Love-Hate Mail

What the f?

Lest the semantics of sensationalism agitate beyond amusement the imagination of the local populace, let it be known the designation of “gang” status for Rat Patrol Nashville is quite inaccurate (“The Chain Gang,” Jan. 10). While the word itself bears many admirable nuances, some regrettably lost to nostalgia (Apple Dumpling Gang, whither art thou?), for clarity’s sake in these trying times, Rat Patrol Nashville strictly operates under the term “bike club.” Nor do these strapping young lads and lasses carousing on their homebrewed contraptions seem to be any more of a threat to Homeland Security than the big-box retailers with whom their existence in the South has been accommodated. Yes, I said it. So where are the unadulterated anti-consumer idealists? Probably taking a hike. In any case, if underage bicycle enthusiasts have gotten their hopes up to join in on the drinking games, they’d have far better luck looting their parents’ liquor cabinets. The immoderation of the DUI culture greatly outweighs that of the DIY. The latter just have better adventures.NATHANAEL MUMBLESnathanaelmumbles@gmail.com (Nashville)

Tomorrow comes again

The animated depiction of leading neo-con William Kristol in Tom Tomorrow’s “This Modern World” (Jan. 10) should be on the front page and in every op/ed section of every newspaper of this country. Kristol, founding member of The Project for the New American Century (PNAC), in 2000 suggested “a catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor” would gain public support to control Middle East resources. Quoted on 11 occasions in the cartoon, Kristol goes 0 for 11 selling the “we’ll be greeted as liberators” agenda, shamelessly downplaying the realities that have now become our ill-fated Iraq/Afghanistan “mission.” And where does such “vision” get a guy like Kristol? He’s just earned a weekly column in The New York Times, of course! I only wish this character’s insights could be confined to the land of loony toons.GARRETT DAWSONmaxxigarrett@comcast.net (Nashville)

Yeah, right

The Nashville Scene recently ran a piece chiding the Democrats for moral laxity over the Tennessee Waltz convictions and a couple of other incidents of lawmaker misbehavior (“Culture of Sleaze,” Dec. 20). The Republicans, the story seemed to imply, hold the high moral ground in this state. As a Green, I’m not big on carrying water for the Democrats, but the Republican sinning I see is on a much grander scale. After all, the Tennessee Waltz “sting” was schemed up by a politicized Republican Justice Department that was out to make the Democrats look bad. How moral is that? And how moral is it to completely demonize the idea of a progressive income tax in Tennessee, leaving us dependent on a regressive sales tax/lottery system that burdens the poor much more than the wealthy? This kind of malfeasance impacts the welfare of thousands of people. It’s a much bigger story than petty bribery, borderline embezzling or DUI. How about going after that?MARTIN HOLSINGERmartinholsinger@nashville.net (Nashville)

Thanks for not choosing Al Gore

Thank you so much for the cover story, “Nashvillian of the Year” (Dec. 27). I have been involved with Magdalene House over the years and have met many women and have the utmost respect for them and the tremendous struggle they go through to get clean and have their children with them. Thank you for choosing a real hero this year, a woman who has turned around and is working hard to bring others out of pain and struggle with grace and beauty.JEANNE MOSESjeanne@moses.com (Nashville)