La Dolce Paolo

I suddenly found myself crying after reading Doug Ireland’s piece on the death
of Pier Pasolini [“Restoring
Pasolini,” August 5–11]. As a half-Italian gay man who grew up reading the
history of this famous and infamous director, it was with great sorrow I read
about his murder by political thugs rather than the juvenile who was charged
with the crime 30 years ago. How often is history around a gay figure, even
in this last century, so clouded and murky — leaving new gay generations to
dig deeper for truth. And how sad that this revelatory information comes out
now — decades after the director’s final film. As a performer and writer who
explores gay history, it is with a heavy heart I read of a manipulated murder
and cover-up of this artistic mentor. How much queer history is bathed in secrecy,
blood and shame that only the evolution of time can bring forth the honest story
of one man’s artistic and political struggle against a national machine determined
to silence him. How many others could there be?

—Federico Hewson
Los Angeles

What the hell did Doug Ireland think when he wrote that oh-too-loving tribute
to Pier Paolo Pasolini? Should we love him because he was a great cinematic
genius? Or should we love him because he was a troubled gay artist? One thing
is clear: Signore Pasolini had a weakness for young boys. Regardless of my own
appreciation for his impressive body of work, I remain unconvinced that Pasolini’s
death needs revisiting. His dalliances with underage minors, as well as his
volatile political activities, led him to the fate he so richly deserved. If
only modern geniuses (ahem) such as Michael Jackson could be “rewarded” in a
similar fashion.

—Joe Rourke
Burbank

Up on Compton Creek

The folks concerned with Compton’s future [“A
Creek Flows in Compton,” August 5–11] might consider looking 3,000 miles
east for inspiration and ideas. The historic Anacostia River in Washington,
D.C., which flows through lower-income, minority neighborhoods in northeast
and southeast Washington, has suffered many abuses over the years very similar
to those of Compton Creek — and despite the abuse, nature still abounds, from
blue herons to wild turkeys. In the midst of it all, the Earth Conservation
Corps, begun more than 10 years ago by film/TV producer Bob Nixon, has led the
way in re-connecting the local youth with their river, helping them become stewards
of the natural environment in their back yard, while also ushering in progress.
The ECC was highlighted recently in the August 1 issue of People. I was
lucky enough to work with the ECC for two years and can’t help but hope that
the folks in Compton seriously consider creating an ECC-type program and re-connect
with their piece of nature. This lily-white girl would absolutely be willing
to venture to Compton if there was a mall that looked out over a natural creek
with egrets to boot. You’d get my money, Compton!

—Lara Day
Los Angeles

What an asset a restored creek could be to that beleaguered community. What
a special place it would create for that projected shopping mall. How can water-thirsty
Southern California ignore the natural waterways we have? Compton must latch
on immediately to county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke’s $3 million for
creek beautification. That should make even shortsighted developers happy.

We must all be strangely blind to the few water spaces we do have, not to cherish
them. I’m going to an open house being hosted by the Gabrielino Tongva Foundation,
on the grounds of University High School, where a natural spring has been the
center of Native American life for centuries, but currently is used by Uni for
horticultural classes. It is recognized as a California Historical Site, and
the Native Americans still living in the area (many of them alummni of Uni)
would like to have a shared museum and classroom on the site, to restore the
spring, the little stream and pond (and the wildlife that frequent the tiny
spot). At least, they did stop a developer who wanted to pave over the area
for a parking structure. It has taken them 10 years, but they have finally built
a tiny amphitheater on the space. Interest from the powers that be, former Senator
Tom Hayden, current Senator Sheila Kuehl and school-board member Marlene Canter,
is all well and good, but no one seems to have money available for projects.
School classes do tour the area, with guides who bring their own family artifacts
to display. This is part of the California curriculum.

I’m so glad some school kids planted trees. And that there is a bike path. And
wouldn’t Compton like some positive publicity for a change?

Thanks for a beautifully researched piece. Save the water. Save the whole river.

—Marty Rauch
Westwood

Correction

In our cover story on Compton
Creek [August 5-11], journalist Sarah Ruth Van Gelder was misidentified
as psychologist Reneé Solis.

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