Letters: Bullish Behavior

The words elegantly and slaying do not belong in the same sentence, as they appear in Susan Orlean's "La Matadora Revisa Su Maquillaje (The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup)," in the December issue. It's wonderful to see women venturing into uncharted territory, but it's sad that anyone would participate in such a brutal sport. I can understand that what one culture values, another denigrates, but it made my blood boil to see this woman's experience glorified.

Kimberly Burton
Laguna Beach, Florida

I never dreamed I'd see the exploitation of animals glamorized in Outside. Cristina Sánchez is described as "an attractive, self-possessed young woman elegantly slaying a large animal in a somber and ancient masculine ritual." Somber and ancient, maybe, but there is nothing refined or majestic about the gory spectacle of bullfighting.

Kimberlie Nitti
Seattle, Washington

Thank you for the perceptive glimpse into the life of Cristina Sánchez. As one of the last bastions of male domination collapses, she deserves a rousing vuelta de honor.

Teri Segal
Livonia, Michigan

More Susan Orlean, please! her story was easily the best writing Outside has published-and I'm an old subscriber. You should consider making athletic ethnology a larger part of your editorial mix.

Bruce Millar
Phillips, Maine

Demon Pork
I was fascinated and repulsed by Kate Wheeler's "Peruvian Gothic" (November). Don Benigno Añazco's obsession to reclaim the Inca Empire is a very compelling tale, but I was disturbed that Wheeler wrote, "Adventism maintains that pork fills the body with demons." Seventh-Day Adventism does promote a healthful lifestyle that encourages abstinence from unclean meat such as pork, but we do not believe it is demon-possessed. We believe in what the Bible says, not in what Añazco does.

Andrew A. Pfeifer
Berrien Springs, Michigan

No Plunders, Please
The photograph of a grinning Woody Jasper holding two prehistoric vessels lifted from a submerged archaeological site was shocking ("Deeper," October). Removing artifacts from public lands is not only a criminal offense, but it also denies trained archaeologists useful data in reconstructing the heritage of Native Americans.

James R. Christensen
Spangle, Washington

The Editors Reply: The artifacts were removed to prevent plundering, as they were in an increasingly popular caving site. After being documented, they were turned over to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Dead-On December
Michael Paterniti's insight into the plight of the Burmese people, the Karen in particular, is commendable ("Come to Happyland," December). He accurately captured the struggle of the indigenous people on the Thailand-Burma border.

Naw Lily
Karen Youth Organization-USA
Bakersfield, California

Great December issue! Paterniti's story was perceptive and moving. Jack Hitt's essay on outdoor correctness was thought-provoking, as were Elizabeth Royte's report on the Iditarod and Susan Orlean's article on matador Cristina Sánchez-despite the animal-rights issues inherent in both. And any magazine that publishes Bruce McCall is tops in my book!

Julia Kinsey
Lago Vista, Texas

Correction: We incorrectly listed MET-Rx Engineered Nutrition MKP in "The Shakedown on Weight-Gain Powders" (Bodywork, December). The correct product is MET-Rx High Performance Ultramyosyn; each $2.50 serving provides 25 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 120 calories. Outside regrets the error.

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