Love-Hate Mail
Great profits, less filling
Thanks, Willy Stern, for letting Nashville know how the Gannett Corp. is killing America (“Thin News, Fat Profits,” May 25). But while Willy bent over backward to detail Gannett business practices, he totally over-jargonized the issue and failed to highlight serious consequences of the Gannett method. Everyday readers neither understand nor care about profit margins and demographics.
It is true that Gannett is a ruthless, bottom-line-driven corporate behemoth. But the real damage Gannett renders is evident in its consistently horrid news product, which is heavy on fuzzy pets and glamorous celebrities, but feather-light on actual news. By disconnecting Americans from their local governments, this media giant is willfully damaging American democracy.
Never mind that newspapers are still the preferred source of news for citizens and one of the few sources of hard local news (i.e. school boards, town boards, country government, etc.)—Gannett ignores this in favor of easy-to-report News Lite, usually a graphics-heavy collage of affluence-driven retail pandering, advertorial for plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures, ridiculously heavy sports coverage and other glittery trivia.
One of the few credible conduits for community connectivity, American newspapers are supposed to be watchdogs on government, not red carpet paparazzi. After all, the content of many Gannett dailies is more akin to magazine coverage. But, like Willy Stern said, they’ve found a successful formula and they’re going to stick with it, regardless of its implications.
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A corporate monster that gobbles up anything and everything in its path, Gannett will almost certainly claim more victims in the Nashville Metro area. Don’t let the Nashville Scene be one of them. Support and defend your independently owned news sources.
ERIC COX
thebanner@earthlink.net (Kennard, Ind.)
Church chat
What a cheap shot to refer to our new bishop as “a cult leader” or something from the Inquisition (“All About ‘Pelvic Orthodoxy,’ ” May 25). Bishop Choby simply let his opinion be known that he did not agree with Church property being used to further the agenda of a man who is wildly out of touch with Catholic doctrine. Not only is Maguire an abortion advocate, he has also rejected the belief that Christ died for our sins. Why he chooses to continue to call himself Catholic is the real mystery.
Bishop Choby’s letter to his flock was hardly a “conniption fit.” It was fair, open and honest. He has a responsibility to protect the teachings of the Catholic Church and the faithful, and that is exactly what he is doing.
Along with many other Catholics, I am weary of being attacked as “narrow-minded” simply because I profess a faith that is bigger than my individual wants or opinions. Not all of the Church’s teachings are easy or convenient for any of us, left or right. But 2000 years of scripture and tradition are impossible to deny.
ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
phillipses@hotmail.com (Nashville)
Crossover success
I enjoyed the introduction to the Garrigan column in the May 18 issue (“Overture Strikes the Wrong Note”)—chuckling at the silly criteria that Nashville uses to bestow social status—but was stunned that you turned and attacked an agreement that would defer fireworks displays at the proposed new downtown baseball stadium site while symphony concerts are in progress. That you would sacrifice a concert series to fireworks noise on the grounds that bluebloods and blue hairs primarily enjoy the concerts speaks for itself. But your editorial also endorses and perpetuates that suffocating view that if it ain’t cheap or loud or rusting it ain’t Nashville. The reality is that Steeplechase infielders also go to the symphony and to baseball games. It’s equal opportunity, and tickets cost about the same as a Titans game. Kudos to Valentine and Yaeger for having the foresight to broker an agreement that will allow everyone, whatever their ticket stub reads, to enjoy their evening.
WENDY HANNAN
Wendy_hannan@hotmail.com (Nashville)
Run for it, Oprah!
Kudos to you and your editors for the “Vibrators Off!” article (May 18). The utter ridiculousness of this situation and complete hypocrisy of these billboard companies is both frightening and hilarious at the same time. What next, banning romance novels and the Oxygen network?
VICKI YIASEMIDES
yiasemidesev@yahoo.com (Richmond, Va.)
Sacred site
The results of several years of archaeological excavations at Pinson Mounds State Park indicate that the site was in use for 600 years, from 100 B.C. to A.D. 500. It is the largest ceremonial burial complex in the Southeastern U.S. for this time period (“Mounds for the Trees,” April 13).
It is the opinion of the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the Pinson Mounds archaeological site is a sacred monument to the descendents of the civilization who planned, built and used it. Out of respect for our American Indian ancestors and the consecrated ground at Pinson Mounds, we hope that this archaeological site will be preserved in its original condition as much as possible for present and future generations. The Tennessee Division of Forestry tree improvement orchards have created both ground-disturbing and visual effects that have diminished the integrity and character of a National Historic Landmark. We understand that the Tennessee Division of Forestry and the governor are currently discussing a solution to this situation. We certainly hope these discussions will have a positive result for this important sacred site.
FRANKLIN KEEL, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
545 Marriot Drive, Ste. 700 (Nashville)