Letters

People of the SUN:

Please excuse my gross ignorance and overlook what may turn out to be occasional effusive gushings, but WOW! How have I known John Sinclair as long as I have without realizing he possessed such remarkable writing talents as exhibited in the November l9, 1975 issue of the SUN?

The article "Hyping Detroit," was perceptive, properly based in factual observations, incisive as hell and downright gutsy!

In it, John seems to almost implore the reader to come to grips with reality. It is my own confrontation with present-day reality which forces me to deplore the fact the SUN doesn't yet enjoy a readership the size of the two dailies in Detroit! What a long way the views and facts expressed by Sinclair will go toward turning the thinking around of a lot of people, had they the chance to read this piece. "

I could go on and on. Really! But from from one writer to another writer who apparently believes, as I do, that writers have a responsibility to be righters too, er, write on!

Jim Ingram

WJLB Radio

Dear SUN: I found your article on the Young Republicans in the Nov. 5 issue exceedingly specious and offensive. You imply that conservatism is without validity; that without dances, etc. as a focal point it's adherents would abandon it. Well, I'm young (21) and Republican, and I believe what 1 believe not because of some potential social interaction or because it's fashionable among my peer  group. Strange as it may seem to you, my personal political beliefs are based on conclusions I have reached through observation of life, and what I think is right and/or wrong. While I usually disagree with the bulk of what the SUN says, I've never doubted your sincerity in your beliefs, or imputed some shady alterior motive to your actions. I resent this when it's done to me.

The stinger of your article was a zippy little indictment of the young Repubs for their overall cleancut appearance (does the presence or lack of a beard have some bearing on mental capacity?) and WASPishness (So I'm white. Does that make me inferior? I don't get it). Are we still, after all these years, judging people by their physical attributes? Come on, SUN.

Sadly, the subjectivity of the article shows that, whether consciously or not, you don't expect non-radicals to read your paper. It was designed to be read and enjoyed by those who agree with it anyway. This attitude is probably responsible in no small way for the stagnation of the Left. In conclusion, I hope we can still be friends (even if at arms length). I'm one of "the people" too.

Kevin L. Hoover
Mt. Clemens, Michigan

Dear SUN Readers:

The Control Unit of the Federal Prison in Marion, Illinois is the subject of a civil suit brought on by the inmates. There have been legal actions and strikes by the inmates against the Control Unit since it was started in 1972 but this is the first effort to dismantle the program entirely.

Besides asking for the abolition of the Control Unit the Marion Brothers are asking for $75,000 in damages for each of the seven inmates who first filed the suit a year ago. The trial ended in July and the decision is expected in about four months. It will be the first of its kind thus creating a legal precedent on the use of behavior modification in prisons.

Though the program is described by the administration as "rehabilitative" the inmates know that it is designed to surpress and brainwash the 'troublemakers"- radicals, jailhouse lawyers, etc. The basic methods of treatment are intense isolation, sensory deprivation of individual inmates in segregation cells for long periods of time, as well as harrassment and physical abuse.

Although the trial is over the conditions creating the need for the trial have not diminished. Obviously, the administration intends to provoke resistance among the general population that will enable Warden Fenton to assert a necessity for maintaining the Control Unit. For this reason it is most urgent that you focus you attention on the cause of the Marion Brothers. The Marion Brothers are asking for support in these ways:

1 . Write a letter protesting the inhumane conditions in Marion's Control Unit asking that the unit be closed down. Write to: Judge James Forman, U.S. District Court, 750 Missouri Ave., E. St. Louis, Illinois 62202; send copies to Norman Carlson, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Washington, D.C. 20515, and to the Marion Brothers office (below).

2. If you belong to a group or organization, publicize the case.

3. Contribute money to help pay the enormous expenses needed to fight this campaign. Send contributions and requests for information to:

National Committee to Support Marion Brothers
6199 Waterman St. Louis, Missouri 63112
(313)725-1082

Char Sawatzke
Ann Arbor, Mi.

Dear SUN: After having read your put-down of WABX, I feel I must respond. For one, if you've really bothered to listen to ABX recently you will hear they are now closer to their old, great format than they have ever been in the past few years. Their programming ranges from Led Zeppelin to Stanley Clarke. Sure there are improvements to be made, but by maliciously criticizing the station, the only result will be the loss of the great music it is playing now.

I thing ABX is a refreshing change from the bullshit programming of WDRQ, RIF and 4.

J. Fink
Oak Park

Editors Note: Factual Error: WABX does not play Stanley Clarke. In fact, and this was the whole point of our article, ABX has a conscious, articulated policy of not programming music by black people. Any station that refused to play Stevie Wonder is missing the boat.