Barriers: Harrison Had a Golden Key

After reading Ruben Martinez’s “Beatle Without Borders” (Opinion, Dec. 9), I guess I should ask if it was a joke. Martinez tells of the magical night George Harrison (along with three white, rock star buddies) graced a gathering in honor of his in-laws. Wow! Harrison had enough humility to dine with his in-laws even though they were Mexican Americans who lived in Hawthorne. Why was he not sainted or at least given an honorary sombrero!

Martinez goes on to criticize the “white, middle-class Angeleno” for not getting to know his neighbors better (the Korean merchant and the Salvadoran maid). Well, I am a white, middle-class Angeleno and I once worked for Koreans selling furniture. They never invited me to their house or parties but we did have good relationships. I also worked for LAUSD in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Never once did a parent invite me to his or her house for a dinner or a fiesta, but we also got along well and had good parent-teacher-student relationships.

My point is that most of us in this world do not have a golden key like Martinez’s Fabulous George. Most communities are hesitant to allow outsiders in, but as usual, Martinez slings his arrows at his ever-present scapegoat, the white, middle-class American male. We know we’re evil but, please, the next time around, can Martinez provide a better example of the nefarious, middle-class, white male ways?

By the way, I married a Japanese Peruvian woman and I do more than attend her family’s parties; I actually live with them.

Adam White

Burbank

In his excellent piece on the marriage of Harrison to L.A.’s Olivia Arias (whom he described as “striking”), Martinez missed one crucial detail. Olivia was apparently quick-thinking and decisive as well as beautiful. In 1999, when a crazed fan broke into their house and stabbed Harrison, Mrs. Harrison reacted quickly by smashing a lamp over the intruder’s head, thus saving her husband from John Lennon’s fate.

Patrick Reddy

Santa Monica