_______________ TRUCKIN' TO DEADLAND, INC. BY SARAH VOWELL (01/09/98)

Sarah Vowell's article "Trucking Down to Deadland Inc." is one of the most pitiful pieces of literature I've had the misfortune to read. This scorned, spiteful woman has obviously had some sort of traumatic experience associated with the Grateful Dead, which I'll guess was caused by: 1. A "bad trip" at a Grateful Dead concert. 2. A relationship with a "Deadhead" who left her for the wide open road -- or just got sick of her. 3. Some pent-up adolescent anger that she attributes to her "hippie" parents that perhaps her therapist thinks would be a good idea to talk about. I could be wrong however, but her stereotypical ideas about the Grateful Dead's 30-year-old community are definitely just plain ignorant. The Grateful Dead's music has given inspiration and influence to hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of people. Many of these people have taken "respectful" jobs such as our doctors, our teachers, our lawyers (of whom every town has at least one of these professionals in their midst), our politicians (Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman have played at two inaugurations at the request of President Clinton), our professional athletes (Bill Walton, Jim Kelly, Steve Tasker, The Lithuanian Olympic Basketball team the band had sponsored and donated uniforms to so that they could participate in the Olympics), our national musicians/entertainers (Jane's Addiction, Cracker, Elvis Costello, Roseanne, etc.). Brainwashed dummies??? Hardly. I'm a 24-year-old male, a professional (network administrator), and have seen more than 70 Grateful Dead concerts. Ms. Vowell's assumption that all "Deadheads" are lazy potheads who can't think for themselves is about as good as any other typical ethnic stereotypes that are so popular with Klan members, Nazis and other hate groups. Faulheit Macht Frei? Ms. Vowell's cubicle should be inscribed with simple English: "Ignorance is Bliss." As for the greed she implies exists within the Grateful Dead, why didn't she investigate all the charity work the band has done over the last 30 years? This would have taken too much of her time as the list is incredible, so to put out uninformed bad journalism seems the easiest route. Faulheit Macht Frei, indeed Ms. Vowell. Peace. -- Troy Clayton Buffalo, N.Y. I'll say one thing for your Sarah Vowell ... she sure knows how to hate. -- Paul Bick I just wanted to write and commend you, Ms. Vowell, on your hilarious article on the proposed "Terrapin Station" project. My wife and I were almost reduced to tears (from the intense laughter) while reading your incredibly hateful and misinformed diatribe. We especially enjoyed the comparison of the people dancing to the people saluting Hitler. Only a person as astute and incisive as yourself could have come up with such a stunning, and obviously true, observation. Obviously your experience with the Dead and their music is limited. I'm sorry their songs aren't four minutes long, endlessly repetitive and infantile in lyrical content (read, pop music). This way there would be no effort or imagination needed in the playing or the listening of it. I'm sure you would agree imagination and improvisation are NOT something to be used in a musical (or any) environment. Telling me exactly what to think, with nothing open for my own interpretation, is exactly the way I would want it, right? Any Nazi knows that!! By "opening up" and improvising the music, one never knows where it might lead. What a scary prospect for a sheep -- er, expert -- like yourself I'm sure. Funny you should mention the Chicago Bulls. When a writer once told coach Phil Jackson that the complementary styles of play of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen reminded him of Lennon and McCartney, guess who Phil compared them to? None other than Mr. Sellout (Bob Weir) and Jerry Garcia. Would seem to me that if the remaining members of the band were such sellouts, they would have continued performing after Jerry's death as the Dead. This would have earned them far more than they are making putting together "Terrapin Station" (in which they are investing millions of dollars just to develop the plans for the project). I still don't understand why people who are unhappy, such as yourself, are so hostile towards those of us who find something that we truly enjoy. Just because you don't have anything in your life that inspires you or makes you feel good, why do other people who do make you feel threatened? As far as the Deadheads being a bunch of grimy, unbathed heathens, get a grip! I bathe every day , as well as wear a different outfit every day (whether to work or to a show ). All my friends who are Deadheads do likewise also. All of us are young professionals, with college educations. To lump us all together as dirty mindless morons is an extreme injustice, and one which we do not appreciate. In closing, thanks again for the laugh! -- Steve Depo

N E X T+P A G E+| Hate crime to some is right on to others