DOS:
Department of State.
BEAST:
This is Jamie Moses from Artvoice in Buffalo. I sent the
Secretary of State a letter last week, and I wanted to know
if he'd gotten a chance to respond to it.
DOS:
I'd have to give you the Public Affairs line...
BEAST:
They already told me that they can't help me. I'm a little
concerned. I sent him this letter about these people who
write for the Nation, and are part of the ACLU, and he doesn't
seem to be taking it seriously, and I wanted to know when
he could respond to it.
DOS:
Uh...Okay, is it dealing with overseas issues and countries,
sir?
BEAST:
Well, not exactly, it's dealing with my competitor in Buffalo.
They're a small new newspaper, they have a circulation of
about 10,000, and I think it's an urgent issue...
DOS:
(baffled) Are you calling the U.S. Department of State,
or your state State Department?
BEAST:
The U.S. Department of State. Colin Powell.
DOS:
Well, he wouldn't have anything to do with that, sir!
BEAST:
Why not?
DOS:
But that's in your state!
BEAST:
But these people write for the Nation! They're part of the
ACLU!
DOS:
No, but we deal with overseas issues and countries!
BEAST:
Exactly!
DOS:
Uh... well, uh, Public Affairs will have to help you, sir.
BEAST:
(bitterly) Thanks.
DOS:
Yeah. Thank you.
Last
week, Artvoice publisher Jamie Moses sent a letter to General
Colin Powell to "warn" him about the BEAST. Concerned that
he may not have gotten a response, we decided to call up the
Department of State in Washington (202-647-4000) on his behalf:
