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9 February 2005
Letters
Houston Chronicle
PO Box 4260
Houston, Texas 77210
viewpoints@chron.com
It is with shock and disbelief that I read in yesterday’s Houston
Chronicle a review of a play titled “Polish Joke.” That the Stages
Theater would see it fit to exploit ethnic slurs is shocking enough;
that Houston Chronicle would print reviews of such plays is revolting.
Degrading references to the Polish navy, for example, are repulsive,
especially in the light of the fact that Polish naval units and 2500
Polish soldiers are now serving, and dying, alongside their American
allies in the Middle East.
I have not recently seen “good-humored” comedies about the Gypsy thief,
the Jewish slumlord, or the black welfare queen. The usage of
expressions associated with offense has been cut short in many
surroundings. Apparently Polish Catholics are to be singled out for
offense.
The compulsion to put down others is a sure sign of the speaker’s unease
with himself. Those who are not quite comfortable with their own shabby
selves often resort to insulting others.
Houston Chronicle has participated in a degrading enterprise by giving
publicity to this play, while the Stages Theater has brought bigotry
back to the cultural scene in Houston.
Sincerely,
Witold J. Lukaszewski, Ph.D.
The Woodlands, TX
cc: Director, Stages Theater
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