Love-Hate Mail
Inquiring mind
When I first saw your cover story’s headline (“To Have, but Not to Hold,” Sept. 27), I thought, “What, has the Scene merged with the National Enquirer?” When I actually read it, however, I was appreciatively enraged at the tale of miscarried justice.
Teresa Harris, who apparently was a virtual hostage present at a murder/kidnapping, is doing life just for having been forced to be there, while most of the many men whose abuse of her pushed her into that position are walking the streets while the local DA has another notch on his gun. I thought they only treated women like that in conservative Muslim countries. Well, OK, she wasn’t sentenced to death by public stoning.
The deeper message of this story is the weakness of an adversarial justice system. Our legal apparatus should be used to determine the truth, not to make scapegoats or further political careers, and we need to find a way to break the widespread cycle of sexual predation. Thank you for bringing this to public attention.
MARTIN HOLSINGERmartinholsinger@nashville.net (Nashville)
Gracious gratitude
In reference to the cover story (“To Have, but Not to Hold,” Sept. 27), the one thought I had as I read and later reflected on the story: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” But I would be amiss not to acknowledge all of the people in this tragic love story and the emotions and memories they live with each day. The longer I live, the more I realize it takes a power outside of ourselves to resolve the wrongful actions we do to each other. And it takes courage for us to grab onto that power. Thank you, Sarah Kelley, for writing this story.
LILA GRIFFINlgquilt@comcast.net (Nashville)
Forget about it
As one of the people who was a fan of Savarino’s when it was on Nolensville Road, I’m thrilled that Corrado is getting the recognition he deserves (“Our Own Little Italy,” Sept. 27). As a first-generation Italian American who grew up in the Northeast, it was a treat to find a place that made pastries and cooked food in the style I grew up with. My question is this: is it possible to have a review of an Italian eatery in Nashville that does not mention The Sopranos?
Italian American culture and culinary tradition runs much deeper than a television show that started in the late 1990s—indeed, it goes back to the late 1800s, when the first wave of immigrants arrived and brought their traditions with them. Who cares if a fictitious character named Tony Soprano would have eaten at Savarino’s? Would real Italian Americans like Joe DiMaggio have eaten there? Would Gay Talese now? Stanley Tucci? Tony Bennett? I think yes, and that’s a much better endorsement. Also, you mention various Italian American neighborhoods in the North, yet you include phrases like “You some big shot or sumthin’?” and—I really couldn’t believe it and cringed when I read it—”Fuggedaboutit” to illustrate some authenticity, I assume. What you’re referring to is a lingo and dialect that exists in northeast New Jersey (no one in New Jersey says “Joisey”) and the boroughs of New York City known as “Brooklynese.” Both Italian Americans and non-Italian Americans speak it. Italian Americans on The Hill in St. Louis don’t speak that way but appreciate a good stuffed pepper nonetheless.
You mentioned that “some folks argued about whether the show reinforced negative stereotypes” and then used phrases that are stereotypical, but this is not a letter about political correctness. It’s about correctness.
Now let’s get something to eat.
JOE PAGETTAjpagetta@bellsouth.net (Brentwood)
Second course
We enjoyed Carrington Fox’s excellent review of Whitfield’s new format (“New Neighbors,” Sept. 20). We, too, were nearly overwhelmed by the savory goat cheese-and-lobster cheesecake, but what a splendid creation it is! Keep up the good work.
KAY AND JOE GASTONjvwg@bellsouth.net (Nashville)
Suburban termination
Please, please, please get rid of Lindsay Ferrier (Suburban Turmoil, Sept. 27). Her weekly white girl whine-fest is so free of talent, creativity, interesting insight, intelligent commentary and substance that I’m surprised there isn’t a burned-out hole in the page each week where her column should be. I refuse to frequent any of your advertisers until she’s been canned and sent back to her scrapbook world of lunching, SUVs and mommy gossip.
BARBARA HERDbarbaraherd@comcast.net (Madison)
Mixed message
Thank God for Lindsay Ferrier (Suburban Turmoil, Sept. 27). You go, girl! I mean now! Go!
DONNIE PENNINGTONdonniepennington@mac.com (Nashville)
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