Spit Fire
The vet offensive: Richard Lawrence Miller quotes a single source in his letter about Vietnam vets never being spit upon (Letters, July 22). Yet, a Google search on Vietnam + vets + spit produces several hits with interviews with vets who claim to have been spit upon. However, his single source makes a single claim that dismisses all of those vets.
Richard, your claim that Bush supporters don’t need proof is not very well-thought-out when the likes of you put so much faith in speculation and half-baked editorials (no, not documentaries) by Mikey Moore. The truth is actually quite the opposite, and it is people like you who would rather follow speculation than truth. Fortunately, there are people out there like those Bush supporters who demand proof … too bad you cannot handle that truth.
Instead of spending countless hours coming up with conspiracies, why don’t you join the Bush supporters and help keep this country strong against the likes of you and your spitting source?
Trevor H. Cooke
Overland Park
Cut Rate
Body of evidence: Regarding Nadia Pflaum’s “ Cuts Both Ways ” (July 22): I am the chief deputy coroner for Sonoma County and have worked with Dr. Thomas Gill during his time here.
Not only is Gill one of the most knowledgeable, skilled forensic pathologists I have known in 22 years of law enforcement; he is a human. You may recall that our own president is a recovering alcoholic, as are many current sitting legislators and many judges.
I would like to add a few clarifying facts:
Dr. Gill’s autopsy findings of homicidal violence in Janet Pelfini’s death were confirmed by a second forensic pathologist, Dr. A. Jay Chapman.
Chris Andrian is a first-rate lawyer. He did his job, but what he forgot to tell you was that he approached the then-Sonoma County District Attorney, J. Michael Mullins, and offered to plead his client, Louis Pelfini, guilty to voluntary manslaughter, an offer Mullins rejected. Andrian then went about some very clever lawyering and attacked the witnesses. None of the autopsy findings ever made it in front of the jury.
At Deputy District Attorney Brook Halsey’s request, Gill underwent a “makeover” to improve his “jury appeal.” This included restyling his hair and dying his moustache.
Louis Pelfini never petitioned the court for a “finding of factual innocence.”
Louis Pelfini never asked the coroner’s office to change the manner of his wife’s death from “homicide” to “natural” or “undetermined.”
Louis Pelfini never submitted a claim against Sonoma County for false arrest or malicious prosecution to recover his attorney fees.
Paints a little different picture, does it not?
Will Wallman
Santa Rosa, California
Acts of Faith
Yellow pages: It’s heartening to know that the Pitch can stoop ever lower in its so-called journalistic pursuits. Could someone tell me the point of Kendrick Blackwood’s rambling “ Ministers Hate Fags Too” (July 22)?
Apparently it was to — once again — portray those who don’t agree with the left as hateful, homophobic bigots hellbent on cramming Judeo-Christian morality down our throats. After all, the very title of the piece is a play on the words of Fred Phelps — an unchristian zealot by any biblical standard. The piece did not mention one instance of hateful speech or action by any of the ministers involved with the Rev. Jerry Johnston or by Johnston himself. Nor did it establish any ties between Phelps and the newly mobilized clergy. Methinks this journalism may be tinged a bit yellow.
If you don’t agree with Johnston et al., fine. Vote the other way. Produce cogent arguments against them. Support your own case with well-reasoned ideas. But a cover story amounting to “they suck” just doesn’t cut it with thinking people from either side of the political aisle.
I must admit the title was successful in one regard — it got me to read a Pitch article for the first time since you dropped Red Meat.
Jason Fox
Kansas City, Missouri
Bully pulpit: Thank you! Thank you! It is about time we got this story out about these homophobic ministers in the area who preach hate! There is a minister in the Gladstone area who actually says weekly, “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!” Aren’t we all God’s children, no matter what color or where we are from, straight or gay?
I would like to know what happened to separation of church and state. I guess that is convenient when they want it to be — hypocrites! Spiritual people inspire me, but religious people frighten me, as do people like Phill Kline who can hold public office but be a homosexual hater! He should know that you are born gay; you don’t choose to be gay!
Robert Brausey
Kansas City, Missouri
Steeple chase: Can you imagine the world in which these ministers and their flocks live? Hiding from their God, who rains down fire and brimstone on them because they finally decided to peacefully coexist with homosexuals.
There isn’t much room in their universe for love, compassion and empathy, is there? That’s all we ask for, something you’d think would come easily to men and people of the faith. Their comparison of gay people to Nazis is truly shameful and serves only one purpose: to incite their flocks to be even bigger assholes than they are now.
What kind of God destroys its people for what it created? That’s right, ministers, God created fags and dykes just like it created you heteros. I think it did it just to test your tolerance meter and to give the world a little more flair.
If we were to turn the clock back 2,000 years, you’d probably be right there with the mob who called for Jesus to be crucified.
Jewell St. Clair
Kansas City, Missouri
