READERS BITE BACK

letters

The Brady Crunch

Thank you for Ron Rosenbaum's "The Brady Offensive'' [January]. I live in the Boston area, where the number of gunrelated deaths seemed higher in 1990 than at any other time I can remember. Mayor Flynn, ex-governor Dukakis, and the police department have pleaded for help and cooperation. More legislation is needed!

PETER ROBB Charlestown, Massachusetts

In spite of the bumper-sticker philosophy and all the self-serving power politics, the entire emotional issue of gun control seems to be a publicity-generating diversionary tactic. It diverts the public's attention from (1) the increase in drug-related street crime and the increasing inability of the police to protect individual citizens, and (2) such larger problems as the increase in taxes necessary to fund foreign giveaway programs and to correct the mistakes of legislators which resulted in the S&L crisis.

While I feel sorry for James Brady in the same way I feel sorry for the victim of a drunken driver, I must applaud MADD'S (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) method of seeking stiffer sentences and victimpayback plans rather than trying to legislate a ban on the excuse (alcohol) or the weapon (vehicles). Any type of weapon, be it a gun or a car, in the hands of a deranged person is not an excuse to deprive law-abiding citizens of their rights, especially to satisfy a publicity-seeking politician.

STEPHEN R. LEVINE Los Angeles, California

I am a combat-infantry veteran, a citizen, a bird hunter, and a gun owner. I am also an N.R.A. member. To me, James Brady's situation is tragic, but so is that of many who served in various conflicts. I'm sure he felt he was serving at the time he was shot. But the Brady Bill will not control crime with handguns until our judicial system comes down hard on criminals who use a weapon in the commission of a crime. When the public starts screaming about deals, plea bargaining, and reduced sentences, a light may appear at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, let us not blame the N.R.A. for large-city social ills, or be influenced by one man's condition. Handgun control would fail for the same reason Prohibition failed.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Since the N.R.A. flaunts the constitutional right to bear arms, let's require gun owners to be licensed to buy ammunition.

LYN ANN ROSEN Carmel, California

The Eisenman Cometh

I was distressed by remarks attributed to me and to Philip Johnson with respect to Leslie Wexner's feelings about the Wexner Center in John Seabrook's article ["The David Lynch of Architecture," January], What I actually said to Seabrook was that when Mr. Wexner first saw the building he said that it would be a very controversial building, and that some people might be appalled by it (my words, not Wexner's). Further, Wexner said that whether he liked the building or not was not an issue (in fact, he has said on many occasions that it is not his kind of architecture). On the contrary, he said that a university should sponsor work that will be a center of controversy. The fact that Mr. Wexner gave $25 million to the building says more about his true feelings than anything Seabrook could conjure up with his words. I regret that Seabrook's article is a disservice to one of the very few patrons our profession has.

PETER EISENMAN New York, New York

I was shocked to read [Philip Johnson's remark] that "Wexner hates that building,'' referring to the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University. The statement is unfounded and untrue. As an Ohio State graduate and a university trustee and patron, I feel terrific about the building that the university chose and built for its arts center. It recognizes freedom, risktaking, and excellence in the contemporary arts. The Eisenman-Trott building is many things—provocative, innovative, inspiring, controversial, difficult, and even a bit outrageous. One thing it is not is hateful.

LESLIE H. WEXNER Columbus, Ohio

Presence of absence? Absence of presence? Yow! When they drag Eisenman's impaled body from the pointy top of the architectural pyramid, he can always get a job guiding insomniacs through a Sun Ra retrospective on some college FM station. What a loin chop!

PAUL MIMIAGA Mill Valley, California

Sexual Confliction

After only one day back home from Family Week at Golden Valley Health Center, I was elated to discover Ann Louise Bardach's "A Fever in the Blood" [January]. The recognition of sex addiction, and all other addictions, is so important to all of us who suffer from the fear of shame. Sex addicts are no different from addicts of food, alcohol, or drugs. If anything, it is a core addiction that is numbed by substances. What we need is education in awareness so that the addicts and their families will feel less isolated in their pain. Thank you for recognizing this need.

ROBIN JAY SINGER Toronto, Ontario

I was appalled by this article. Pseudo-illnesses may be trendy and chic, but they slant the focus away from the real problems we face as a society. I worry that the media are focusing too much time and attention on the rash of "addictions" which are plaguing our society when there are other problems simply crying out for attention. As a social worker, I know that people have problems in myriad areas, but let us not trivialize these deep-rooted emotional disturbances by treating them like fads.

ARDEE-ANN EICHELMANN Little Rock, Arkansas

I saw fragments of myself in this article. Some may call me a cad, a philanderer, a womanizer. I see myself as someone searching for the "one and only one" who is compatible with me emotionally and physically. I was ashamed to admit I actually liked girls until I was nearly eleven years old! Since then, however, I've made up for lost time. The reason so many marriages fail is that too many people settle for less than they should in finding that companion who can provide a synergistic trek through life.

MYLES H. MARKS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bruced Up

Regarding Anthony Haden-Guest's "Bruce on the Loose" [January]: Who the hell does Bruce Willis think he is, saying that becoming a Celebrity (capital C— give me a break) in the United States means that one has become part of the fantasy life of a huge, unstable mass? Well, this unstable fan has come to her senses and is no longer a Bruce Willis groupie.

SHIRLEY JEFFRIES Hamilton, Ohio

Let me see, what is it that we tabloids printed about Bruce Willis that wasn't true? We said he drank too much. So did his wife. We said he made the lives of his neighbors miserable with deafening parties. So did the local police; it's a matter of record. After the sputtering descent of The Bonfire of the Vanities, Bruce's mewling about the press only underscores his standing as Hollywood's perfect, smirking sphincter.

RICHARD KAPLAN Editor,Star magazine Tarry town. New York

Letters to the editor should he sent with the writer's name, address, and daytime phone number to: The Editor, Vanity Fair, 350 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and clarity.