Ben Affleck: Male Douchebag

Regarding "Affleck ‘still grappling with terrible legacy’" (Thursday Celebrities, A2), actor Ben Affleck was apparently traumatized by the discovery that he had slave owning ancestors during the filming of an episode of the PBS genealogy series “Finding Your Roots”, so much so that he insisted the producers not include that information in the episode, nor ever make it public.  

Not content to leave well enough alone, when the cover-up was exposed, he went on to rationalize his involvement by offering a feeble apology that directed blame away from himself, and onto everyone else, offering some of the most precious qualifiers by a celebrity in recent memory: “I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors, and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery.”

Except that Affleck didn't just have an "initial thought": he actively promoted a cover-up.  As to the "degree of interest in this story", it is more likely because we are, as a nation, fascinated when celebrity motormouths make hypocrites out of themselves.  Affleck is a legendary liberal scold, regularly reminding America of its shortcomings, but he did get one thing right: on the issue of slavery, we all deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors.  By saying this, I wonder if he realizes the terrible disservice he has done to his scores of friends who so enjoy getting on their high horse, and trying to convince us otherwise?

Pete Smith

Houston, TX

And Harry Reid thinks Obama can pass for white but still speak black if'n he wants to

Regarding the "Three Republican Amigos!" (Page B9, Wednesday) political cartoon, no doubt David Horsey thought it would be amusing and relevant to ridicule Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush for their ethnicity and the ethnicity of their wives and relatives.  I wonder if he stopped to consider that his ridicule is also blatantly racist?  More to the point, did Chronicle editors suffer even a twinge of doubt before publishing it?

Pete Smith
Houston, TX

Chutzpah - Houston Texan Style

Regarding "Who’ll pick up tab to get stadium ready for big game?" (Monday Front Page), it was refreshing to read of a public official finally saying no to a money grab by a professional sports organization, in this case Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack, who declared “I’m not about to vote to spend a single dollar of county money updating these luxury suites.” 

His reaction certainly reflects public sentiment, and that no doubt explains the stark difference in the way the NFL and Texans' owner Bob McNair are speaking now, as opposed to the past couple months.  In February, NFL representatives were bluntly demanding the improvements, and in March, McNair went so far as to suggest NRG Stadium might go the route of the Astrodome unless taxpayers ponied up. 

This go-round, NFL representatives are making polite suggestions, while Mr. McNair is mostly silent.  How to explain the change in tone?  I'm not sure, but it likely has something to do with the backlash from fans who recall former Oilers owner Bud Adams making similar threats regarding the Astrodome, getting similar payoffs, and leaving Houston in the lurch anyway.  Not a good role model to emulate.

Pete Smith

Houston, TX