Madonna and Sean
Hooray for Madonna and Sean Penn (PEOPLE, Sept. 2). I wish them all the happiness in the world. One thing does bother me, though. Because of Madonna's "Boy Toy" image, people assume she has married Penn for reasons other than love. I hope they prove everyone wrong and stay married for many, many years. But whatever happens, they'll still have the love of many fans. Me included.
Julie Stanfill
Dexter, Mich.
The media have really reached an all-time low. Never in my life have I been more outraged than I was at the treatment of Madonna and Sean Penn and their wedding. True, they are celebrities, but even celebrities deserve to have a wedding day not invaded by hovering helicopters. To Mr. and Mrs. Penn, I raise my glass in wishing you a grand life together. As for the media, I take the same glass and throw it at you.
Janet Carol Davis
Arlington, Texas
Your article on Madonna and Sean Penn's wedding was great. You made it seem as if their wedding was just as normal as anyone else's. I was very pleased to find that there was one story that didn't degrade how they dressed, acted or looked.
Heather Thompson
Alexandria, Va.
Please, please, please, no more Madonna! Believe it or not, there are those of us who do not feel a burning desire to be informed every time the woman sneezes. Give us a break.
Mary McKay
Tampa, Fla.
Madonna in a white wedding gown—now that is funny.
Carolyn Coon
Silver Spring, Md.
Don Ameche
I am in Don Ameche's age bracket so I was delighted to hear about him again. When producers are scouting around for a "rib-tickling" show, why don't they revive the oldie where Ameche and Frances Langford were in twin beds hashing over the day's happenings. It was a delightful family show, and our family never missed it.
Catherine Luke
Tucson, Ariz.
In the late '40s Ameche was the voice of the beleaguered husband John, and his nagging wife, Blanche, was portrayed by both Frances Langford and Marsha Hunt in the radio comedy The Bickersons.
—ED.
Monica Wright
Good for you, Monica Wright, for having so much determination and willpower that you've overcome alcoholism. What makes it even more meritorious is that you've used your experiences to help others with situations like your own. Congratulations!
Dede Lloyd
Springfield, Va.
I am also a recovering alcoholic with almost 14 months of sobriety after a 12½-year fight with the bottle. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this story, for it gave me new courage and willpower in my forever fight not to drink. Stories like this one should be published more often because of the increasing number of alcoholics in the U.S. The disease of alcoholism is a killer for both young and old. People should see that there still is life after drinking. It's not easy, but it's not impossible.
Patricia C. Cole
Oakland, Calif.
Pete Rose
We've loved and hated Pete Rose for years. We love him when he plays somewhere else, and we hate him when he plays against our Pirates. Number of games vs. number of hits is hogwash! Pete Rose is the best, ever, period. Congratulations, Pete.
Jim and Denise Cordes
Beaver Falls, Pa.
Jennifer Beals
I have waited so long for an article on the beautiful and talented Miss Beals. I admire her ability to pursue two careers, film and school, at the same time, both of which require complete dedication. Boy, if I went to Yale I would certainly talk to her. Keep up the good work, Jennifer.
Paul Barnes
Dallas
Mail
I took great exception to the letter from Karen Strecker of Maryland. "There is only one reason a woman, contracts to have an abortion—because she wants to have the fetus destroyed." That sounds all cut and dried, so plain and simple; but there are hundreds of "reasonable reasons." How about incest? A mother's health? And how about my reason for an abortion at the age of 17? Rape. I was brought up a strong Roman Catholic, had great faith and was disciplined and raised with high morals and ideals. I guarded my virginity all through high school, hanging on to it even when I didn't want to, because I had been taught it was the most precious thing a woman could give a man. Well, at 17, my virginity was taken away from me by two strange men. And since I couldn't bring myself to tell anybody about it, how do you suppose I felt two months later to find I was pregnant? With my religious upbringing, it was damn hard to make the decision I did; even harder to scrape the money together that I needed. In no way was I going to try to convince my parents that I hadn't been "impure" or "loose." When it was over, all I can remember feeling was a great sense of relief. I have never felt guilty and I have never lost my faith. Today I have two beautiful, healthy children, conceived in love, not violence, and a husband who is a devoted father. I never felt I made the wrong decision; I did what I had to do. I don't believe abortion should be used as a form of birth control, but I do believe there are times when it is necessary; and I thank God every time that I had a clean, sanitary, legal place to go and didn't end up in some butcher's hands.
Name withheld
Manchester, N.H.
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