Love-Hate Mail

Well chosen

I wanted to thank Sarah Kelley for her “Nashvillian of the Year” cover story on Clemmie Greenlee (Dec. 27). It was the most eloquent article I have read in years. I couldn’t stop reading it, and am so thankful that the Scene chose her. She is most deserving, and I hope she continues her admirable work.AMBER H. ARTHURAmberHope007@yahoo.com (Franklin)

Greenlee our GOP mascot

Wow! That “Nashvillian of the Year” issue (Dec. 27) was astounding. After announcing that balloting would be open to readers, you used your editorial judgment to override the acknowledged winner, Al Gore (Editor’s Note, Dec. 27). Shades of 2000! I guess winning the Nobel Peace Prize is just another liberal conspiracy and Mr. Murdoch would really rather that you honor a former crack whore (apologies to Ms. Greenlee). I am put in mind of those advocates of free speech and private property rights that tried unsuccessfully to remove the “Impeach Bush” bumper sticker from my car. You really need to volunteer for the military as quickly as possible to overcome any charges that following the Republican Party lines leads to chicken hawk behavior in all respects.LANNY GLICKbubbadorun1@netzero.net (Burns)

Mondavi as boutique

The article “Burgundy Bootlegger” by P.J. Tobia (Dec. 27) was great. I grew up in Sonoma County, Calif., and am just amazed at how few really good and affordable wines are available in Tennessee. The last time I looked, it was illegal to bring in more than a couple bottles of wine after a trip to the wine country. Of course, they (wholesalers and enforcers) tell us what our choices are and opine that Woodbridge is a good wine (see the article). I think prohibition led the way for opportunists such as the wholesalers in this state. Hopefully, someone will sue under Granholm vs. Heald (U.S. Supremes), which struck down similar schemes in other states. Too bad lawsuits are the only solution to problems like the good ol’ boy liquor lobby in this case. P.S. Woodbridge is crap!SEAN LEWISsean@seanlewisattorney.com (Nashville)

“Not mistreated”

I read the article titled “Bad Medicine” (Dec. 13). Actually, that article itself was bad medicine. I have worked at Hermitage Hall, and until you have worked with juvenile sex offenders you won’t understand. Many kids go home successful. The program works. These boys are not mistreated in any way. Many people, like myself, have degrees and/or experience. If Jane Davis feels it is such a nightmare of a place to be, why continue to work there? And how dare she use Mr. Brown’s whole name when she was too chicken to use her own? Go away, Jane. Hermitage Hall doesn’t need you.TYBE GRUNDEMEYERtybegrundemeyer@yahoo.com (Nashville)

In offense of Chavez

Much as it hurts to take the side of The Tennessean, however indirectly, I must point out that in the last year before his illness Tim Chavez was himself a Boner recipient for sourcing a major Iraq story to a soldier whose existence he never verified (“Boner Awards,” Dec. 20). He also never got Boners for Dixie Chick bashing, calling Confederates an oppressed minority or suggesting that political orientation should be a diversity criterion when hiring journalists, but he really should have. The major difference likely to ensue from replacing him with a generic rightist wingnut is a dramatic drop in grammatical errors within the feature. I suspect the person who eliminated his job may have been the copy editor.JEFFREY PITCHERjeffpitcher@bellsouth.net (Nashville)