Love-Hate Mail

Ask, tellI am not sure who to thank for the excellent article about Debbie Vasquez and the clergy sexual abuse going on in the SBC (“What Would Jesus Say?” Feb. 14). It was an excellent and thorough article. As an adult woman, I have experienced repeated inappropriate sexual behavior in an SBC church, complained, and when the senior pastor was told, we were advised not to tell. At the following church, we were also told we had done well not to speak of it. Clergy sexual abuse definitely needs to be spoken about. Silence only allows it to continue. The effects of the damage done to innocent victims and their families are horrible and lasting. The SBC needs to be working as quickly as it can to prevent this from happening to other victims, instead of trying to protect their image.KAYE MAHERkmaher1221@hotmail.com (Oviedo, Fla.)

Corral not OKWhat an absolutely brilliant letter by Bob Cole (Love/Hate Mail, Feb. 14). Let’s quibble over the use of the word “saloon” while ignoring the real issue: People in bars don’t need guns. I’ve spent over 15 years running bars in this town and have yet to find myself in a situation where a gun would have improved anything. There have been a few where the opposite would be true.

I always find it interesting that proponents of handguns always approach a shooting as if pulling a gun ends the cost. Shooting someone is not something that you do without changing yourself forever. That’s the true cost. Speak to someone who’s been in a war about what it’s like to shoot someone. Few will act flippantly about it.

Oh yeah, if you think those folks in saloons who are carrying won’t be drinking, maybe you ought to push yourself away from the bar. Shootings in the parking lot need to be relegated to the past just like the word saloon.THOMAS A. WEBERthomaswebber1@comcast.net (Nashville)

Mad dadWith regard to Suburban Turmoil by Lindsay Ferrier (Jan. 31), rather than just spreading bad news about full-time dads, why not try to help the situation? Googling “Nashville stay-at-home dads group” brings up contact info for the Middle Tennessee Dads Group (e-mail ccsr@mac.com for more info) just a couple of hits below Lindsay’s FUD. Or search for Nashville on diyfather.com. “Lepers”? Please.RUSS RUPEyt1300@russrupe.com (Nashville)