The link between cruelty to humans and cruelty to animals is known by experts and lay people. It is shameful that a writer from New Times is not aware of this connection ("Pudgy's Revenge," June 3). In his ignorance, Sean Rowe makes light of the State Attorney's Office seeking felony charges for an abuser.
Richard Mestre, the investigator who arrested Roque, is to be commended. Our tax dollars go toward getting dangerous people out of society, where they are a threat to civilized people.
Lynne Snyder
Hollywood
THE PINDER PONDER: LOYALTY VS. LIABILITY
I applaud New Times for showing more inquiry concerning the shooting "facts" than other news sources or the Miami Beach Police Department has seemed to show ("Calm, Cool, and Collecting," May 27). It has taken more than two and a half years for the partial facts to surface. Why was the city silent? Why was Sergeant Pinder quiet?
Steven Almond's article asked this question in such a way as to shed doubt on Pinder's motives. Implied was this: "Why didn't he talk earlier, if these accusations were true?"
To such an implied question, I offer two very strong motivations in Sergeant Pinder's case:
1. As a loyal police officer, Pinder wanted to give the department every opportunity to show its loyalty and to find out the facts. When others were suggesting he go to the press, Pinder went through proper procedures in keeping with his twenty years of police experience. It wasn't until appointments were "rescheduled," reports were ignored, and investigations were stalled that the proper procedure proved to be unsympathetic. Two and a half years indicates that Sergeant Pinder was looking for loyalty and not for a liability.
2. In order to provide the best prosecution against Cole, Sergeant Pinder opted to set his personal issue of justice aside until the instigator of the crime was tried and sentenced. That being settled, Pinder is now choosing to express how he feels the city has neglected his rights as a citizen and, even more dear to Sergeant Pinder, his rights as a police officer.
Lex D. Rivers
Miami Beach
CHOCO BUNNY CULT HOPS ALL OVER BOVINE BEVERAGE BRIGADE!
On behalf of the entire Chocolate Milk Society, I wish to thank Greg Baker for his favorable review of our humble publication ("Writers' Bloc," May 20). Many sleepless nights and near-violent episodes among us were justified by his accolades. He is truly a Milker at heart!
One point of clarification: We are of the bunny, not the cow (we are of the chao, which is a single unit of chaos, but phonetics perish with the printed word). That other band, those heathenistic cretins, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids, are of the Hershey's cow and know not the paradise and inner peace that comes from the only true source of wisdom and euphoria: the bunny. Furthermore, cows experience sex far less than bunnies, which explains the droopy, disinterested mugs on those cumbersome mammals.
Have you found the bunny within you? Do you know the joy of sipping the ambrosia (Nestle's Quik Chocolate Milk) in the presence of the Spirit Itself? Oh sing, ye brother, for it is a wonderful thing! Damned be the unwashed and foul followers of the bovine!
Thanks again, and we invite you with fuzzy open arms to upcoming shows by Kniption Fit and my band, Ludovico.
G. Animal Skillman, editor-at-large, CMS Tribune, and guitarist, Ludovico
Hollywood
DADBURN THOSE PATHETIC FRAYS OF NOTHINGNESS
This is in reply to the annoying Kenneth Kay of Boca Raton ("Letters," May 13) regarding Roberta Morgan's theater reviews: Wake up and smell the theater in Miami. Most of it sucks!
As an actor, Kay should thank his lucky stars for criticism, instead of whining about a bad review. Miami has finally gotten a theater critic who has actual experience in the business, and I applaud her effort in attempting to upgrade the quality of shows being produced.
Roberta Morgan has simply been honest. If Kay dismisses the opinions of valued members of the theater world, such as Ms. Morgan, I think maybe he should get that day job he so arrogantly waved off, instead of conjuring up frays of nothingness in a pathetic attempt to redeem himself and that show. I first thought this might hurt his feelings, being a personal attack on him. However, as he so brilliantly put it, "Skin gets thicker...critics mean less and less." And I, while being just another critic, a member of the theater-loving masses, state my own opinions.
Jake
Miami
