Letters

AN AMERICAN IN SCANDINAVIA

After living for the past 50 years under a strong American cultural hegemony, and with the frayed relationships over the war in Iraq, Europe is definitely re-evaluating its love affair with America. Like many an American visiting Europe these days, Brendan Bernhard, too, seems to have been thrown on the defensive during his stay [“Lars Attacks!,” March 26–April 1]. While commendably highlighting the numerous contradictions and absurdities at the heart of Lars von Trier’s art, one couldn’t help but notice the distinct chip on Bernhard’s shoulder as he took potshots not only at von Trier but the Scandinavian countries in general.

With a communist past, von Trier probably harbors views readily identified as anti-American. The question is, are his movies anti-American? If an American had made the same film, would Bernhard so doggedly pursue this line of inquiry? Without having seen Dogville yet, I would still suppose that, like the Coen brothers’, von Trier’s is an America born not out of political manifestoes, news headlines or personal experiences, but of other movies. Dogville seems universal and could have been set in almost any little town. And having seen von Trier’s relatively recent film, The Idiots, set in his native Denmark, I doubt Dogville will come close to that film’s stinging vitriol.

When Bernhard questions von Trier’s right to make a film set in or about the U.S., he doesn’t seem to have understood how downright offensive it is for a Scandinavian to see such rampant inequality and poverty in the richest country in the world. Describing the Danish society — where abject poverty has been eradicated and where “everyone, more or less, is middle class” — as “slightly hellish” feels like a comment only a very few people in this world can afford to make. It also makes Bernhard seem truly blind to the real inequities confronting his own society. And while Bernhard is correct in pointing out some of the truly deplorable aspects of Scandinavian immigration policy, is the U.S. — perhaps the only country almost entirely made up of immigrants — a fair comparison?

—Jon Sundell
Santa Monica

UNEARTHING OKLAHOMA CITY

Kudos on Jim Crogan’s article regarding the Oklahoma City bombing and its many unanswered questions [“Secrets of Timothy McVeigh,” March 26–April 1]. Rare is a news outlet willing to publish facts that get closer to the truth on this issue. I look forward to coming articles on the topic. Hopefully, for the country and Oklahoma, the whole truth may yet still become known.

—Jeffrey Robbins
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

BIG BUSINESS BERNIE

Robert Greene’s political profile of Councilman Bernard Parks is illuminating [“Sweet Revenge,” March 26–April 1], but he gets one crucial point wrong. Greene writes, “[Parks’] differences from colleagues who paint themselves as progressives often are more image than substance,” and claims that Parks shares with Councilman Martin Ludlow a concern about the proliferation of fast-food outlets and few jobs in South L.A.

On these issues, Parks and Ludlow share an image of concern, but this is merely rhetoric; the substance of their beliefs could not be more different. Ludlow supports using city government to regulate the kinds of developments that locate in Los Angeles. He would prevent Wal-Mart and other big-box supercenters from undermining the grocery stores that still provide thousands of L.A. families with good jobs and health care. Parks, however, subscribes to a free-market solution guided by no greater philosophy than consumer choice. He would sooner let good jobs disappear than use his authority to save them.

Pick whatever side you will, but don’t obscure the real political disagreements. Whatever his image, Parks’ substance is that of a .big-business conservative.

—Jon Zerolnick
Los Angeles

STRUCK OUT

I consider myself a pretty liberal guy, but I’m finding it difficult to feel sorry for three-strikers. The first example in Vince Beiser’s story [“Foul Justice,” March 26–April 1] paints a picture of a supposedly reformed criminal who only turned to drugs after a family tragedy. Am I to believe that this person forgot that he had two prior felony convictions?

I’ve met several one-time felons. Most of them were caught up in the idiocy of youth. All of them took the hint. The stiffest sentence any of them has received since their felony conviction is a traffic fine. Anyone with two felony convictions in California is well aware of their status. For that person to then habitually practice felonious behavior is thumbing their nose at the law and they deserve whatever they get.

—Kevin E. Reilly
Wilmington, Delaware

PICKING APART PROG

I have a few issues with Alec Hanley Bemis’ article “Joiners in Believing” [March 19–25], most notably his assertions about prog rock’s influence and its place in music history.

First, and most glaringly, he seems to assert that prog’s “reviled” influence is only now beginning to show itself in the music of the rock underground. The list of modern underground rock music directly influenced — in fantastic ways — by the best of what prog had to offer is lengthy and varied. I’ll mention only a few widely recognized and respected examples, such as Don Caballero, Mr. Bungle, the Fucking Champs, Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria, Heavy Vegetable (or Thingy or Pinback — take your pick), the Mars Volta, John Vanderslice, Hella, Lightning Bolt, Meshuggah, Shudder To Think . . . and that’s only a smattering of modern rock bands that hipsters generally dig, dig? Let alone really obscure rock bands influenced by prog, like, say, Radiohead or Tool.