Mixed signals
I am pretty shocked that C-VILLE Weekly decided to publish Chris Smith’s right-wing editorial rant in the guise of a review of The Revolution Will Not be Televised [Film, February 24]. Smith builds a false case against the movie by avoiding any information that might shed light on the events he described, building his case with objects phrased as questions that he never tries to answer. Spend a half hour surfing established news sources and you’ll find plenty of concrete evidence of United States involvement with the attempted coup—far more evidence than you’ll find linking 9-11 with Al Qaeda, for instance.
Smith makes a big deal about the filmmakers being able to continue working during the coup when the rebels depended on tight control of the media. Smith indicates it’s a major unanswered question but doesn’t bother trying to look at previous coups or attempts at media control during questionable military operations.
First, these guys were filming a documentary that would not come out until it was all over and whoever is in power is a done deal. If the coup was successful this documentary would be coming out anyway and not much would happen beyond a few angry letters. The rebels, who had every reason to expect American support and recognition, were not very likely to harm U.S. citizens. It does not surprise me at all that the rebels decided not to bother them as long as they didn’t get in the way.
I suggest that if Smith wants to write reviews, he should write reviews. If he wants to write editorials he should at least do a little homework before playing on people’s ignorance.
Spot Etal
Charlottesville
History lesson
I enjoyed reading John Borgmeyer’s “The South shall rise” [Fishbowl, March 2], concerning the architectural dichotomy between South Downtown’s modern and North Downtown’s Jeffersonian structures—but I’d like to point out a couple of glaring errors.
Whereas Borgmeyer claims that the Albemarle County Courthouse dates to 1781, the oldest portion extant (the northern wing adjacent to High Street) was completed in 1803. The section that he refers to as “brick-and-column” (the front of the building facing Jefferson Street) was erected in 1859. The columned portico was added in the 1870s, with finishing touches being made in the 1930s.
Additionally, in attempting to add importance to the building he calls “the epicenter for Jeffersonianism,” Borgmeyer goes way beyond the previous local legend by saying that the courthouse is “where future presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe each began his legal career.”
The less-hyperbolic version of the legend appears in Early Charlottesville, penned by Jeffersonian Republican editor James Alexander between 1873 and 1874. “In front of No. Nothing [across the street from the courthouse], on court-day, could often be witnessed a scene worthy of note,” wrote Alexander. “Three of Virginia’s patriotic and noble sons, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, had frequently, in former years been seen standing together conversing.” Incidentally, Jefferson began his legal career in 1767 (according to historian Dumas Malone), Madison commenced his in the mid-1770s (after attending the College of New Jersey) and Monroe first hung out his shingle in Fredericksburg in the early 1780s.
Rick Britton
Charlottesville
Eminent danger
Jock Yellott, the author of the letter titled “Royal flush” [Mailbag, March 2], is absolutely right about the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. Another interesting thing about the status report presented at the February 17 City Council meeting is they still can’t talk about the drought of 1977. My theory is that eminent domain abuse has infected everything, including the water. How are we going to fix it?
On the facing page from this letter is the article “The South shall rise: Downtown goes modern with newest building projects.” How could a paper write this story and talk about what was before North Downtown (Court Square) and not say what was before all those parking lots in South Downtown? (For example, the mansion of Alexander Garrett, first rector of UVA and present at Monticello during the moment Thomas Jefferson passed away.) The title implies South Downtown, right? Why can’t they say that the new Live Arts building faces out on a sea of urban renewal, larger and more recent and more resisted than Vinegar Hill? A more accurate title would be “The South shall rise again.”
Then the next story is about Meredith Richards [“The write stuff,” Fishbowl, March 2]. In my theory, she lost her party’s nomination because she said at the candidates forum February 5 that she would oppose eminent domain abuse. In other words, she opposes the Democratic urban renewal war machine—she must be purged. She’s got my vote.
Blair Hawkins
healcville@earthlink.net
Get reality
I’d like to respond to the gleeful daisy chain of logic behind Linda Lloyd’s critique of “The Apprentice” [“You’re fired,” Mailbag, March 9]. Who are you, and how heavy is that TV delusion you’re pinned under? Really, I respect your go-go cheerleader, rosy cheeked, rah rah pull-for-the-better-aspects-of-humanity outlook, but come on. Did you just walk out of a Mary Kay rally? The problem that you’re attempting to get your fingernails around here is a much slicker toad than you’re giving it credit for. Reality programming isn’t just entertainment, it’s a blatant muse for the ongoing debasement of the people who are watching it.
Do you really think that these programs, created in the sweaty, pastry-stuffed conference rooms of the entertainment Illuminati, had the intention of promoting “learning lessons” in the subtext of these shows? Heck no. That’s covered by “Barney” and “Blue’s Clues.” What these shows do is incrementally increase the spoonfuls of human misery and suffering by the second, package it as a harmless gag, and then sell it for profit—lots of profit. Why? Because misery is funny. And it’s even funnier when it’s a real live person you can jab your finger at.
Plus, you’re not giving these programmers enough credit for their own intelligence. Of course there are some positive, ahem, “lessons” loosely sprinkled about in there. Why? Because that’s their escape pod in the eyes of a critical media. But you’re not supposed to really buy into it. Cripes! Saying one of these shows has value is like sticking a turd under the microscope and identifying all of its nutritious minerals. You can’t give them credit for the components that work to produce one gigantic, pulsating miasma of misery. You just can’t.
So, Linda Lloyd, I’m glad you’re getting something out of these shows, but I’d suggest, if you’re looking for learning lessons, to pick up a good copy of The Art of Happiness.
Gerald J. Gaura
Crozet
mailbag@c-ville.com
OR
C-VILLE WEEKLY 106 E. Main St. Charlottesville, VA 22902
Letters to the editor should be exclusive to C-VILLE Weekly and may pertain to content that we have published. Letters are not to exceed 400 words and may be edited for clarity and length. We accept letters via post or e-mail. To be published, letters must be signed. Please include a phone number for verification.