Letters To The Editor

Ebony, May, 2001

MARION JONES

I want to thank you for the fantastic story, "Marion Jones: America's Golden Girl Talks About Her Triumphs, The Controversy Surrounding Her Husband And Life In The Fast Lane" (March 2001). I found the story quite interesting and very informative. Congratulations to Ms. Jones on her victories at the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia, and I will be praying for her husband, hoping that things turn out well for him.

I know I speak for all of Ms. Jones' many, many fans when I say we all are very proud of her and all she has accomplished in track and field. I want Ms. Jones to know that there is one person she can put her trust in, and that is Jesus.

EBONY, keep the great stories coming.

CLEO C. VAUGHN Hemphill, W. Va.

MAN-SHARING

I enjoyed your article, "Why Some Women Settle For Man-Sharing And The Dangerous Consequences" (April 2001). I think a more unbiased title would have been "Why Some Women Don't Mind Sharing A Man (And The Dangers And Consequences Of That Choice)."

Most women, especially those who have the No. 1 status--the wife or the woman who got the man first--are, of course, against the other-woman theory. I have been the other woman. I respect the wife or girlfriend, and I respect his respect for her. Her life with him is theirs, and his life with me is ours. She's happy, and I'm happy, and it works.

NAME WITHHELD New York, N.Y.

`WHY I AM A LESBIAN'

Thank you for the article, "Why I Am A Lesbian" (March 2001). The article gave insight to "one" of many stories we as lesbians live with! Our community is as diverse in background and lifestyle as any other. Our stories are varied. We, the brave and bold, are out of the closet. In most cases, we have to pick and choose when and where we can come out.

My life-mate and I want to thank you for allowing a door to open that was long-considered taboo! I hope to see more on the subject in future months to come! It will restore my faith in people in general! We are a loving couple, and want what everyone else in a loving committed relationship wants--equality!

NAME WITHHELD Los Angeles, Calif.

I am writing in response to the article, "Why I Am A Lesbian." While I can understand Ms. Rivera's need to be candid regarding sexual preference, I also feel she needs to understand that, during adolescence, most children have mixed emotions toward the same sex. The challenge comes when, as an adult, they still prefer the same sex. Ms. Rivera did not go into detail about her relationship with her own family, but her leaving home at 17 years old with an older man would indicate it must not have been ideal. What was Ms. Rivera running from? What was she looking for? If she had indulged her parents' request to talk with a professional, it may have shed some light on valuable insights or uncovered past emotions not yet dealt with.

There will always be a line drawn between heterosexuals and homosexuals. The premise from which they operate is based on two different belief systems. Heterosexuals, by and large, believe and accept Biblical principles regarding the purpose for which God created a male and female. Therefore, they cannot in clear conscience condone homosexuality. Homosexuals, on the other hand, cannot accept Biblical principles regarding creation because the Bible is explicit in its condemnation of homosexuality. Therefore, homosexuals must either ignore or modify Biblical viewpoints regarding this issue in order to create a belief system that will allow them to live their chosen lifestyle.

Let us, for humanity's sake, hold dear the common ground that can be found between us.

MARY PICKENS-LYMUEL Los Angeles, Calif.

FOR BROTHERS ONLY

I would like to thank EBONY magazine for "Life Is Not A One-Act Play," which appears in the "For Brothers Only" column (March 2001). Right now I am in a predicament where the curtain is about to go up for my second opportunity and chance at life. I can really relate to this article. By seeing and reading "Life Is Not a One-Act Play," it really lifted my spirits and motivated me more to want to go and be a productive citizen, and prove to my mother that I can be the Black male that she raised me to be.

BERNARD BRYANT Washington, D.C.

I'm writing in response to the column, "The Real Object Of The Dating Game" (Jan. 2001). Although this column, "For Brothers Only,' is targeted For Black men, as a single African-American Sister who's concerned about her future relationships and the future relationships of African-Americans everywhere, I must respond. I do agree with the writer, Kevin Chappell, that the object of dating has become an obsession tainted with the concerns of the successes of their potential partners. I don't agree with the writer's view that Sisters at large aim to judge Brothers by the weight of their success because it's not entirely tree. There are still many of us on the scene who see behind the expectations portrayed through media and entertainment. These sources glorify finding a partner who has the physical attractiveness of a supermodel and the riches to buy anything. I would like the writer to rest assured that there are still many warm-hearted Sisters who view love and dating as unconditional. I am one of those people.