The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 1995            TAG: 9510110010
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   32 lines

CALIFORNIA BASHING IS UNFAIR

As a California native, I take offense to Keith Monroe's ``O.J. Simpson spectacle was California nuttiness writ large'' (column, Oct. 6).

Mr. Monroe acts as if injustices and other fateful acts occur nowhere else in the country. Please! His denigration of the state and its citizens as nonthinkers and media gluttons makes my stomach turn.

Every state in the union has its problems. Mr. Monroe has his Bible Belt pulled so tight that his despise for West Coast residents permeates his entire piece. He fails to mention that California is home of the best schools, medical facilities, technology and businessmen.

To say that Californians ``are suckers'' is unwarranted and unfair. That's to say nobody else in the entire country agrees with the Simpson jury! I personally disagree with the entire debacle from start to finish.

His statement ``Elsewhere in the country they do business. In L.A. it's all show biz,'' strikes a nerve. How dare he try to place us beneath him.

After all, Hollywood isn't giving just California what it wants; it gives the nation what it wants.

JAMES B. HANSEN

Virginia Beach, Oct. 6, 1995 by CNB