To the editors:
TRB's personal invective against Michael Jackson ("Prisoner of Commerce," April 16) made me think I was reading the National Enquirer, not TNR. Why should anyone's private life be held to account for his public success? The androgyny that TRB describes with almost clinical distaste is not a novelty, but an old show business tradition. It has been practiced by Liberace in the 1950s, Mick Jagger in the 1960s, and David Bowie in the 1970s. One can certainly find that "maturity" is no protection against the private agonies of many popular singers, as the tragic lives of Billie Holiday and Judy Garland show. Every individual of extraordinary talent or wealth leads a life distorted by the very factors that make him exceptional. Only voyeuristic journalism makes this an issue. What is important is that this "helplessly immature" young man has resur-rected the popular recording industry, which has been in the doldrums since 1979.RONALD B. LEVINE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
To the editors:
I take exception to TRB's suggestion that defending snakes is nothing more than childish "babbling." Any critical thinker who has bothered to dwell even briefly on the matter knows how absurd the average adult's reactions are when confronted with a reptile. In his attitude toward snakes, Michael Jackson is displaying both intelligence and the capacity to transcend the cultural prejudices that restrict far too many adults. He is following in the footsteps of Thoreau and Schweitzer.ROBERT S. PIPER
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
To the editors:
You are a no-brained, STUPID jerk! My friend Alethea Garber has Michael Jackson's address and when he finds out, you don't know in how much trouble you're going to be! You better change your mind REAL QUICK and I mean what I said!SHARON LADENSON (age 10)
East Lansing, Michigan
To the editors:
You are a stupid, monkey-faced, two-nosed, no-brained, jerk (the editor)! How dare you write about Michael Jackson (the great opposite of you) the way you did! If you don't write about Michael J. nicely in your next issue, you'll have some damage done to you (and I mean it)!ALETHEA GARBER
Valley Stream, New York
To the editors:
Our class read TRB's article about Michael J., and I think it's the truth. I like his songs, but I think he takes hormone pills, I thank you for writing about him, because I didn't believe any other piece I read about him.ANDREW COWAN
Versailles, Kentucky