LET GIRLS BE GIRLS

Knute Berger's point about our larger cultureand, sometimes, parentsbeing complicit in the sexualization of young girls is right on [Mossback, "Culture of Molestation," Dec. 24]. I've never considered myself a cultural conservative, but I was shocked recently when I went shopping for my 3¹/2-year-old daughter at Bon-Macy's, which is about as mainstream as you can get. In addition to hawking adult-looking clothes (diaphanous skirts and tight tops) to preschoolers, the Bon was selling skimpy lamé underwear in grade-school-girl sizes.

Little girls ought to be wearing granny pantieswhy are we trying to get them to wear lingerie? We're so upset about the number of pedophiles in our midstdon't people realize that perhaps it's not a good idea to dress little girls up as women?

Kris Collingridge

Seattle

I would add [Mossback, "Culture of Molestation," Dec. 24] that it is appalling that Seattle parents routinely place their children in summer camp programs staffed at times by persons with lengthy criminal histories. The routine check for felony convictions fails to reveal juvenile and adult misdemeanor histories of violent and serious crimes, including lewd conduct, assault, domestic violence, and weapon and drug charges.

Having had access to these histories in the course of my job, I wouldn't leave my dog, much less my child, at one of these popular summer programs.

Jennifer Goodwin

Seattle

Andre Dubus III did not write the story, "The Killings," upon which the movie In the Bedroom was based ["The Occupied Territory," Dec. 24]. That story was written by his father, Andre Dubus.

You really ought to read the father's short stories. They are beautiful and often heartbreaking. The father also published a series of essays, Meditations From a Movable Chair. He was in a wheelchair, the result of a car accident when he had stopped to help some stranded motorists. Andre Dubus died from a heart attack in 1999. In fact, his son's scheduled reading from House of Sand and Fog at Elliott Bay Books was canceled and then rescheduled because of his father's death.

I am sure Andres Dubus III would be disappointed to know that his father was not getting due recognition for his own incredible body of work.

Susan Loitz

Seattle

I am the wife of a soldier currently deployed with the Stryker brigade.

The Weekly's article ["Facing Our Losses," Dec. 17], while very informative, only talks about the negative things happening within the military and in the war.

You never bothered to bring up what a morale booster it was for President Bush to visit Iraq on Thanksgiving, or how elated the troops were to have caught Saddam. It is a very big deal even though it does not affect deployments. Nor did you mention the fine Rangers who completed their mission to save Jessica Lynch, or how well the Stryker brigade has done despite their losses, how well all the troops have done with all the loss of life.

Those serving in Iraq now continue to work hard and complete their mission so their fallen soldiers have not died in vain but died for a purpose, so we can all enjoy the great freedom this country offers. Honor those who have died, remember also those who live and gave up their Christmas with their families to finish the job. Negative press is not honoring!

Jennifer Scully

Puyallup

A high five to the Weekly and Rick Anderson, a fine investigative reporter, for highlighting the young local men slaughtered in Bush's illegal and immoral war on Iraq ["Facing Our Losses," Dec. 17]. How about a follow-up report on those who have been physically or mentally maimed? As has been said: To end terror, our nation must stop being a terrorist.

Lyle Mercer

Seattle

Your cover story concerning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan caught my eye ["Facing Our Losses," Dec. 17]. I am adamantly opposed to both of these expensive and costly conflicts. It was certainly refreshing to see some candid, up-front journalism regarding the true facts, casualties, and statistics of these wars. Obviously they cannot be found in any of the large city newspapers. It was a sad, eye-opening examination of the costs in human lives of a failed policy. Thank goodness someone has the courage to tell it like it is.

Joe Witt

Seattle

I'm writing about Katie Millbauer's recent review of Love Don't Cost a Thing [This Week's Attractions, Dec. 10]. Saying that Love Don't Cost a Thing is for the BET crowd is just lazy shorthand. Why? It seemed she just used BET crowd as a shorthand for black teens. Well, actually, many African-American adults watch BET and are just not interested in a movie that is targeted to, as she says later in her capsule, teens.

Why not just say African-American teens, or because so many teens of various ethnicities watch BET now, how about using the now all-encompassing vernacular term "hip-hop?"

Leon Stewart

Washington, D.C.