EGYPTIAN WORKSHOP. The University of Memphis Institute for Egyptian Art and
Archaeology will host the second workshop allowing families to tout the
exhibit “The Gods of Ancient Memphis,” University of Memphis Art Museum. Free.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
And, need we remind you: THE MID-SOUTH FAIR!
Two weeks ago, 26-year-old Drew Pritt, a political science major at the University of Memphis and president of the university?s College Democrats, was standing in a Q-and-A line at a campus “town meeting” on the subject of campaign-finance reform, which just that little bit of time ago was a prime point of contention among political junkies and poli-sci students. The panelists at the meeting, all of whom had come to Memphis on behalf of the McCain-Feingold bill, were illustrious members of Congress — Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin himself, Rep. Marty Mehan of Massachusetts, Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of hometown Memphis, et al., et al. Pritt had lined up in order to balance and, if possible, refute the highly organized claque of College Republicans who had gotten in the Q-and-A line to ask leading, unfriendly questions of the panelists.
That was then, this is now. Pritt will shortly be lining up with other Republicans and Democrats and independents — not to ask questions at all but to follow orders. As soon as he heard of the atrocities perpetrated in New York and Washington, D.C., on September 11th, Pritt, a member of the inactive Army reserve, began to petition his local Memphis reserve unit to go on active service. He now has his wish, having been shifted to the active reserves and subsequently called up. He’ll be leaving within two weeks to be attached to a unit destined for parts unknown.
At some point in the period immediately following the terrorist attacks, Pritt had taken part in a candlelight vigil on campus in honor of the victims of September 11th and on behalf of national unity. There were speakers at the vigil — from the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faiths and from the ranks of secularists as well. One of the latter was a woman who espoused a Noam Chomsky-like line of military non-intervention and heatedly condemned in advance any potential warlike response to events on the part of the United States.
Pritt was offended and told the woman that he was trying as hard as he could to take part in just such a response “so that people like you may continue to have the right to say what you just said.”
Days later a fellow Democrat routed along on his e-mail network a Salon.com article (“Hell No, They Won’t Go — Yet” by Janelle Brown and King Kauffman) which clearly shared in the skepticism which the article had documented at San Francisco State Unviersity concerning the prevalent patriotic response in America at large. Pritt was offended all over again and responded along the same network with his own e-mail message (appended).
“I come from a family with a military tradition,” said Pritt, both of whose brothers are also in military units that will likely see duty in whatever kind of military conflict ultimately develops. (Brother David is a Master Sergeant with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, already deployed; brother Paul is a captain in the Army reserves and is also seeking activation.) Drew Pritt’s father, an Episcopal clergyman, is also a military veteran. “Plus,” says the bespectacled, buzz-cut Pritt earnestly, “I intend to have a political career, and I can’t see voting for anybody to do military service if I’m not willing to do it myself.”
So gung-ho was the young Pritt who volunteered for the Army reserve in 1997 that he would end up in a training unit at Fort Knox known as the “Mad Dogs” for its collective zeal and efficiency in inter-unit competitions.
Pritt, a Specialist holding the pay grade of E-4, counts himself a liberal Democrat and is aware that, by various stereotypes and standards, he?s a statistical freak. By way of accounting for his place in the scheme of things, he likes to quote a mantra which he picked up — believe it or not — from his first drill sergeant but which he thinks derives from Socrates: “Democracy is a hungry beast that must constantly be fed.
Interestingly enough, Pritt is just one of two called-up reservists who had been serving on the campaign staff of state rep. Carol Chumney, who seeks the 2002 Democratic nomination for Shelby County Mayor. (The other is Chumney’s press secretary, Bert Kelly, an officer in the Naval Reserve who is even now on duty in New York.)
Pritt’s written response to the Salon.com article (http://www.salon.com/letters/daily/2001/09/19/won_t_go/index.html) follows:
“While I enjoy the spirit of Freedom of Speech and the ideas of one individual, in fact, I literally fight for them, the reality of this article is the complete opposite is actually true. I can attest that recruiters statewide are reporting a marked increase of 30%-60%, depending where they are, in Tennessee. Nationwide, it’s an average jump of 35% from what usually happens. That’s an average of 4-5 individuals every two weeks joining.
“Furthermore, I have been activated by the U.S. Army, as I am a reservist. I join my brother Paul, Captain Tennessee Army Reserves, and my brother David, TSgt. 82nd Airborne, who are going off to defend freedom.
“I am also one of four University of Memphis students whose status has changed from inactive to active since Tuesday’s atrocities.
“So, no, this article is one individual, who apparently does make an interesting point. That point is that it’s unsure if they are fight-worthy. Well, take it from someone who passed Basic Training (Fort Jackson, SC) and ROTC Officer Basic Training (Fort Knox, KY), if these young people, as I suspect, have a desire to join, to give it their all, and to fight for the basic freedoms we all enjoy, then, trust me, we will see the marked increase [in enlistments].
“One other point, Afghanistan is not a contemporary war. The bad news is that Ghengis Khan, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union all had to call the colors and retreat. Secondly, conventional, high-tech weapons that were a mainstay of Desert Storm are not effective here in this rocky, mountainous, dangerous land. There are massive tunnel systems.
“This is not a partisan issue. This is as Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) said in her speech to the Senate floor, ‘This is the time for the world community to say either you are with us or against us. There is no in-between.'”
In one of Hamlet’s many famous speeches, the melancholy Dane declares, “I have
of late, though whrefore I know not, lost all my mirth.” So it seems has the
collective temperament of America. Modernhumorist.com hasn’t posted new
material in a week. Neither has theonion.com or mcsweeneys.net. On Monday
night, David Letterman returned to the air a changed man. His famous “nothing
is sacred” wit failed him. As it turns out, something was sacred, after all.
He and Dan Rather held hands and cried. Craig Kilborne likewise announced
that, for the moment at least, he planned to park his trademark smarm and give
earneastness a chance. And has anyone head a peep from Conan?
The question has come up: Is Fly on the Wall, a column typically laden with
cheap shots, sight gags, and sophomoric satire, appropriate at a time of
national mourning? Perhaps not. On the other hand,the best laugh I’ve ever
known was in response to a story delivered by the minister at my grandfather’s
funeral. The story went something like this: The preacher and my grandfather
were sitting in the town square conducting a civil conversation wihen a car
sporting “Yankee” tags pulled up. “Say, just how long has this town been
dead?” the driver asked. My grandfather looked him right in the eye and said,
“I don’t know — you’re the first buzzard to show up.”
At a time when we have been called upon to be superhuman, it is imperative
that we remember we are all too human. Whether righteous or wrongheaded, we
will make our share of manure, and where there is manure, there too is the
pesky Fly. We will continue as best we can.
BOOKSIGNINGS:
Ken Davis (Don’t Know Much About the Universe). 6:30 p.m. Davis-
Kidd Booksellers, 387 Perkins Ext.
Rick Bragg (Ava’s Man). 5-7 p.m. Burke’s Book Store, 1719
Poplar.
Steve Cason (FroggPond — a Third World Adventure). Noon.
Deliberate Ltierate, 1997 Union.
Well, this is it. My very first column for On the Fly. It will appear on this Web site every Thursday.
That’s all you readers need. Something else to keep you on the ‘Net.
But there’s a good reason for this. In many ways, this column will be a solution to a problem that all weeklies face: There ain’t enough room for sports. In fact, most weeklies don’t even bother with sports. The Memphis Flyer is something of an anomaly because our own Dennis Freeland carved a niche in the paper through his good works.
But despite his labors and my poor efforts in imitation, the Flyer can only give so much. In a town like Memphis, where practically every other remark is about sports, that’s a shame. Despite the myriad things going on with Tigers football, Grizzlies basketball, Redbirds baseball, River Kings hockey, as well as the college and prep sports, the Flyer publishes only one sports column a week. What we publish is helpful, but it necessarily ignores too many deserving teams each week.
You see, I go to all these press conferences. They’re one of the perks of the job and one of the downers. It’s a perk because I’m usually well-fed. There’s a reason for this and it isn’t because PR people like sportswriters.
It’s because the PR people are trying to suck up so that we will write about what is going on. Let’s face it, if they didn’t feed us, they would need a story bigger than Tigers football or Grizzlies basketball to get us there. And the Tigers and Grizzlies hand out food as well, so the smaller guys are still at a disadvantage.
But even the promise of food isn’t enough, because when the PR people get all the writers and TV people and photographers and radio people there, they have to beg for attention. They have to convince us that their sport is worth our prime real estate (a measly few hundred words) or the proverbial promised land (a full column).
And I know for a fact that there are plenty of athletes in this area giving everything they have for their team. They’re the ones without contracts, without agents, etc.
To be sure, this is not to bring down those professional and pre-professional athletes out there. This is to raise those sports up to the same level in this small, virtual way.
So, to begin, let’s talk about CBU. The Buccaneers are making serious noise. Their men’s and women’s soccer clubs, their women’s volleyball team, and their basketball squads deserve notice as well.
Also important is that the school dedicates itself to paying for many of these athletes’ education. Of course, that costs money. Enter CBU’s upcoming (and newly established) Athletes Celebration. This first-annual event will be held Sunday, October 7th, 5:30-10 p.m., and will feature MC Silky O’Sullivan, owner of that rather popular bar of the same name on Beale Street. All proceeds from the $50-a-couple dinner will go to the athletic scholarship fund.
“The University made a decision,” says athletic director Michael Daush of CBU’s interest in beefing up scholarship moneys. “We see athletics as a means to tell our story better.”
That story includes a private, affordable education, an urban campus, a 130-year tradition, and a 33% minority enrollment. “They’re the kind of kids people can be proud of,” Daush says.
Daush’s ultimate goal is simple and clear. “I am trying to stake a claim as the number 2 athletic university in this town,” he says.
You see? He’s honest and humble. A nice combination in an AD.
It’s a good story — how sports can be more than dollar signs, shoe contracts, and multimillion dollar arenas. Sports are more than superstar-caliber coaches and recruits. It’s a story about how sports help kids by giving them chances. And if those kids can kick some butt while they’re at it, why not give them some virtual ink?
At the very least, you won’t find the typical sports column here.
Other Stuff
Europe.
Congratulate me. I’ve finally joined the 21st century; I got myself a cellie.
Of course, by cellie I mean one of those highly annoying devices that beep during movies and broadcast diners’ conversations about warts and toe fungus in quiet restaurants. It seems now that I, too, can join the legions of Chatty Cathys that drive haphazardly while gossiping away about their bitchy co-workers. I’m very excited.
It seems surprising to me that I’ve gone so long without getting a cell phone. Both my parents have one, as does my sister and even my brother (still in high school). Basically, the only other person in my family who wasn’t wireless was my baby sister, and she doesn’t even drive yet. It was beginning to appear sort of pathetic.
At first, I thought I was sort of off-put by two of my dearest friends in the world. Both of them have always had an aversion to cells. I think they thought it was too “conspicuous consumption”: “Look at me, I can talk on the phone wherever I want.” And, of course, both of them were much in demand. With a cell, there was no excuse for them to not answer the phone. Not if it was in the middle of the day and someone really needed to talk to them.
My view was somewhat different. Mainly because I’m one of the original conspicuous consumers and because I’ve never been that much in demand. I
thought it would be sort of nice to have people NEED to talk to me. Or, really, just want to talk to me.
But mainly I didn’t get a cell because A) I was lazy and B) I was not financially suited for another expenditure. Neither of those two things has changed. I just made a decision.
I hate to say it, but … if September 11th showed us anything other than how totally unprepared we were for domestic terrorism, it was how useful cell phones are in modern society. Most of the information we know about the plane hijackings came from people calling their loved ones on air and cell phones. It’s sad, but without the cells, there would be so many questions left unanswered. And I know there are people who aren’t down with this, but I like the idea that some people got to say goodbye to their families.
The other part of this tragedy is that everyone has really pitched in to help out, and I felt like I needed to do my part. Only I wasn’t sure what to do exactly. I gave some money at the grocery store and at the pet store, but it didn’t seem enough. I’m not really comfortable in the rah-rah wear of flag T-shirts and Uncle Sam ties, and, really, what good does that do anyway? Besides making us look like goobers on international television. (I’m sick of people always talking about how stylish the French are; I think we should lead our own stylish American campaign, but that’s certainly neither here nor there.)
I thought of giving blood, but every time I’ve tried in the past, it’s never gone well. It seems almost worth it to keep my blood in my body.
I decided that I would help out via what I do best: shopping. (I recently went through my closet and realized that I had pretty much gotten everything at fire-sale prices. As in, if you’re not desperate to get rid of it, I don’t want it. I also found an outfit that I had forgotten I owned. I bought it, put it away somewhere, something else got piled on top of it, and then, when I cleaned the closet two months later, I had to look at the tags — yes, still there — to determine where it came from).
There’s no question we need to get the economy moving again. And what better way to show consumer confidence than by buying? Because while I didn’t have enough of the extra green for 100 shares of Coca-Cola or some sort of armament company, I did
have enough credit for a cell.
So now I’m in the 21st century. And I’m glad (I was in an automobile accident not so long ago and a cell phone would have come in very handy then), but I’m sad it had to take this to get me here. It certainly wasn’t worth it.
But now I’ve got to get busy. It’s time to do some more shopping.
Another airline announced layoffs Friday, and this one — Northwest, the Minneapolis-based line which maintains a Memphis regional hub — will have an impact on Tennessee. Northwest announced that it would reduce staffing levels by 10,000 emoployees,and it got an immediate response from U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-9th) of Memphis.
Ford issued a press release and dispatched a letter to Governor Don Sundquist. Both documents requested immediate aid -Ñ in the form of measures to facilitate unemployment claims or remove obstacles to such claims — for the affected Memphis-area workers. The congressman also requested that federal agencies and Congress provide funding for “islocated worker assistance.”p>The congressman planned a press conference for noon Saturday to comment on the airline relief bill passed Friday by Congress and to elaborate on his own proposals.
The text of the press release and letter follow:
WASHINGTON – In response to Northwest Airlines decision to reduce staffing levels by 10,000 employees, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) today announced a multi-faceted effort to help Northwest’s Memphis employees who may be impacted by the layoffs.
“The events of last Tuesday are having a ripple effect on the economy and it is imperative that we respond with all available means to help those facing a disruption in their lives,” Ford said. “There are several steps that can be taken right away and I will work with Governor Sundquist, Labor Secretary Chao and my congressional colleagues to respond as quickly as possible.”
Ford is urging Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist to waive federal labor regulations in order to expedite unemployment assistance for laid-off Northwest employees. Ford is asking Governor Sundquist to consider the following options:
* Waive the one week waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits.
* Back date claims to September 10 to help employees affected by the airport shutdown on September 11
* Eliminate the provision requiring workers to actively seek employment during the layoff period.
In addition, Congressman Ford is urging Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to set aside discretionary dislocated worker assistance funding for affected employees in aviation and related industries.
Ford also contacted House appropriators today seeking legislative language in the FY 2002 Department of Labor funding bill requiring the U.S. Secretary of Labor to make money for dislocated worker assistance available immediately upon the enactment of the legislation. Without such designation, the money cannot be expedited.
On Friday, Northwest Airlines announced it will reduce its service by 20% and will cut its workforce by approximately 10,000 employees. The job cuts, including 9,000 contract and 1,000 management positions will extend to all work groups. Northwest employees 3,000 people at its Memphis hub.
The Honorable Don Sundquist
Governor of Tennessee
State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
Dear Governor Sundquist:
I am writing to encourage you to take immediate action to assist workers laid off by Northwest Airlines, and associated industries as a consequence of the tragic events of September 11
.Earlier today Northwest Airlines announced lay offs totaling 10,000 employees in an effort to implement their previously announced 20% service reduction. These job cuts including 9,000 contract and 1,000 management positions will extend to all work groups, and ultimately cause a ripple effect throughout the Memphis area’s aviation intensive economy. Already countless caterers, hotels and related industries are being adversely affected
To assist affected workers through this difficult transition, your office can exercise discretionary authority to expedite the availability of unemployment compensation. Available options – some of which were recently exercised by Virginia Governor James Gilmore – include waiving the one week waiting period, back dating claims to September 10, and eliminating the actively seeking work requirement. As you know, these administrative options would have no effect on the state budget.
At the time of this writing, the Congress is still determining the final makeup of an aviation relief package. Wide agreement exists on providing $5 billion dollars of direct aid, $10 billion dollars of long-term loan guarantees, and $3 billion dollars to assist enhanced security measures. Less certain is whether this legislation will include “dislocated worker assistance,” a critical provision that would enjoy broad support.
Because aviation is critical to our economy, and Northwest is a crucial partner in our state’s economic future, I have actively pushed for these measures. I am committed to pursue these and other means to ensure Tennessee’s economic vitality, and I offer my office as a resource to your efforts to confront the challenges presented by last week’s despicable acts.
Sincerely,
Harold Ford Jr.
Member of Congress
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If David McCullough, the respected historian and author of best-selling biographies of presidents Harry Truman and John Adams, is to be believed, then Senator Fred Thompson has already made his decision to run again in 2002.
It has seemed fairly clear to many observers that Thompson’s omnipresence in Tennessee and on television talk shows since last week’s terrorist attacks augured a reelection run. But McCullough says the senator’s decision came just a mite earlier than September 11th.
As Allison Stevens of The Hill, a widely read Capitol Hill poop-sheet, renders it: “Thompson encountered McCullough on a downtown Washington street last week, just before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, and introduced himself. He told the historian he had been uncertain about whether he would run again, but after reading the 736-page [Adams] tome during the August recess, he changed his mind.”
Stevens quotes Thompson this way on the exchange: “Well, yeah, I — I did have that conversation with him. I don’t know the words that I used, but I certainly could have left that impression.”
Thompson said the terrorist attacks and their aftermath were important in reaching a decision as well. “[The crisis] has its effect, just like David McCullough’s book had its effect in another way, in a positive way. It’s just life and lives that we lead. I suppose everything goes into [these decisions].”
The senator said further: “[I’m] trying to address a very personal situation in the midst of turmoil and crisis and pressure. I kind of made the determination some time ago that I was going to absorb all these things and just see what kind of an impact they had on me, as I thought my way and felt my way through, as to what was right for me. I decided I wasn’t going to come to any conclusions in the midst of all this.”
The senator characterized McCullough’s Adams biography as “inspirational,” according to Stevens. “You know, a man who devoted his life to public service and who died without much in the way of physical asset, but who provided a great service to his country, it’s inspirational. And it had an impact on my thinking.”
Lest giddy Republicans get too carried away with the foregoing, the senator did issue a caveat. Said The Hill‘s report: “Thompson protested that the notion he had ‘changed his mind’ over the August recess ‘was a little strong’ and insisted that he has not made a final decision.”
Contrary to reports last year, Race for the Cure will take place in the Memphis area again this fall. The event, which raises money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is scheduled for Saturday, Octrober 20th, at the shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown.
Last year, the crew organizing the Memphis race announced that it would not take place in 2001 because the enormous number of participants had become too much for the volunteer group to handle. After a substantial, though undisclosed financial commitment from Kroger Delta Marketing Area, the group announced earlier this year the race would occur after all.
“We are pleased to announce that Kroger Delta Marketing Area has joined our efforts by bringing to the table a huge commitment to be not only our local presenting sponsor for the Race but also partnering with our affiliate’s year-round efforts to educate the community on breast-health issues,” says Nicole Roleson, the Memphis-area president of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in a press release.
Roleson later told the Flyer that Kroger, the presenting sponsor for the Komen race in Little Rock, approached the Memphis organizers and offered to sponsor here, too.
Last year the race drew 13,207 participants, its largest number ever, and raised $501,709 to donate to local and regional organizations and individuals. Roleson says that already her organization has received many registration forms for this year’s event.
Despite the large number of participants and money raised in last year’s event, controversy surrounded the race when men were not allowed to run the course. Volunteer opportunities for men were limited to the Ko-Men group, where they could help by manning trables and booths and giving water to runners.
Many men and women took issue with this limitation, saying that not only could men contract breast cancer but that they also suffered when the women in their lives contracted the disease.
Local race organizers defended the decision to exclude men from the race itself by saying that it was a day for women to come together and that it was important that female runners, who typically run slower times than males, cross the finish line first.
This year Memphis organizers agreed to allow men to run separately from the women. The men’s race will begin at 7 a.m. and will last approximately 45 minutes. Afterwards, the course will be cleared and a new finish line will be strung before the women’s race begins at 8 a.m.
“We took a look at who participates in other cities and realized that only three other [Komen] races in the country didn’t include men,” says Roleson. “I think that everyone will understand why we decided to have the men’s race and have it separate from the women’s race. So far we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from men.”
There are 112 Komen affiliate races across the country, and this will be the first time in the Memphis race’s eight-year history that men are allowed to run.
More information is available online at
www.komenraceforthecurememphis.com.
CENTER FOR SOUTHERN FOLKLORE. 119 S. Main St. (525-3655).The center hosts
“Beale Street Saturday Night,” historical musical dinner theater. $39.95.
Dinner 7 p.m., show starts 8 p.m. Thursdays. Reservations required.