Dear Ms. Bono-

Thank you so much for your reply to my letter protesting the new "procedures" the MBTA has implemented for performers and musicians. I am sorry to tell you- but I must- that upon reading your letter, I am even MORE in opposition to the new policy than I was before- which is really saying something. And I have no intention of embracing it- in fact, I will do everything I know how to do to fight it, because it certainly is not in my best interests!

These days, "September 11^th" is a buzz phrase bureaucrats use at every turn to implement ridiculous policies in every corner of our lives. These policies greatly lessen our enjoyment of life and lead us to a lifestyle of constant fear. I’m sick of living my life in fear that some terrorist is going to blow me up tomorrow- aren’t you? Don’t you think it’s a little ridiculous? We are now encouraged to think there are Al Qaeda terrorists around every corner, at the foot of every child’s bed, hiding in every cookie jar! Ludicrous! Are we to live our lives like terrified sheep, killing all the enjoyable things in our world like music and art and magic and everything else we’re supposed to be afraid of now, just so we can be "safe"? We could all be perfectly "safe" if we stayed inside nuclear-proof, concrete, windowless bunkers and lived on hard tack and water until the end of our days, too. Is that how you want to live? Myself, I’d rather do the things I love in life without reserve or fear- wouldn’t you? That way, if someone DOES blow me up, I will know I have led a full and exuberant life, and die without regrets. This, to me, is what it means to be an American The policy the MBTA has created to destroy- yes, destroy — the lives of most of the local musicians who play the T are indicative of lives which embrace fear, mundanity, and hatred of all things interesting.

How would a subway bureaucrat know who is "qualified" to play music? Did you consult any real musicians? Somehow I doubt it. Outrageous! Clearly the people who designed this policy HATE musicians and artists- they are probably jealous, because artists have a lot more fun in life than they do. They are members of the anti-fun, anti-joy, anti-happiness brigade, and it is they, not the subway musicians, who must be stopped. Your talk of "task forces" speaks of military minds, who seek only to destroy- not artistic or even human minds, which seek out life and happiness. And what about "neat appearance"? Does this mean they will all have to wear a suit and tie? What about the homeless people, the poor people, and the mentally ill people who are talented musicians and can do little else in life to support themselves? I have never, ever- not ONCE- missed a service announcement, or not seen a sign or map, or been obstructed in any way by a performer. Don’t we already have rules in place for anyone who obstructs these things? The sports fans who pour into the stations after baseball and hockey games are far more of a distraction for announcements and by-ways than any musician I’ve seen in seven years- are you going to ban them, too? Do we need to regulate every single iota of our existence in order to be safe from danger? Seems to me this policy is more about "cleaning up undesirable". Someday, Ms. Bono, you, too, might be considered an "undesirable". Any one of us could. That is why things like this are so disgusting. Bring me any human being who is not "desirable", and I will show you a million lessons from divinity. . .

What do you really love to do? Perhaps you don’t yet know- a lot of people don’t(if not, I hope you find it soon, and can have the joy of it). But I can’t imagine being a subway official is at the top of the list. What do you love most in the world.? Because I can assure you, they will come for it. All the fear mongers and people who bandy the word "terrorist" about every time they want the public to jump- they will come for the thing you love, just as you are coming for what these musicians love most. The thing you love most will be decried as dangerous, or a health hazard, or immoral, or inviting to terrorists, and you will no longer be allowed to do it. All the people who become happy in your presence because you do that thing will be depressed. And you will be miserable. Only then will you understand how completely wrong and odious this thing you are participating in doing to all the musicians in the subways is. In London, about ten years ago, they tried to implement similar policies in the subways because of the much more real threat of NRA terrorists. The public outcry was so vast they revoked it immediately, and let all the musicians go back to what they were doing before. That outcry was far, far more disturbing to service announcements and safety procedures than leaving well enough alone ever could have been. And besides- in Britain, the bombs were hidden in brief-cases, not amplifiers and instruments. Why not ban those, or lap tops, or large coats, as I suggested before? Or would that be too offensive to the rich people riding the subway, who are of course more "desirable" than the poor? I am hoping there will be an outcry here, too, no matter how many times I am late for work, even if I get fired, because I know if we can get rid of this ridiculous new policy we will have won a small victory for real freedom in this country- the freedom to live in the pursuit not of profit, cleanliness, and good manners, but of life, love, and happiness.

I realize that you are the Blue Line Chief, and probably not one of the authors of this odious set of rules(at least I hope not!). The letter you sent looks like it might be a form letter, though I would give you the benefit of the doubt. I hope you are thinking of ways to slacken this policy as fast as possible, and to fight it however you are able. I really do. I, at any event, will be right at the front of the folks trying to put a stop to it.

Respectfully yours-

Katt Hernandez