Jake Sux.

At my suggestion, my 78-year-old mother has given my son a Thrasher subscription as a Christmas gift for the past several years. I always love to support the wonderful mix of kids who skate in our community. I'm impressed with their athleticism and talent, and especially with the way they support each other. They all trust each other, too; therefore, I was filled with horror and disgust when I read in the LA Times that a pro skater charged with child abuse, which led to the death of his son, is wholly supported by Thrashers own editor, who claims he is "one of us." "... Many of Heddings' supporters call the prosecution a sham, saying police prejudice against skateboarders runs deep. 'Neil is one of us; said Jake Phelps, a friend of Heddings and editor in chief of Thrasher, a skateboard magazine. 'He's the type who'd kick your fence to go skate in your empty pool. He chose that path, this beer-swilling, wild life. But you live by this blade and you die by this blade.'--"Thrashed by Charge of Murder," LA Times, Nov 27, 2004

Whether or not your compatriot Mr Heddings is convicted of murder or if he is proven innocent, you have the opportunity to use this tragedy to open the eyes of thousands of boys and young men who read your magazine to the very real epidemic of domestic violence and also child abuse. An expose in your magazine geared to your readership about the signs, symptoms and causes of child abuse, and where to go for help as a victim or as a perpetrator could help turn some lives around. Or to even save a life. Until I learn that you have balanced your support of Mr Heddings--who at best is guilty of abusive neglect or even at worst murder--by publishing an article about domestic violence and child abuse, I will make sure my mother does not renew my son's Thrasher subscription. My son has grown up surrounded by lots of good male role models and is now in college (I save his Thrashers, which he reads when he visits home). The boys I'm concerned about being negatively influenced by you are mostly my son's friends who come from broken or dysfunctional homes. Many of these boys do not know their fathers. Others fear their fathers or see them treat their wives and kids with a cruel disrespect. Or worse. What you need to know is that there are a lot of impressionable boys. Skateboarding is a big part of their identity. They feel like they are part of the local skate scene and also the entire larger community of skaters. As the editor-in-chief of a popular and influential magazine, you have a responsibility to them.

Rachel Warren

Santa Barbara, CA

Reporters love to interview over the phone, take facts and then screw 'era up. Yes, I like Nell Heddings.--T-ed