Love-Hate Mail

Apples and oranges

I think it is fascinating that the whole time that Eric Volz was asking for help from the local media, including the Scene, you never did a story about it. It had national attention in every large city in the U.S. and on every news channel, but nothing from you guys. Until this comes out about Eric’s little sister (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). I will never read the Scene again, and I will also begin a petition to all of the companies that advertise in your paper to stop, or I won’t buy their products.

This family has been through enough, and you think that this is big news. This story has no comparison to Eric Volz’s story. Are these brothers eating? Are they getting water? Are they able to talk to the press? Are they able to make phone calls? Are they being treated unjustly? I say no. They have broken the law! Regardless of what either one of them says about each other, they are in the U.S. illegally!

If I went to France or England or any other country on a work visa and didn’t leave, I would get deported. This is not a story. I am ashamed to have ever read your paper.Rick Mastersonbluesquarebubble@gmail.com (Nashville)

Limbo timeWow, the Scene does it again. Completely goes lower than I thought advertisers would tolerate. An upstanding Nashville family made out to be vindictive criminal xenophobes (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). Wow, P.J. Tobia should write for the WWE: At least you know it’s entertainment, and all their writers are on strike. On the other hand, I congratulate you for using your constitutional right to propagate disbelief in the system that makes this such a wonderful place.

The entire premise of this article is discounted by Tobia’s constant use of the word “illegal.” The story should have started with, “Five years ago, the Diemarch brothers broke the law overstaying their visa. People like the Diemarch brothers complicate the system for people who work very hard to get into this country legally. In an unfortunate turn of events, these criminals were charged, apprehended and deported. Thanks to the integrity of this great country, they were not held in inhumane conditions for years like Eric Volz. They are being returned to their country at the expense of the American taxpayers.”

The only objective journalism in this piece was putting on display all of the fine restaurants in this town that employ illegal aliens as a practice. Eric Volz was a victim. The Diemarch brothers were criminals on the 91st day of their stay in this country.

Unfortunately I’m a big fan of the Scene, though I often disagree with it’s politics, so I can’t end this letter by saying, “I won’t be reading the Scene ever again.” Way to spark the debate.Bobby Ticonderogabobbyticonderoga@yahoo.com (Nashville)

Thank youThank you for your piece on “Cali” (Juan Carlos) and Guillermo, and letting Nashville hear their story (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). I’ve known them both since shortly after they came to Nashville—Cali is a dear friend, and Guille is actually an ex-boyfriend. They are good people, good men and not the people Megan Volz is making them out to be. Thank you for shedding more light on the situation and hopefully bringing in more support for both of them.Jessie Leejessie_eville@yahoo.com (Nashville)

Bad checkI knew Megan from work, and she was routinely one of the kindest, warmest people in the restaurant (“The Other Volz, Jan. 17). As for Guillermo, he is an incredibly talented cook, and it is this country’s loss if they deport him. Their relationship was none of my business, but I’m sorry that it came to such a violent and dramatic end.

I don’t think that either Megan or the Diemarchs are saints, especially with the evidence of both of their testimonies. But because Megan declined to comment on a deeply personal and painful matter, the Scene allowed P.J. Tobia to characterize her as a violent, unstable harpy bent on sending her blameless boyfriend back to Uruguay.

I know that controversy and muckraking may sell advertising, but I think in the wake of all the heartache the Volz family has experienced over the past year, a story about Eric Volz’s release would have been far more appropriate. Instead, the Scene took an opportunity to cash in on all the publicity and completely defame the character of Eric’s sister. Real classy, guys. Now leave the Volz family alone.Jayne Andrewsjayneandrews@gmail.com (Nashville)

Chose their own adventureI was unaware that a 24-year-old woman had the authority to deport anyone (“The Other Volz,” Jan. 17). Physical abuse happens in relationships everywhere. The fact that these two brothers happened to be here illegally is a completely different subject. There was obviously abuse from both Guillermo and Megan. Making public the things from Megan’s past was uncalled for and an invasion of her privacy. I am especially outraged to read the comparison between this story and Eric’s horrific experience in Nicaragua. Being wrongly imprisoned and mistreated in a foreign prison is a far cry from serving time for a convicted crime in a jail inside the states. I am willing to bet that even though they are illegal immigrants, they are being fed and cared for medically as needed. It was Guillermo and Juan Carlos’ choice that they “never reconciled their immigration status,” not Megan’s.Mary Coul Bryantmarycoulb@yahoo.com (Nashville)