Free To Be We

I WAS annoyed by your article on Halloween trends ("Night of the Living Cliché," cover story, Oct. 27). First of all, who cares what's trendy or not? People like what they like, whether it is considered fashionable or not by pontificating media pundits. I also see a lot of flippant ignorant racist and sexist stereotypes in your article. Zombies are not an invention of B-grade Hollywood movies, they are a part of the Voudou religion of Haiti, a spiritual path that has been endlessly trivialized and demonized since the U.S. marines invaded Haiti early in the 20th century. Complaining about women who dress like "sluts" has been stock and trade with puritans and hypocrites of both sexes for who knows how long. Men are not condemned for dressing and looking like "studs," so blabbering that "punk is dead," "hippies are dead," "romanticism is dead," "surrealism is dead," the "metanarratives of modernity are dead" (Really? Has imperialism or capitalism gone away? Hello?) when in fact nothing ever really dies; it simply assumes new forms. I say let's get rid of the whole idea of trends and norms, and just let people be themselves.

Erich J. Holden, Santa Cruz

From The Web

[In response to "Why I'm Voting 'No' on Prop. 19," Posts, Oct. 27]:

Though we're all moved by your tragic tale that makes the case for why you should not smoke pot, it certainly doesn't justify projecting the same values on the countless individuals across the country who actually know how to use cannabis responsibly. This includes successful professionals who use cannabis as their relaxation method of choice; even ER doctors (the horror!) can smoke responsibly without affecting their judgment on the job. These people vastly outnumber the "potheads" that you're terrified will lead the nation to its demise.The only reason you don't know about them is because "Successful professional comes home from work, smokes pot without incident" doesn't make as good of a headline. Sorry to say, but cannabis users aren't restricted to the toothless or the unemployed, though I know they make an excellent straw man.Ultimately, you seem driven to equate people who want to enjoy themselves responsibly with the most reckless abusers among us, as if they are one and the same. The bars I go to don't smell like piss. The people I drink and smoke with have very meaningful conversations. I don't even know why you included such statements in your piece, other than to expose your own insecurity and psychological motivations for patronizing the rest of us.And while you may be gripped with fear every time you go outside, waiting for your inevitable death by pothead (splattered brain imagery is a great way to distract readers from a lack of evidence), please keep your histrionics to yourself.

Jimmy, online

You're right. We should all be subjected to your pot smoke in our apartments from your apartment or when we're walking outside with our children. I would have no problem voting yes if I knew that everyone was considerate of each other and considered the impact of their actions on other people, but that is not the case in our society. It's ridiculous and ignorant to think pot smoke wouldn't affect other people, like it disappears in thin air unless it magically hits a lung and that is when the smoke is effective. This is magical thinking to justify junky mentality.

systah, online

Correction

Two weeks ago we omitted information regarding prioritized seating from the Leslie Marmon Silko reading at Bookshop Santa Cruz in Cat Johnson's article ('Silko Speaks,' A&E, Oct. 20). We regret any inconvenience caused by our omission.

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