Hot night in PPT’s ‘Chicago’ OK now

In response to Leah Fry’s letter Wednesday (‘A/C needed in theater):

First of all, thank you for complaining about the problem. Many people keep issues to themselves and we never hear about them until the 20th person tells us about something they heard someone say about something that happened six months ago.

There is a house manager (with a name tag) in the lobby of every show to help with any needs or problems. If they cannot address the concern at that time, they can get word to someone who can.

We hope all our audience members realize there is help available.

Specifically on Friday night, the Meroney Theater’s HVAC system has an energy-saving setting to bring in outside air when extreme heat and air are not needed. Friday was a nice day. Once the show began, it was obvious with close to 400 people in the theater that extra air was needed.

However, with close to 400 people, the system cannot cool the room in just a few minutes. I hate you left at intermission because by the second act, the theater was comfortable.

After the show, one lady wearing a sundress said she got cool. One gentleman wearing a suit thanked us for the air. The orchestra wearing tuxedos loved the cool. The cast wearing next to nothing thought it got a bit too cool. The crew was concerned because some of the scenery moved in the breeze created by the air conditioning.

We want to make everyone’s experience at the Meroney a good one. Sometimes it is hard to please everyone. But if you keep talking to us, we will try.

— Reid Leonard

Salisbury

Civil disobedience

This letter is in response to Ronnie James’ April 8 letter (‘Illegal activity’):

Looking back over the course of history, civil disobedience has been an effective way to facilitate positive change within our country. One does not have to look far into the history of our country to see how civil disobedience has promoted positive changes to our government.

It was illegal for those four young men to sit at Woolworth’s lunch counter in 1960. To look a little farther back it was illegal for women to try to vote in the early 1900s. And even further back near the inception of our country, the Boston Tea Party was an illicit act.

Each of these acts at their time in American history flouted the existing laws, yet retrospectively we see these as acts of courage to help bring much needed social change to our country.

Mr. James, I would like to recommend an essay for you to read, “Civil Disobedience” by Henry Thoreau. This is an exceptional treatise which espouses the need of the individual to use his or her conscience, not the law, to dictate their actions.

Thoreau argues that, since it receives its power from the majority, government rules based on strength, not necessarily on the most legitimate viewpoint. After establishing this tenet he expands on his idea that since humans must prioritize their actions in accordance with their conscience, when the government’s acts are unjust a person should refuse to follow the law.

Mr. James, it takes bravery to stand up to injustice. I stand behind the Salisbury Post for publishing a story about these women and their act of courage.

— Emma Labovitz

Salisbury