letters.

Seeking a Perfect Bod

Your article on body images and the media ("Obsession for Men," 2/14/00) was a job well done. A lot of times, we may be influenced by ads, videos, and commercials to live up to the male ideal of perfection. It was only recently that I noticed the effect these ads can have on the male ego. Boys are not often the focus of such articles, and are thus kept in the dark about just how vulnerable we can be underneath the tough exterior.

KEVIN BOOKER Passaic, N.J.

In "Cut to Fit" (2/14/00), you said teenagers are chasing an unrealistic dream of physical perfection. This is not so in many cases. If someone has the bone structure of a 20-year-old, they may be ready to have plastic surgery. I do not understand why getting a nose job is so bad. If it helps a person's self-esteem, good for them. In high school, appearance is everything. You have to get someone to talk to you before they can listen to what you have to say.

KELLY SHEA La Jolla, Calif.

Rocker, Call Your Mom 

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker deserves to be dismissed from baseball for his racist remarks ("Baseball's Bigmouth," 1/31/00). Like mom has always said, "If you don't have any thing nice to say, don't say anything at all." Rocker needs to listen to his mom.

JEREMY JOHNS Tiffin, Ohio 

No one should be fired for their beliefs.

TONY GANT Madisonville, Ky.

John Rocker had the freedom of speech to say what he did. But he shouldn't get away without punishment. He deserves a seven-week suspension and a $50,000 fine. It's also part of his punishment that millions of fans have lost a role model. Whenever I watched Rocker pitch, I thought, "Wow! That guy is pretty good." Now when I see him I--and most others--will say, "Oh, it's that jerk who has no respect for anyone different."

SCOTT CHANISKI Edison, N.J.

He spoke the truth. Although he should not have said it, it is all true, and no one can say that it is not!

GREG MADDOX Piedmont, S.C.

Defending the Flag

I am a proud descendant of several Confederate soldiers. If people checked their history, they would see that not one slave ship flew the Confederate flag. The flag represents young soldiers who fought and died for what they believed. What is wrong with being proud of, and displaying publicly, a symbol of our history? You cannot erase four years from the history books.

KATHRYN REEVES Waynesboro, Ga.

Stillman Valley Replies

We are appalled at the degrading article about our home town ("Money Matters," 12/13/99). Next time, you should find somewhere that really has segregation just because of money problems. This is a friendly community that welcomes everyone. Your journalist has obviously found that out, since he was also welcomed and easily accepted. People here are very accepting, no matter what your family's income or where you live.

TONY RANGALL, JENNIFER DOUBS, KATE LARSEN, SAM KRONKOW Stillman Valley, Ill.

I'm a freshman at Stillman Valley High School. I'm shocked at your article. Every time I see Ada around school, she's always wearing Tommy, or clothes that I've seen at stores at the mall. And you guys made ReNee sound like a total snot, when in reality she's a nice girl.

MEGAN MILLER Stillman Valley, Ill.

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