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Dear Editor,
    I went to a party at a house in an old, eclectic neighborhood in Central Austin the Saturday before Christmas. The weather was great, so there was a band playing outside in the backyard until the cops came and shut the music down as soon as it got dark. This was at 6 in the evening, folks! What’s up with that? It was a Christmas potluck where the average person was about 45 years old, and the band was playing good old stuff like Doug Sahm, etc. at a moderate sound level. We weren’t a bunch of underaged, snot-slinging drunk kids, puking in the neighbor’s yard with loud, headbangin’ music blasting down the street! Back in the good old days, Austin was about music and about being able to enjoy live music. But nowadays, Austin has so many rules and regulations that restrict live music and the enjoyment thereof unless the politicians get paid. Austin ain't the live music capital of the world by far (anymore).
    And while I’m on the subject of falsifying the phrase "live music capital of the world," I’d like to know what happened to (what used to be one of the greatest radio stations around) KGSR. It used to be a unique, grassroots station, but it’s been run into the ground and is now an average station at best. They used to always promote local artists and had live music and interviews all of the time, which doesn’t happen anymore. Now, they cater to audiences of national/international bands and only have live broadcasts when these bands are in town. Plus, they play the same songs from these national/international bands over and over until you’re so sick of it you change the station! Along with getting rid of some key people (deejays) who were so knowledgeable and interesting to listen to, KGSR has stooped to corporate crap and left most local artists in the dust. I keep hearing that growth and change is good, but I haven’t heard it yet.

Dear Editor,
    Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a particularly deceptive and cruel policy to perpetuate upon the gay men and women serving in the U.S. military between 1993 and 2010.
    More sinister than the statement, “By not asking we are leaving you in peace as a respected, appreciated soldier,” DADT said to particular individuals – whose most beneficial significance to their country and themselves would be “to tell,” to live openly and honestly – “You are a shameful creature, your existence is worthless, we will dispose of you when we know who you are.”
    John McCain, immediately after the U.S. Senate repealed DADT (65-31), exclaimed there would be extremely dire consequences. And it is a bitter pill for those consumed with hatred to be prohibited from actively exercising retaliation against their targeted group for the crime of existing.
    The impact of repealing DADT is scarcely comprehendible. It retroactively exonerates every gay man and woman who served in our country’s armed services since the miraculous Revolutionary War, through those wars of the 20th century, until this very day in the various theatres across the globe, whether or not they survived that service intact or at all. It bestows upon those harassed persons full honor as patriots and unalienable rights as citizens of the United States of America.
    My goodness! Is that the fragrance of “Hope and Change” upon the winter wind of history?
    This letter took quite a different form than its first draft, in which I took to task the pastor Fred Phelps Sr. However, I realized that Mr. Phelps, protesting military funerals and gay rights, parades with his slogan (and website) “God Hates Fags,” probably did more than any other individual to bring Congress to its senses. So I appreciate his horrendous and constant hostility.