The plight of cast-off first wives of celebrities (PEOPLE, Oct. 14) failed to move most correspondents, many of whom say they too were dumped by their exes, but without the balm of a hefty divorce settlement.
REAL-LIFE FIRST WIVES
While I admit divorce is painful whether one is rich or poor, I have little sympathy for first wives who, by virtue of having been married to someone rich and famous, receive more per month in child support than I make in a year. Most of us first wives would love to get over our divorces and be financially secure, but apparently that only happens in Hollywood!
ANNE MORGAN, Denton, Texas
MAIL
For 31 months I have been struggling to live with the death of my 16-year-old son Michael, who was shot in the back after a verbal confrontation with three young gang members. After reading Jack Berkus's letter dismissing the importance of Tupac Shakur's death, I felt compelled to respond. I despise gangsta rap and everyone who profits by promoting violence among our youth, but we should all be outraged every time someone is shot down in our streets! When we dismiss the death of a gang member as "deserved," we leave our children in danger. We need zero tolerance for murder and to stop making some lives more important than others. Until we do, we are all in the line of fire.
SHERRY L. IVERSON, Las Vegas
I must respond to Ruth Ann Harrell's letter regarding Margot Kidder's use of Depakote rather than lithium to control her manic depression. I understand Ms. Kidder's fear of lithium since I suffered severe side effects from it. By taking Depakote, Ms. Harrell, Ms. Kidder and I aren't "kidding ourselves," we're simply taking the superior medication for us.
KATHLEEN COPELAND, Kenmore, N.Y.
NARCISO RODRIGUEZ
Can someone please explain to me all this hoopla over Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress? I have an off-white nightgown that bears a striking resemblance to this "stunner." It cost me all of $40. It's a shame we don't run in the same trendy crowds—I would have been happy to let her know that I could have saved her $39,960!
DEBBIE ROCKWELL, Fort Myers, Fla.
EKATERINA GORDEEVA
I did not know Ekaterina when her husband passed away. The first time I spoke with her was last February, when she called me late at night after my husband, Steve, died suddenly and she learned of it from my sister, whom she knew slightly. Like Sergei Grinkov, my husband was young, athletic and apparently healthy, and like Ekaterina, I was left a single parent with young children. She shared with me the grief and loneliness and fears she felt at a time when I believed no one else could understand what I was going through. I hope her book will allow the public to learn from her in a way that I have been fortunate enough to do privately.
RANDI R. GEFFNER, Los Angeles
ELIZABETH DOLE
Elizabeth Dole went to Harvard Law School and gained top Cabinet posts in two Republican administrations. She is a strong woman with her own mind, and her husband listens to her. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton went to Yale Law School. She is also a strong woman with her own mind, and her husband treats her as his equal. How is it that Hillary is so often criticized and branded as controlling but Elizabeth is to be praised? Sounds like a double standard to me.
VIMALA NOWLIS, Fresno, Calif.
Elizabeth Dole would be an outstanding First Lady. She is service-oriented and would help put the First Lady
back where she needs to be, standing beside her husband, supporting him, not using his job.
JEANNETTE LEE, Taylor, Ariz.
CHARLIZE THERON
I am shocked by actress Charlize Theron, who felt there was "no future for a white South African" after anti-apartheid and affirmative action laws were initiated. How does she feel the blacks of South Africa felt during the years of apartheid? To be disappointed that equality ended a privileged life is racist and inconsiderate.
KRISTIN ALLEN, Valley Village, Calif.
SHAUN HUGHES
Twenty years and three surgeries ago, I battled malignant melanoma from a mole on my shoulder. Shaun Hughes is right when he says, "Unless you've had cancer, it's hard to explain how the experience haunts you." Please give us "sun-sensitive" people peace of mind by giving the address of his company for sun-protective clothing.
DIANNE SELLERS, Roanoke, Va.
Direct inquiries to Sun Precautions Inc., 2815 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201 or call 1-800-882-7860.—ED.
STAR TRACKS
You claim Fergie's workouts have trimmed her to a size 8. Give me a break! Everybody knows the more expensive the clothes, the smaller the size you'll wear! When you pay $450 for a pair of slacks, you won't see a size-14 tag on the inside!
CHRISTINA SCALICE, via e-mail
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