I am in complete agreement with the March 20 letter writer who has "about had it with today's chummy restaurant servers who insist on calling me and my wife 'guys.' " I am always extremely careful not to use such lingo, and believe that it is high time that the rest of mankind … oops … oh, boy … no, not "oh, boy"… I mean … um, never mind.
Eric Brinksowner, Minneapolis
• • •
I praise the discerning judgment of the March 20 letter writer. He is my kind of guy, a man after my own heart. If he is correct and a restaurant server's job is to facilitate the diner's experience, then the majority of servers do not deserve the 20 percent tip we leave. The utterance of the first "guy" to the two of us, a heterosexual aging couple, decreases my pleasure in the dining experience. Each subsequent "guy," as in "How were the first bites, guys?" diminishes it further while increasing my irritation and displeasure. Sometimes I will complain, but it takes energy and is done reluctantly. Servers have a hard job that doesn't pay enough. I hate being critical, but my evening is being ruined.
This "guy" thing appeared out of the blue it seems about 10 years ago. It is everywhere: television newscasters, preachers at inclusive language churches, teachers of children, for pity's sake. We're experiencing a relapse into days of old when women were subsumed under the all inclusive "man," mankind, brotherhood. We rose above gender stereotyping in the 50s and 60s, but this flood of "guys" is washing that away.
Words have power. They shape the world. Thought should be given to what rolls glibly off the tongue, to the kind of world we are creating. Who will be its citizens and what will be valued? Bless the letter writer, a problem-solver whose remarks will speak for me. After placing an order in the future, I can gift an oblivious server with a copy and as we leave provide one to the manager. Enough said.
Janet Tripp, Minneapolis
• • •
It seems that now it's trendy to be offended. I am even offended because the March 20 letter is offended about a waitress referring to him and his wife as "you guys." I, a woman, have lived 86 years, and I have never been offended by anybody calling me one of the guys. I suggest that the letter writer get a life and stop his complaining about things that don't really matter.
Janet Llerandi, St. Paul
• • •
So while we're at it, has anyone else noticed how servers, clerks and receptionists are inclined to observe everything as "perfect"? I may do nothing more sensational than fork over a credit card in response to the "How would you like to pay" question, or supply a telephone number, or sign a payment receipt, and I am told, "Perfect!" Which sounds nice at first, but then I think if it was truly a perfect credit card, it would magically transfer my balance to Mr./Ms. MasterCard and send me flowers every morning, and just how low have our standards dropped if one can achieve perfection by handing someone a pen.
My curmudgeonly rant now finished, I want to thank all the hospitality and retail workers for doing jobs that require far more patience and good cheer than I would ever be able to muster. And I wish for all of us to experience true perfection, or at least something pretty close, every now and then.
Jeff Naylor, Minneapolis
COVERAGE OF WOMEN
The time for recognition is neigh — I mean, nigh
Fortune magazine ranks Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau in the "World's 50 Greatest Leaders" and the Star Tribune (local section, March 24) features a three-column by 8½-inch photo of a horse next to Harteau's miniature ½-by-1-inch photo. What's wrong with this picture?
Jo Carroll Lewald, Golden Valley
MOUNT SINAI's LEGACY
Hospital was a source of refuge, indeed, for Jews and many others
I read Curt Brown's "Anti-Semitism flared in Minnesota long ago" (March 19) with great interest, and I would like to add a footnote to his article.
Not only was Mount Sinai Hospital a place for Jews and others to give and receive excellent medical care, but it also played a key role in the fight against AIDS in the earliest years of the epidemic, when it significantly impacted another group society discriminated against, gay men.
Thirty-four years ago this month, the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP), loosely modeled after the New York City Gay Men's Health Crisis, held the first of many public meetings at Mount Sinai, on March 6, 1983, attended by 14 people. Mount Sinai was a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Minnesota Medical School and was one of the early providers of health care to people living with HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities. Later, in November 1987, Mount Sinai opened Clinic 42, the first private hospital-based outpatient HIV clinic in Minnesota. The name for the clinic is intentionally significant: "42" is the diagnostic code for HIV/AIDS.
Mount Sinai was a source of refuge and strength for Twin Cities' Jewish community and other marginalized groups. I'm thankful the hospital building stands today. Let our personal and collective memories of this special medical facility continue to inform us today, and in the future.
John Mehring, Minneapolis
SKYWAY SENIOR CENTER TO CLOSE
A blow to elders who use it and an emblem of our society
Friday will be an extremely sad day for many seniors 50 and older who have enjoyed our Skyway Senior Center since 2001 ("Hope for Skyway Senior Center dashed," Feb. 28). We have made many friends in this central location, and we have kept active and learned much from the various classes held there. We have had excellent directors whom we will miss greatly.
Now it is being suggested that we go to the downtown YMCA or the Northeast or Southwest senior centers, but really, they are not as convenient for us or are not filling the needs of our many seniors who live downtown or just enjoy being in the downtown community.
Is this the way the world today is planning to treat the elders of our society?
Joan Labernik, Minnetonka
THE CULTURE
A State Capitol song is a great idea — and, yes, it could be rap
I heard a story on the radio last Monday morning about a small legislative appropriation to commission a new song to celebrate the grand reopening of the newly refurbished Minnesota State Capitol building this summer. I think this is a great idea, and I'm grateful to Sen. Jim Abeler for authoring the legislation to commission the song, because I believe music has a unique way of bringing us together to share in a common celebratory experience.
Just the preceding weekend, my husband and I had attended the Northside Celebration Concert that highlighted the beauty and assets of north Minneapolis through music, spoken word and storytelling. At the concert, we were treated to soulful music from the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, rousing gospel songs from the Northside Celebration Choir, and powerful lyrics from hip-hop and rap artists of all ages. It was inspiring, and it reflected Minnesota in all its beautiful and colorful diversity.
With that memory fresh in my mind, I was disappointed to hear this from Sen. Abeler as he spoke about commissioning the State Capitol song: "It had better not be rap, or I'm going to ask for the money back. I hope it's something that inspires people." Ouch. I don't know what kind of State Capitol song we should have, but I do know this: Music — all kinds of music — should open our hearts and minds to opportunities, not close them to possibilities.
Laura Bloomberg, Minneapolis
The writer is associate dean at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
