Bates on Lott and Beatty

The juxtaposition of Warren Beatty and Trent Lott as soul brothers in Karen Grigsby Bates’ commentary (May 31) is about as farfetched an article as one can imagine.

Sen. Lott is doing this for his own amusement and entertainment and clearly doesn’t reach a wide audience. She is right about his thoughts on race relations.

Beatty, on the other hand, is a prominent figure in the Democratic Party but viciously attacks and skewers Democrats for their behavior in every way. Beatty clearly put his money, his reputation and possibly his future and career on the line in attempting to expose what politics are today. What does Lott’s singing prove?

Certainly Beatty emphasizes what is happening with black Americans, as this is the most oppressed and depressed group of people in the United States. Although I am not defending Beatty nor the Democratic Party, it is clear that he thought this movie through and tried to make a point. Unfortunately the point will be lost upon the American public just as it was upon Bates.

NATHAN H. GARVIN

Beverly Hills

* According to Bates, African Americans are the only ones who should be allowed to sing spirituals and rap. I guess we better lock up Johnny Mathis for crooning all those Caucasian standards.

JOHN ZAVESKY

Los Angeles

* I don’t make a habit of writing letters in support of rich white movie stars, but Bates’ inability to see the difference between Lott’s warbling of slave spirituals and Beatty’s rapping Bulworth begged a response. I suggest that Bates get a dictionary and look under “I” for “irony” and “S” for “satire” and, while she’s at it, “P” for “priorities.”

MICHAEL SIMMONS

Los Angeles