To the editor:

I would like to respond to the comments of R.K. Butts regarding the upcoming fundraiser, “Murder Among the Mateys,” a benefit for Children’s Hospital at Providence and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation put on by The Brianna Gregory Memorial Foundation.

Brianna Gregory lost her battle with cystic fibrosis the day before her 13th birthday. She was enthusiastic, loving and kind. Charismatic and compelling, Brianna had a heart for kids who deal with life-threatening and chronic illness on a daily basis. She also enjoyed dressing up in costumes and playacting.  She would have loved our murder mystery dinners. As to the theme of our May murder mystery being “inappropriate” all I can do is shake my head. Are the parents who allow their children to dress up as pirates for Halloween these depraved and sick people that Mr. Butts accuses us of being? “Muppet Treasure Island” based on the classic novel “Treasure Island” by Robert Lewis Stevenson was one of Brianna’s favorite movies. Is Mr. Butts completely unaware that there is an entire section of Disney World dedicated to this very theme, not to mention the hugely successful movie series, “Pirates of the Caribbean?” Has he written letters to Disney and Johnny Depp informing them of their political incorrectness? And what about “Peter Pan?” There is actually an official “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” on Sept. 19 every year.  Does Mr. Butts think it will be canceled because of the Somali pirates? There is also an entire contingent of Pirates as part of the Renaissance Faire held in Anchorage every year. 

As to his broad, ethnic-slurring statement regarding the Vikings, I find it difficult to believe, based on that statement alone, that you printed his letter. What are all the people from Minnesota going to do about their football team? Perhaps he should write a letter to ADN and ask them to boycott the comic strip “Hagar the Horrible.”

I promise that not a single participant at our dinner theater will be raped, keelhauled, put in irons, kidnapped or harmed in any way without their explicit consent. We will, however, have a fabulous dinner, laugh a lot, seek out numerous treasures (some worth hundreds of dollars), laugh some more, compare parrots and eye patches, and say “Arrrrr, Matey!”  — and hopefully raise thousands of dollars for the children of Alaska.

Lorinda Moss

Wasilla