NIP THEM IN THE BUD

So lead singer/songwriter Mike Webber, 22, doesn’t care if the name of his band--Nip Drivers--offends some people (“Nip Drivers Travel the Bizarre Route,” by Jeff Spurrier, Sept. 15). With sophomoric arrogance, he dismisses his critics: “It’s just a joke. . . . If people take offense to it, they probably take offense to a lot of stupid things.”

Well, Webber is right when he unwittingly defines his “joke” as a stupid thing. That’s exactly why it offends me. It’s stupid.

I’m a third-generation Japanese-American who resents having an ignorant, insensitive and presumptuous snot tell me that I shouldn’t be offended by racial slurs. Such public flaunting of blatant racism only helps to fuel, reinforce and perpetuate bigotry and hate.

BILL SHINKAI

Carson