Love and Hate Mail
Letters from our readers
A letter to the editorAlas, the parade of embarrassments continues for the Nashville Scene and its coverage of the Eric Brown murder.
Normally a calm, happy reader of the Scene, I wrote a letter (one of many) to the editor complaining about the pointless and insensitive article by P.J. Tobia on the Brown murder (“Past Troubles,” Nov. 1). The article seemed to suggest that people with criminal histories deserve to be murdered or, at the very least, do not deserve second chances. This letter was written in advance of the most recent discoveries in the case, which include stashes of marijuana at Brown’s business.
My letter was then published with the title “Didn’t you hear the news?” (Love/Hate Mail, Nov. 15). Reasonable people could easily conclude that either the editor of the Scene also believes that felons deserve murder as a punishment for their crimes, or that she thinks I am a fool for believing people can really change—and that the marijuana is proof of that.
It is also possible that she was just trying to be cute or clever. In any regard, it is another display of bad taste and poor judgment. If the Scene wishes to position itself as a source of serious journalism, then I strongly recommend you revisit the practice of assigning cutesy headlines to reader letters, particularly when those headlines appear to espouse ugly personal beliefs.T. ALLEN MORGANroadscholarmusic@yahoo.com (Madison)
Family treeDear “Douglas,” great story and obviously well researched (“Open Letter From a (Christmas) Tree,” Nov. 15). I’m glad to see you’ve taken an interest in your roots. However, your reference to the “barn baby” came close to turning my heart to wood. If I were your mother, I’d wash your mouth out with turpentine.
Oh, wait—I am your mother!JENNIFER ROLENrolenbaker@comcast.net (Dothan, Ala.)
Horrible truthThank you so much for doing the story on the Chad Youth Enhancement Center (“Handle With Care,” Nov. 8). It’s so hard to believe that horrible things like this are happening to children.PHYLLIS MUSUMECIcvm514@bellsouth.net (Palm Beach County, Fla.)
A mother speaksIn response to “Not-So-Special Education” (Nov. 1), I am the mother of two special-needs sons. I have been in special education as a parent for over 12 years. While I have never experienced an incident on a school bus such as the students and families featured in the article have, I have experienced and seen others endure all kinds of not-so-special education. This article needed to be written, even though it upset and inflamed many Metro employees. Based on everything I’ve read on autism (my son’s diagnosis) and IDEA, Metro’s special education system is broken and does not support what Congress intended and described in IDEA. In Metro, children with special needs are typically segregated into separate classrooms, and families are offered cookie-cutter services rather than individualized services. Traditionally in Metro, full inclusion in their school of zone is something that has to be earned rather than a starting point and right. It is my observation and opinion that the entire system is broken. Families need to become empowered and study and understand IDEA and use that information and knowledge to ensure their children are receiving free, appropriate and individualized education and services.TRINA MONTGOMERYboydad4@comcast.net (Nashville)
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