Comment Archives: stories: News: Features
Re: “Occupy Nashville has arrived — but where are the conga drums and overprivileged protesters?”
Capitalism without regulation results in greed and oppression. While there may be merit in having a government which does less FOR us, there is an overwhelming need to have a government which does more WITH us in leveling the playing field through proper regulation.
Re: “Occupy Nashville has arrived — but where are the conga drums and overprivileged protesters?”
@James EXACTLY! You hit the nail on the head. I'm not supporting Cain, but I agree with you in every other way. The laws are in place--ENFORCE THEM! These protesters are too ignorant to know this.
Re: “Occupy Nashville has arrived — but where are the conga drums and overprivileged protesters?”
Exisiting financial regulations must be enforced. The thieves on Wall Street must be prosecuted. The little tyrants at the regulatory agencies need to be reined in and reminded they are not legislators. The honest businessmen in this country need to be freed to do what they do best, which is create wealth. And scrapping the tax code is a great idea, which is why Herman Cain is surging in the polls.
Re: “Occupy Nashville has arrived — but where are the conga drums and overprivileged protesters?”
Mary ought to be ashamed of herself.
But Johnson ought to be much more ashamed of himself.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
FiveA's,
I believe Mr. Fortman was only quoting the foreman's son. After the first paragraph is all a quote of what the foreman's son said about the trial, not Mr. Fortman's words.
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
Over the years, the officer probably took statements from many rape victims dressed provocatively. He was not saying that rape victims are to blame, he was saying that many dim-witted females are placing themselves in harm's way, without any regard for their personal safety. If you think you should be able to do anything you want and be perfectly safe, reality will intrude at some point. If you flash the cash, you will get mugged. If you drive blind, you will have a collision. If you are alone with a dangerous individual, you are at their mercy.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
What a heartwarming family reunion! Let's hope she doesn't take a contract out on you!
Re: “Goodbye, Amazon — we're tired of your cheating ways”
The purpose of collecting tax from brick and mortar retail sales is to offset the cost of providing services such as fire, police, codes, health inspections (food industry), weights and measures (gas stations), and others. If I purchase something in Florida, Tennessee is not entitled to tax that item (only Florida is for the same reasons stated above). Amazon creates revenue for Tennessee when they ship an item using UPS, or Fed Ex. These companies generate taxable revenue, employ Tennessee workers, pay to license their trucks and pay state tax on the fuel they consume delivering to our homes. Their drivers then spend money locally and pay sales tax on that income spent. This issue is more about local retail businesses missing the day when they could charge whatever they wanted (MSRP), and get away with it due to the lack of consumer options. If they would consider not charging full retail and manage the margins better, they could be more competitive, and attract more shoppers who would really rather have the item needed today, rather than wait for UPS to deliver it. If the State needs more income, they should consider taxing services rather than products. Amazon has yet to figure out a way to ship you a haircut, or medical services. As money becomes tighter, fewer retail sales occur anyway. Services represent a legitimate target for taxes much more so than online retail purchases, and the 3 billion lost revenue speculated in this article would be dwarfed by the revenue taxing services would provide. America is after all, transitioning to a service based economy. Chasing those online sales that local business loses due to price, is nothing but an attempt to maintain an obsolete tax structure, particularly in a state that does not have an income tax.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
I am sure everyone respects your father's role as foreman of the jury, however you were not in the deliberation room thus you have no right to garner your IDIOTIC opinions. We are so blessed in America to have a JUSTICE system; however when the justice system allows for probation and parole, the ignorance of some people allows for statements such as Mr. Fortman's. The Lord also gave His one and only son as a means for redemption of our wrongs.....do you need mercy??? Yes, as does every other human being on GOd's wonderful planet. His word clearly states.."He who has no mercy on others, will receive no mercy." So maybe you need to get on your knees tonight and ask for mercy as you obviously have an issue with forgiving others. I do not know Gaile Owens, but I pray for her peace, her sanity, and her ability to regain a normal life as she is now a free woman. Thanks to our God and Holy Father in Heaven who is kind, loving and merciful...hopefully his children will also be one day.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
It is never right for anyone to be abused. Just how much should one endure? If she had left him, he would have killed her. There is supposrt today, but when she endured this abuse, there was no where for her to go. The Foreman's son is trying o justify his father's actions.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
I distinctly remember reading a comment from 12/18/08 in The City Paper, submitted by the son of the jury foreman in Gaile's trial. I was a bit disturbed by it then, so I felt it might be of interest now. Thank heavens not everyone is so vengeful and unforgiving. I hope you can enjoy this now!!!!
I swear the majority of opinions I read on this case are IDIOTIC. My father was the foreman of the jury for the Owens-Porterfield case, and it was a clear cut matter of murder for hire. In fact, for the past 23 yrs my father has believed that of the two, Owens was the worst because she hired a stranger to kill her husband and then let their young son "discover" the body!
Her own sister said she is a pathological liar as did her psychiatrist who testified that she has "homicidal tendencies".
The state needs to quit pussy-footing around this matter and carry out the will of the people, via a jury of their peers. Living on the government dole all these years isn't justice, it's a travesty of justice!
The Lord gave the government the RIGHT and AUTHORITY to put to death murderers (Gen 9:6). His own Son suffered under the death penalty for a supposed crime and He didn't intervene. Are we more righteous than God?
.
Re: “Gaile Owens gets parole on what would have been the anniversary of her execution”
Justice FINALLY! Congratulations Gaile!
Please bring attention to another domestic violence story in Nashville - justiceforisla.wordpress.com.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent: How the Nashville Police and District Attorney Terrorized a Victim of Domestic Violence and Attempted to Cover It Up.
Thank you!
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
Oops, that second quote came from Gast.
"Again, read what I said before. The attacker is responsible for his actions." strideraa
"I have read more than most about this issue and am really troubled about it. My feelings about it are similar to yours. We have a world where morality has been thrown out the window."
I expressed my opinion about the source of the problem. A moral problem. A symptom of the disaster we've created with our social attitudes. This does not justify or excuse the attacker. I'm just expressing the reason we are dealing with it, not saying it's ok. I agree with you that it's wrong for men to attack women.
No I don't have and never have had girls running around undressed. Both of my daughters were always dressed when I was around. They are now 30 and 27 and not in the house anymore. I know from conversations with others that it does happen in some homes. I'm asking a question about the appropriatness of it, not suggesting that it causes rape. Maybe I could also ask the question is it appropriate for a man to walk around his fully clothed friends and family nude? Same question, opposite sex.
Thinking about my daughters, I can sympathize with those who are dealing with anger due to a man assaulting their daughter/wife/neice/close friend. Are we punishing these criminals enough yet?
Re: “A Troubled Children’s Agency”
I have had nothing but grief from DCS. In it for all the right reasons, never asked for a dime...they simply make assumptions without ever talking to you then they blame everything on anyone and everyone. They never follow their own rules i.e. treat people with respect or maybe the one about communicating with the resource family??? They ran the show and should you question their judgement you were "out". Not a soul there is accountable to anyone. They treat people like they are treated...its obvious they are kicked around by their high turnover rate. They abused us and we were trying to "help" them!! probably abuse the kids or anyone questioning their "power". Nothing they could do would make it right for us without a full throttle apology. The Foster parent association head acutally asked me today "WHY would you foster kids?" I thought "why indeed" but I should have said to her was "WHY do YOU?"
What kind of program expects all of your resources, heart and soul and gives NOTHING? this one.
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
Fascinating commentary! You all are giants in your fields!
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
You know what, if there were no more women then men would not feel the need to rape them.
I think women should get a sex change to become men or get kicked out the country with the illegals. That way men won't have to worry about being tempted. That's the only way to elliminate rape.
I mean nobody ever been raped before where it's only other dudes around.
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
@Strideraa Are you in a situation where a girl or woman in your home is "parading around in front of you nude or nearly nude" and you're tempted to rape her? If this is a problem for you specifically, I believe it's your responsibility to remove yourself from a situation that makes you uncomfortable.
This whole "parading around, asking for it" fixation is a dangerous distraction from the larger issues. I know many women who've been raped or assaulted, and there was no parading. Really, @Strideraa, you have no idea how hurtful and enraging that kind of comment is to a survivor. One friend was raped repeatedly at age 11 by her father in her home in front of her brothers. One was raped repeatedly by her brother, and when she told her father, he beat her and called her a slut. One was raped by her husband while the children and babysitter were in the house (this was a wealthy, church-going family). Many were raped by their boyfriends or dates. Many were molested repeatedly by a neighbor, an uncle, or family friend when they were children. One was playing basketball on a spring afternoon with her two good friends from church, who tied her up to a chair, touched her body, and taunted her with threats of rape.
SlutWalk is controversial because the clothing and the use of the word "slut." For what it's worth, most women in the Nashville walk were wearing ordinary clothes. SlutWalk was the chance for us to gather with other survivors to say "Don't blame me for my assault." The women who do choose to wear lingerie are making a point that I absolutely stand behind: "Even if I walk down the street naked, you aren't allowed to rape me." You might not like it, but there is not one single instance in which it means that you're allowed to rape.
I don't recall asking for compassion for would-be attackers. You might have me confused with someone else. However, I am asking for parents, teachers, youth leaders, ministers, mentors, and courts of law to teach men that rape and assault will not be tolerated.
If you want to return to a bygone era of personal responsibility, here's your chance. Please think about this on a deeper level with all the compassion and understanding you can muster.
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
In response to the last comment by Strideraa:
It doesn't matter what a woman does or does not wear that will determine if she will be raped. Small children of both sexes, old women, men and women dressed as modestly and conservatively as possible get raped. Rape is power and control over an individual. Rape not about the sex; it's about the power of being able to take something from and dominate another. Sure, I could possibly agree that in maybe some instances of sexual assault, what a person is wearing could possibly have influence over whether that particular person was assaulted. But, that shouldn't become a wholesale basis for "if women don't dress like sluts they wouldn't be assaulted," because the problem with rape and other forms of sexual assault isn't that the victim was asking for it. The problem is that someone - man or woman - felt that they could dominate someone in a very basic and immediate way, and society holds a vulgar and misplaced bias that the victim must have done something, i.e, dress "slutty," to deserve it. Removing sexual temptation from men isn't going to help prevent rape; that's a very Puritanical viewpoint feeding into this idea of sex and lust as a sin. Educating and bringing awareness to the causes of rape, and developing an environment where victims are encouraged to report rape, and feel safe to speak out about the crime is a key, in my opinion.
Re: “SlutWalk Nashville makes strides against sexual violence — literally”
"Rapists cause rape. Rapists cause rape. Rapists cause rape. Victims do not cause rape -- ever. If she didn't say yes, the answer is NO. " MGold
"Now if we can just get rapists and would-be rapists to pay attention and show some compassion." MGold
I have read more than most about this issue and am really troubled about it. My feelings about it are similar to yours. We have a world where morality has been thrown out the window. We are bombarded with messages that promote the attitude that I'm the only important one and what I want I can take, whether it's cheating on taxes, stealing, assaulting or anything else. Morality, the basis of compassion, is not taught by our society like it was 40+ years ago. If we returned to massive teaching of the social morality we've had in the distant past things would get less bad in the future.
Please look at my previous comments on who is responsible. I asked questions. I don't hear answers. Let me ask another question. You ask for compassion from would be attackers. What if men in general ask for compassion from friends and relatives? Taking the specific instance of women in the home around family and friends; what if men asked that women not parade around in front of them nude or nearly nude getting their engines started with no place to go? Is it asking too much for them to get decently dressed before leaving their bedroom? Is that asking too much?
Again, read what I said before. The attacker is responsible for his actions. Now can I have reasoned, thoughtful answers instead of just (paraphrasing) "you don't know what you're talking about?" Is it asking to much to have a dialogue about this?
Re: “Occupy Nashville has arrived — but where are the conga drums and overprivileged protesters?”
"self-identified Tea Partier Robert Johnson, a public school teacher"
Tea Partier and public school teacher Robert Johnson, loudly and publicly opposed to his own self-interest while the rich freeze his pay and plot to get rid of his pension.
I pity him. Well, Robert, the Occupy movement speaks for you, whether you like it or not.