To the editor:

I wanted to clarify a point that Mike Belt made in his description of Sherman Alexie Jr.’s presentation Oct. 29 at the Lied Center. When Mr. Alexie talked about April 15 as the “most patriotic day of the year” he was not “poking fun” at the final day for paying income taxes. Instead he was celebrating his civic responsibility to pay taxes (for him more than $90,000 last year).

Paying taxes, according to Mr. Alexie, is his way of contributing to the welfare of the society. He is aware, though, that 40 percent of his taxes go to support the military and not to improve communities. That is why he asked the audience to “start asking questions about paying those taxes.” When so many of our citizens are suffering because of the cutbacks in programs and services that have lost funding, Mr. Alexie’s message was refreshing to hear.

Joan Letendre,

Lawrence