Best Best Ever
To the Editor:
Good job on the “Best Of Memphis” issue (September 27th issue). Best ever. This expatriate, a native Memphomaniac, salutes your staff. By the way, please check out the Memphocentric Internet forum “only-in-memphis.com” on Yahoo Groups. You will not be disappointed.
Ed Owens
Knoxville, Tennessee
He’s Touched
To the Editor:
I am touched that I made the Best Of Memphis (Staff Picks). But why wasn’t my picture in there? I could have gotten some chicks outta that. Anyway, it’s an honor. It would be a bigger honor to write a weekly smart-ass article for you. One day you will come to your senses and jump on the Greg Graber train with the rest of this sleepy-ass town.
Greg Graber, Memphis
Tit For Tat
To the Editor:
If Muslims do not allow religious tolerance in their homeland, I think they should not whine about anger and discrimination against them in this country. I think discrimination against them is only fair. The Jews allow religious tolerance in Israel. Why don’t Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan? If and when they establish a small degree of religious tolerance, they will receive fair treatment here. The execution and imprisonment of Christian preachers and missionaries in their countries are grossly disproportionate to these offenses and are crimes against humanity that should be prosecuted in the World Court. Also, the $6 billion sent to Egypt and other Arab countries each year in foreign aid by the U.S. should be cut off.
Phillip Stephenson, Memphis
No Fear
To the Editor:
There is an Eastern saying: “Every tiger believes it is the first tiger.” So we stand at the beginning of the end of terrorism, fresh to the cause, tough enough, and with resolve.
Unfortunately, terrorism doesn’t fight fair; the terrorist strikes from the blind side of the tiger. Therein lies the aftermath of fear from September 11th. Even powerful resolve doesn’t assure protection. If we are resolved to the long-term neutralization of terrorism, we must be equally resolved to the renewal of faith in life and affirm its peace and promise in the present for ourselves and for our children.
Emerson prophetically wrote in his essay on war: “No man, it may be presumed, ever embraced the cause of peace and philanthropy for the sole end and satisfaction of being plundered and slain. … In a given extreme event, Nature and God will instruct him in that hour.” This is that hour and in this instruction we must trust.
To be an authentic force for justice in the world requires that we maintain a faith in life and peace. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist, said, “Be peace.” Extreme prejudice at home or abroad to eliminate terrorism by the terrible swift sword is not as protective as the calm resolve that fear will not prevail under any circumstance.
Tony Doyle, Memphis
Bush’s Moment
To the Editor:
In “Bush’s Moment” (Viewpoint, September 27th issue), Richard Cohen referred to Winston Churchill, reminding us that “his words set an unsurpassed standard for excellence.” But Churchill’s words were not quoted by Cohen. Here they are:
“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.”
We will not only survive; we will prevail!
Arthur Prince, Memphis
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.
