talkback...

Minority report

You imply that people watch cult movies because of the glimpse into past sensibilities they give us ["Here There Be Dragons," 7/17/02]. This may be true of film geeks and/or scholars, but not the average moviegoer. Two movies that more or less defined "cult movie" – Harold and Maude and The Rocky Horror Picture Show – became cult hits within a couple of years of their release (after bombing initially, of course); they weren't really able to age enough to provide "glimpses into past sensibilities." And contrary to what you say, they do provide "enduring truths about the meaning of life" – to that small minority of moviegoers in whom the cult movie strikes a special chord. (For me, this applied in the case of Harold and Maude, but I never did understand the appeal of Rocky Horror.)

I do, however, think there's something to the rest of the analysis. I'm just not sure if enough people will make the connection between fire-breathing dragons and fire-breathing Arab terrorists to turn the film into a classic.

Dave Webel Union City

Whose fault is daycare crisis?

While I sympathize with the struggles of parents who cannot find child care, the 26-year-old single mother with four children prompted me to write ["Ringing Up Baby," 7/17/02]. Why does this woman have four children? Where is the father(s)? Why did she have four kids without figuring out beforehand how she was going to care for them? What is her responsibility here? Having babies is not a right – it's a responsibility. If you cannot provide for them, don't have them! I only had one child. Why only one? Because that was all that I could afford.

Leslie Clark San Francisco

History lesson needed

If Name Withheld (Letters, 7/17/02) cannot own up to her own identity, she should at least take the time educate herself around the identities of others. First, for those people who do identify as men, it would serve not only the basic lesbian principles of self-expression but her separatist attitudes as well to acknowledge that transgender men are men and not "women ... who call themselves men." And second, the point of Michelle Tea's piece ("Who Belongs in Women's Space," 6/19/02) was not to argue against the Dyke March but to acknowledge that some dykes are operating from antiquated notions of who and what belongs in their community. The purposeful exclusion of "male energy" of which no-name speaks was meant to combat a lifetime of male privilege and dominance that neither FTMs nor MTFs tend to enjoy. And furthermore, there are countless high femmes and feminine-presenting lesbians who do celebrate their own "male energy" without apology. But what no-name truly lacks is an understanding of the dyke history she claims to represent. Our community has always included butches on hormones, bearded ladies, titless tomboys, and an entire spectrum of genders that used to be celebrated. Now, with easier access to gender-specific treatments, more and more dykes are realizing they don't have to be unhappy with their bodies or identify as men, as I and thousands of others who fit into both the FTM and dyke populations can attest.

Zakary Szymanski San Francisco

HAFCI takes no position on Care Not Cash

It has come to our attention that the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics Inc. has been linked with both proponents and opponents of the Care Not Cash Initiative scheduled to be on this November's city ballot. As the official spokesperson for HAFCI I want to make it perfectly clear that our organization takes no official position on this ballot measure.

Several of our employees have recently come out in public as either in favor of or against this initiative. They are certainly within their rights as citizens to take individual positions on public policy. However, the views expressed by our employees in no way reflect the official position of our organization. Our employees should not use their employment affiliation with HAFCI in any public statements about or endorsements or criticisms of ballot measures. I am the only person authorized to represent the organization on matters of public policy.

Darryl Inaba Chief executive officer Haight Ashbury Free Clinics Inc.

Dear Supervisor Newsom

Last year, before the November elections, I read and heard you say, "I believe in public power, but not in Props. F and I."

Earlier this week, you voted against putting public power back on the ballot for voters to decide.

I am now starting to wonder if you really do believe in public power. Perhaps you lie to the public to get campaign money from PG&E. You have a chance to prove your belief in public power by supporting the measure this fall. Put your money where your mouth is.