Ambrose's Contributions
On
behalf of my family, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Clancy DuBos
for the story of Stephen Ambrose's impact on him and on this community ("A Love
Affair with America," Oct. 22).
The outpouring from friends all over has been
a great comfort to me and my family. We wish to thank everyone for their expressions
of grief at his passing and for their gratitude for his many contributions to
the city he loved so very much, New Orleans.
It saddens all of us knowing he won't be with
us for the upcoming bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase or the Lewis and
Clark Expedition. We all know how hard he worked to bring attention to these
anniversaries. He wanted to inspire in others the same awe that he held for
these achievements in our nation's history.
Clancy DuBos is one of several great and gifted
writers who studied under my father at UNO. Ronnie Virgets, Ronald J. Drez and
Jerry Strahan are among those who also share that distinction.
Again, our family wishes to express our gratitude
to Gambit Weekly and Mr. Clancy DuBos for the wonderful story. Happy
Trails, Hang Tough and Off We Go!
--Andy Ambrose
Remembering Ambrose
Thank you for
a fabulous column on Stephen Ambrose. I spent $200 on books the last time I
was at the D-Day Museum. I once told him, as he was plowing through my foot-high
stack of paperback copies of his work under duress to autograph each one, "Not
sure I can read all your books in one lifetime, but I'm trying." I'm sure he's
having a wonderful reunion now with those soldiers he helped immortalize.
--Marsanne Golsby
Respect Your Mom-and-Pop
G.K. Darby is to be commended for his literary
undertakings, but it is wrong for him to attack local independent booksellers
just because they don't carry his titles ("G.K. Darby Takes on the World," Oct.
22). To begin with, he criticizes "the whole Faulkner thing," which is ridiculous
because Rosemary James and Joe DeSalvo do more than anyone in New Orleans for
struggling and established local writers of every genre.
Mr. Darby also takes shots at Maple Street
and Beaucoup Books. Does this mean he prefers Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million?
He did say he thought he was "hot shit" when Borders began to carry his book.
Through his publishing, Mr. Darby seems committed
to championing the "little guy." If this is the case, it is very inconsistent
of him to bash small independent booksellers, a dying breed engaged in a life-or-death
struggle with corporate America.
--Robert Florence
Signs of the Times
You threw a
brickbat at "political candidates" (Oct. 15) for posting campaign signs on neutral
grounds. That brickbat should have been shared with the 75 percent of the electorate
that did not bother to vote on Saturday, Oct. 5.
You hope that candidates will find a less
intrusive means to advertise their candidacy. Faced with an apathetic turnout
of 25 percent, what do you suggest? For many candidates, the only way to engage
voters is on the street, with election day reminders. We should all hope that
voters exercise their right and responsibility to vote for the candidates and
constitutional amendments of their choice on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
If the majority of voters voted, there would
be no need for such election day clutter.
--Michael W. Tift
We'll Always Have Paris
The
ghosts of the Vieux Carre must be shaking their heads over the irony. Recall
that a significant portion of New Orleans' first settlers were vagrants collected
against their will from the streets of Paris. Now we're pushing that same caste
from New Orleans' first streets ("Walking While Homeless," Sept. 24; "Dumping
Zone," Sept. 3; "Tents Time for the Homeless," July 23).
No doubt the ghosts want the Quarter to be,
at long last, cleaned up. But rounding up the homeless? You'd think that in
three centuries' time we'd come up with a better approach. This time, in fact,
because we're sending them nowhere in particular but jail, this approach is
worse. At best, all it does is push the homeless into other neighborhoods.
So maybe we should send them out to start
a new settlement in, say, eastern New Orleans or on the Northshore. Or at least
send them back to Paris. Of course, I bet they'd make their way back anyway,
especially the ones who tend to talk to themselves. For, as Lafcadio Hearn wrote
more than a century ago, maybe they're not really talking to themselves, but
to the ghosts of the Vieux Carre.
--Peter Reichard
Where Was Gray?
While
thumbing through the Sept. 24 Gambit Weekly, I ran across an article
that concerned me. In the commentary ("Dale Atkins for District Attorney"),
there was a ringing endorsement for Dale Atkins for DA. In the opening paragraph,
you state that there are eight candidates in the DA's race, however, only six
names are mentioned. I immediately noticed that you failed to list Mr. James
Gray as a candidate. Was this an oversight? Was attorney Gray interviewed? I
could make one of several conclusions as to why this was done (or not done),
but I would hope that the oversight was an honest mistake. As I recall, you
were searching for "impartiality, integrity and independence" in a candidate;
I presume that you used the same three tools in expressing your opinion.
--Monica Washington
Editor's note: Washington is among
many readers who pointed out our oversight. In fact, Gambit Weekly did
interview James Gray during our endorsement process. In our commentary, we inadvertently
failed to note Gray's impressive resume and sound proposals for improving the
office. We regret the oversight and apologize for any confusion this may have
caused.
