Gay Bullfights
Barbarity equality: How charming that thanks to the burgeoning gay rodeo scene you profiled ("Steers & Queers," Kyle Swenson, May 22) , the GLBT community can now enjoy abusing farm animals with the same barbaric gusto as the straight sadists! And women can now torture and kill bulls in the bullfight ring just like the male savages do! You've come a long way, baby! Gael R. Murphy
Boot B.S.
The cops were in on it: I can't believe that 27 cars were booted at a charity race in Coconut Grove ("Immobilized," Chuck Strouse, May 22). It certainly looks like Premier Booting and the police officers who were redirecting traffic to the lot where the boots were applied were in cahoots to make some extra money. werewolf69
Justice was served: Yep, we also got booted at this race. We went to support friends and walk in this beautiful event, and then stood waiting with about five other people while the Premier Booting representative systematically wrote invoices for their cars. It was obvious we were set up. I am really happy, though, that the situation turned out this way and that refunds have been promised. Kudos to everyone who stepped up to set things straight! Judith
Skid marks: These filthy rats tried this on me last year. They want your tag at the machine and then a ticket to display in your window. After arguing enough, they offered to remove the boot for $20. Which of course sent me to the bank's ATM. When I asked them for a receipt, they couldn't produce one and removed the boot for free. It's all a scam. These scum rat pigs are preying on their own people. Screw them and the hole they crawled out of. They also threatened me. I'm so happy these skid marks are getting called out in the media now. Gabriel Trujillo Jr.
Orthodox Outrage
Time for a Lucifer monument: Instead of building elaborate eruvs in Miami parks to skirt the rules about not working on the Sabbath ("Eruv Me, Eruv Me Not," Michael E. Miller, May 22), why not just do what God commanded and observe the Sabbath? And I do not understand how a group that is supposed to be religious sinks to threats about putting other people down when they don't get their way. This is the United States. We have a constitution. Can we get a monument to Lucifer there in the park too? Not that I am any particular faith — I just like to hear what all theologies have to say. Sherry Oehler
Make it ornamental: These eruvs could be an enhancement to the park if they were sculptural or ornamental, instead of those cheap poles used to support it and that ugly, dirty cord that one day will behead a bird. Ariana Hernandez Reguant
Be inclusive: It sounds like the issue is more one of aesthetics and poor craftsmanship of the eruv than of its presence. It also sounds like other materials could be used to construct the eruv other than some crappy plastic poles and string. Can something really beautiful be designed and installed that looks like a sculpture and serves as an eruv while enhancing the park? This sounds like it would take care of two birds with one stone. The Jewish community would have to pay for it, of course, since they are the ones wanting the demarcation. Jews have a long tradition in Miami Beach, and we have to be inclusive of everyone in the community. There must be a better answer to this problem. Verdis Violetta
Silly solution: I have great respect for people who live their religion, especially many of the Orthodox Jews. However, I do not agree that someone should be allowed to install strings that affect one's view in a public park. The more you know about the strings, the more it is in fact imposing Jewish religious ideas on others because the strings are unavoidable. It is silly that a string 12 feet in the air is considered a "boundary" like a wall to a courtyard. This is ultimately just a silly technical reinterpretation and is not an adherence to the spirit of the Sabbath in the first place. That should be the debate. If you put up strings everywhere, nowhere would be free from work. Oh well, I guess such mental gymnastics are welcomed where one wants to present themselves as being "religious" to others within their community when the rest of us know how silly it is. At least the Amish are faithful to the spirit of their beliefs. Perhaps something more palatable can be constructed at the kayak ramp to get rid of those silly strings, because a string ain't a wall, people. Stop thinking that a string allows you to be faithful to your religion. It doesn't. David
Separate that church and state: The critics definitely have a point: separation of church and state. Regardless of how unnoticeable the eruv is, it is still illegal to put a religious structure in a public space. Now, that aside, it's so hard to notice I'm sure it wouldn't bother most people, and it wouldn't bother me. That still doesn't make it right. But it's one of those things where it's just easier to look the other way because it's such a little thing. Adnarim Ed Yelsek
