Good Sports?
To the Editor:
Mayor Herenton told Duncan Ragsdale to “get the hell
out” of his office. And being the professional that he is, Ragsdale
obliged the mayor. But not before taking Willie’s free NBA-arena luxury suite
with him! LOL!!
Joe Mercer, Memphis
To the Editor:
This is a message from a six-year season ticket owner to Michael
Heisley, the owner of the Memphis Grizzlies: You are the weakest link!
Goodbye!
Jess Ketchum, Vancouver
To the Editor:
The recent NBA arena court ruling proves that we are a nation of
laws, not of men. The “men” are our elected officials and the
ownership group. Rather than having the arena rammed down our throats it
appears that our democracy will allow us to decide if we want this additional
arena.
The Redbirds stadium was not built with public funds. The private
owners assumed the risk and that is how it should be with professional
basketball. If the NBA and the ownership group feel they cannot assume the
risk, they should learn to live with The Pyramid or find some other community
to dupe.
Ned Smith, Memphis
Ethnic Pandering
To the Editor:
In his article, “Ethnic Pandering,” (Viewpoint, July
12th issue), Charlie Cook wrote of “the Puerto Rican vote,”
“the Catholic vote,” and others. We speak casually of the labor
vote, the farm vote, the Jewish vote, and others. Why can’t we just speak of
the American vote?
To identify the political preferences of certain groups may give
a misleading picture of voting behavior. Such distinctions fail to take into
account the impact of national and international developments and the
personality of the individual voter.
Arthur Prince, Memphis
Blind Fools
To the Editor:
“There are none so blind as those who will not see.”
Those words express the characteristics of the Legislature of Tennessee, which
has for the second time sacrificed common sense in fear of the mob. The fools
in Nashville may enjoy the confidence of some of the people, but the world
treats them with contempt and reduces the state’s credit rating, exacerbating
the difficulties they must eventually confront.
I do not expect the electorate to rise up and replace these
legislators, because the electorate is satisfied with them. Indeed, when the
possibility of a lottery is presented in November 2002, I expect the
electorate to supinely follow the advice of the Mississippi casinos and the
hardshell religious leaders in Tennessee and reject the lottery, so that
Tennessee money can continue its headlong flight from our state into our
neighbors’ treasuries.
Martyn Finch, Memphis
No Fast Track?
To the Editor:
On June 13th Representative Phillip Crane (R-Ill.) introduced
“fast track” legislation in the House of Representatives which would
give “trade protection authority” to the president, including
authority to negotiate trade treaties for the next six years.
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is very concerned about
the president getting such authority, because fast track allows legislative
bodies to give only a yes or no vote, keeping Congress from having input on
specific trade agreements. Proponents of fast track say it will expedite the
implementation of trade agreements. However, the current proposal in the House
includes no standards for labor and environmental concerns.
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center urges Flyer readers
to contact Congressman Ford and let him know that when you’re on the wrong
track, fast track is a bad idea.
Julie Rogers, Executive Director
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Memphis
Memorial Alert
To the Editor:
West Stone Works has been selected to build the World War II
memorial at Overton Park for residents of Shelby County who died in the war.
There are over 800 names that will be placed on the monument, and in order to
make sure no one is missed we have placed all of the names on our Web
site.
We’d like to tell all Flyer readers that if they want to
make sure their loved one is on the list, they have until the first week of
August to check the site and give us any names that may have been missed.
Our Web address is www.weststoneworks.com.
Paul West, West Stone Works, Germantown
The Memphis Flyer encourages reader response. Send mail to:
Letters to the Editor, POB 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. Or call Back Talk at 575-
9405. Or send us e-mail at letters@memphisflyer.com. All
responses must include name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters should
be no longer than 250 words.
