Dear editor:
Your story “Pay Phone” by Michael Glab [January 7] was repulsive in its obvious anti-Asian, antiminority racism. I’m offended that your holier-than-thou, PC publication would even print it.
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I can’t understand why Glab had to unleash his white man’s venom (and that of his neighbors) on this unsuspecting Korean merchant. Not only did he basically call her cheap and filthy, he implied those traits were because of her ethnic background. As well, while Glab never bothered to describe his looks or those of his white neighbors, he described the Korean merchant with “her face was grim, and her eyes narrowed whenever . . .” With his obvious dislike for Koreans, I’m surprised Glab didn’t add that her eyes narrowed “more than they already did” because of her race.
Then, to top it off, Glab felt himself a hero for vandalizing the merchant’s telephone and blaming it on kids. What a cock! As if he felt that merchant was somehow getting so rich off a lousy pay phone (she probably made $200 a month off it, tops) that he could vandalize it at will and she wouldn’t suffer because of it.
Michael Glab replies:
I knew while writing the story that I ran the risk of offending some people who might interpret my characterization of the woman as racist. But the key to understanding the story was the acknowledgment that we, as white and comfortable people, the overwhelming majority in this little neighborhood, could convince ourselves we were victimized by this single person–a ludicrous conclusion. If I offended anybody who loathes even the appearance of racist implications, I’m sorry. Now, about your use of sexist slurs . . .
