRUTH, TO GO
I would like to compliment Scene and specifically Frank Lewis for his article "Dimora Fiddles" (August 6). While waiting in a lobby for my pizza to be done, I picked up your paper and read the article and was impressed by the quality of the content. It did, however, cause me to scratch my head and wonder why thought-provoking pieces like these do not appear in The Plain Dealer. In fact, prior to the Russo-Dimora scandal breaking, I remember reading many articles implicating these two men in possible wrongdoing in the county offices in your publication, as well as in the Free Times. These articles did not exist in The Plain Dealer prior to the federal investigation. It made me sad to think that the number-one paper in our city would be silently complicit regarding such an important matter. There was a time in this country when newspapers and reporters were the canaries in the coal mines for scandals. They would alert the public to wrongdoing, and politicians would be fearful of the notoriety and would obey the law and serve the public. Obviously The Plain Dealer did not put that fear into Mr. Russo or Mr. Dimora.
To Scene: Thank you for investigating the alleged corruption. You are the watchdog that Cleveland needs now more than ever.
To Frank Lewis: Keep writing. In the era of corporate-driven papers that do not wish to make waves and are asleep at the wheel, your writing gives me hope. Well written, challenging articles very well might not be a thing of the past.
To the editors of The Plain Dealer: Order a pizza and pick it up. While you are there, read the Scene. It is free, and you obviously need the ideas and the courage to see where you went wrong.
Bryan Ashkettle Chagrin Falls
MAY YOU BURN IN HELL - OR YOUR OWN BACK SEAT
In hopes that you can, in fact, read, this is a letter to the asshole that left two little dogs in the Pearl Road parking lot outside of Big Lots on August 4 in a big ol' white Lincoln Town Car with one window cracked open no more than two inches. Yes, you also had the front part of the roof opened about an inch too, but do you really think that matters when you're parked in the sun and wearing a fur coat?
I didn't want to upset the dogs and make them even hotter, so I didn't get too close to the car, so for all I know there were more of them passed out on the floor. I marched into the Big Lots, then walked right back out, knowing I'd look like a nut if I went in yelling. I waited for a while, and no one came out. Since this was close to the Parma Heights Fire and Police stations, I contemplated going to one of them to complain, but I was afraid they wouldn't do anything or the car would be gone, if I got someone to come back with me.
Know this: I won't have any hesitation if I ever see anyone doing this again. You should be locked in a trunk, wearing a wet suit. Complete morons. I hope the dogs at least got to maul you before they died. Lin Miller Cleveland SMOKE THAT MIRRORS Now that the Netherlands has made smoking taboo in bars and restaurants, some patrons are nostalgic for the tease of tobacco smoke in their nostrils (News of the Weird, August 13). But not to worry: Special effects can replicate the ashen atmosphere and fetid ambience of the traditional Dutch barroom. The make-believe cigarette smoke, we read, won't be a health hazard, nor will it linger in clothing or hair. Just an innocent fragrance to be sentimentally savored.
The question naturally arises: What cannot modern science accomplish to heighten the pleasure of human existence?
William Dauenhauer
Willowick WE WELCOME READER FEEDBACK All letters should include name, address and phone. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Please send to: Letters, Cleveland Scene, 1468 W. 9th St., Suite 805, Cleveland, OH 44113 EMAIL: [email protected]
