Listening to the Clash of Symbols

Baring all and dressing up. . . .

Emblems are the primary subject of this mail call: the symbolism of that historic coming out on Ellen DeGeneres’ ABC comedy, “Ellen,” and the KCBS-TV Channel 2 logos on T-shirts worn by the mother and stepfather of slain Anthony Michael Martinez during a news interview on the station.

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I was very saddened by your irresponsible and politically biased review of “Ellen,” especially your line about hearing “the noisy cracking of decadent old skittishness, glacial ignorance melting under the sunny warmth of illumination.”

I thought I might enlighten you on why I am skittish about shows such as “Ellen” that make her behavior seem acceptable.

I am someone who, around the country, was repeatedly proselytized to homosexuality in my younger days but escaped the gay lifestyle and married. Not only do I now have a family, but I am alive and healthy. I am certain I would be dead of AIDS, like some of my friends, had not society’s pressures against homosexuality kept me from going fully down that path.

I’m no fan of Jerry Falwell, but as lesbian Camille Paglia recently put it in Time magazine, “The objections of Christian ministers who believe in the Bible are well founded. People on the left have got to accept that it is not simple bigotry that causes believing Christians to object to this kind of element in popular culture.”

DAVID WILSON

Los Angeles

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Oprah Winfrey had a program in which she spoke about the firestorm of criticism leveled at her for her participation in the “Ellen” program and her own tolerance of homosexuality. One audience member stood up and, trembling, declared that she had read the Bible and that it “clearly states that homosexuality is wrong.” Oprah replied that her God “embraces and loves everybody.” Amen!

I’m dismayed how some religious figures like Jerry Falwell seem to make a cause celebre out of their hatred toward homosexuality. They selectively choose passages from the Bible that seem to support their fears and bigotry. Why are they so afraid? Do they think that homosexuality is so enticing that unless they vigorously fight it everyone will convert to it en masse? Puleeeeeeeze!

Just as the tobacco industry fought to avoid anti-tobacco forces gaining one inch, Falwell and his ilk are terrified of gays being accepted anywhere, but especially on network television.

RON HARDCASTLE

Los Angeles

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It is unfair to label people bigots or to call them sanctimonious just because they believe the homosexual lifestyle to be an abomination. I, like the Rev. Jerry Falwell, am terrified at the prospect of gays being thought of as mainstream.

It is a historical fact that every civilization that has either embraced homosexuality or accepted it as just another lifestyle has collapsed. In the Bible, God is very specific about homosexuality. He, too, believes it to be an abomination. He doesn’t tolerate it, nor do I.

I’d like to issue a little challenge to you. If you can show me in the Bible where God says that homosexuality is OK, that it’s acceptable, then I will apologize. In fact, if you prove me wrong, I will turn over a new leaf and do whatever I can to assist in the fight for gay rights and to plead tolerance for gays in our society.

HENRY FRIED

Pasadena

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I identify with Ellen (even though I am male) because she is human, failing at times but with an optimism that is enviable. She is real, and I suppose the one reason I identify with her character is that even though the train wreck is going to happen, she faces her problems with integrity and honesty and always with her carefully crafted sense of humor.

I believe it was Margaret Thatcher who said the problem with standing in the middle of the road is you have a tendency of being hit from both sides. Ellen took a chance and I am so proud of her.

MICHAEL T. MANNING

North Hills

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Regarding Channel 2’s “exclusive” interview with the parents of Anthony Michael Martinez: I am usually not someone at a loss for words, but I sat in front of my TV set in absolute disbelief to what I was witnessing. My jaw literally dropped at what was a new low even by broadcast news standards.

The only thing that could have been worse is if they had been able to get the pallbearers to wear the Channel 2 logo first during the live telecast of the memorial service.

Unfortunately, I bet the management at KCBS-TV doesn’t even understand what all the fuss is about in the first place. I guess it’s time to say good night to Mike and Ann after all.

GREGG DAVIDSON

West Hollywood

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The Channel 2 incident with the T-shirt logo worn by the Medinas during their interview is one small but important example of the crass commercialism in television today.

This $70-billion industry is abusing its privilege to use the public airways. Examples: ABC, Fox, the USA Network and others continue to leave their logos permanently on the screen during programs, except, I notice, during commercials. Could this be because it would be two commercials at once on the screen?

Logos, trademarks, etc. are commercials and should be included in the time commercials are allowed per hour by the FCC regulations. The brand name in the lower right-hand corner is intrusive and distracting.

GEORGE DuFRESNE

La Habra

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If Channel 2 station manager John Culliton is looking for “balance” in his news broadcasts, he would do well to emulate Jess Marlowe, a real pro who did his job with unfailing grace and refinement.

That’s not to say that Channel 4 has always taken the “high road.” Tackiness and self-promotion is the norm at all the news outlets. Channel 2 broadcasting Anthony Martinez’ funeral may well have generated some additional leads by keeping the investigation visible a while longer, but good taste it was not.

FRED A. BENDER

North Hollywood

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Regarding your column titled “Angel Is Soaring but Misses the Mark,” among our 50- to 60something group of friends, there is an appreciation of what “Touched by an Angel” is trying to do to be different from the rest of the pack, to give us hope that there is more to life than revenge and greed, and that there are decent people in the world trying to better their lives by helping others and learning by their mistakes, whether they have ever encountered an angel or not.

So basically the typical choices on an average night are fluff, gloom and doom or something uplifting. Does that make it easier to understand why this show is popular?

JOSEPHINE VLASAK

Woodland Hills