Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 26, 1993 TAG: 9303260013
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ed Shamy
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FISHING SENSATIONALIZED AND DOGNAPPING TRIVIALIZED
Dear Ed, "I would like to know if you can tell me what Reba McEntire's and Garth Brooks's addresses are . . . "S.S., Lexington.
Dear S.S., Beats me. Have you tried the Nashville phone book?
\ Dear Ed, "Probably this is just one of many letters that you have gotten in defense of us fishermen. . . . Maybe you thought that a dip into a little sensationalism could attract some readers, as it does in the checkout lines at grocery stores."
G.O., Roanoke.
Dear G.O., Yours was the only letter regarding the sensationalistic line about fishing in the 23rd paragraph, specifically designed to sell more copies of the newspaper.
\ Dear Ed, "For shame, you seem to doubt the stories of the dognappers. . . . Twice, I have seen a red truck driving very slowly, looking in people's yards. We had a border collie . . . the children next door saw this red truck stop on the road . . . my collie jumped in, the truck left. . . . I'm still angry about his loss and I imagine others feel the same way."
M.B., Marion.
Dear M.B., Reporting as fact those stories supported only by shadowy evidence is a form of sensationalizing, which I reserve for fishermen, not for dogs.
\ Dear Ed, "Here is a short list of things that should be banned in the U.S. The recent fuss over the one-gun-per month is what prompted me to think of this list . . . you say, no one has ever tried to kill me with a hamburger. Right, but who's to say that your dern sweet wife isn't capable of sliding an arsenic-laced burger under your nose?"
C.A., Ripplemead.
Dear C.A., No one compares my wife's hamburgers to handguns, sir! Arm yourself with a spatula and let us duel!
\ Dear Ed, "I once knew a lady who couldn't tell right from left. It was scary giving her directions when she was driving the car! Please don't ask me to ride in your car."
A.L., Roanoke.
Dear A.L., You and many others refer to my description of Stan's hand/chair on Melrose Avenue to a "leftie model." It's clearly a right hand. I throw with my left. When I use my "leftie glove" for playing softball, I wear it on my right hand. Case closed.
\ Dear Ed, "You lament that you can't enjoy nature in a public park because of harassment by gay men. As a female, I would never even consider going to a park for some relaxation unless I knew that it was well populated by adults who would insulate me from male intrusion into my privacy, not to mention my health and welfare . . . ."
M.Z., Daleville.
Dear M.Z., I've been accused of homophobia; and of ignoring women's lifelong battle with horny, aggressive men; and of being too stubborn, stupid or titillated to avoid that park; and of trampling the civil and First Amendment rights of the men who approach other men for sex. All I want to do is to read a newspaper in the park. It seems such a simple request.