Love-Hate Mail
Keep out
Only the Scene could glorify military deserters and vilify soldiers doing their duty ("U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada. They picked the wrong country." March 12). As an Air Force veteran from 1971 through '74, I had a hard time understanding the cowards that went to Canada even when we had a draft. But to desert from an all-volunteer military is much worse. These people all want the G.I. benefits for college and such but don't want to do what is expected to earn them. Seems to be a trend lately.
Perhaps they should be allowed to stay in Canada. There is enough trash in this country now, and we are better off without them.
Greg Grafelman
Nashville
Glorifying deserters
For many years I enjoyed the Scene and laughed along with you. However, your turn to the nutty side of far left forces a response.
When you glorify military deserters, you do a disservice to all who have sacrificed to protect the rights you hide behind. Soldiers take an oath to protect and defend the constitution. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who gives us freedom of the press.
I am proud that the Canadian government has grown a pair and is deporting them to face swift justice.
Joe Keisling
East Nashville
Objective crime reporting
While I was reading this stimulating story by Brantley Hargrove ("Charred bodies in the remote Tennessee farm country leave lingering questions about the execution of Steve Henley," March 4), I was reminded again of Truman Capote's true-crime novel In Cold Blood, a time-honored book about the murder of a Kansas family in 1959.
I applaud Hargrove's inclusion of both Flatt's testament and Henley's explanations and denial. Crime reporting such as this must always remain objective if it is expected to be at all meaningful. Thank you for bringing this tale of desperation and death to light.
Libby Knight
Nashville
The silent truth
What a well-written and poignant story. Engaging from beginning to end, I found myself tearing up and wondering what the truth could possibly be in this case. A truth that only a few people knew, and their voices are now silent in death.
Denise
La Vergne
Cheap and despicable
Turning a murderer's life history into a Hollywood-style thriller story is despicable and cheap. This article was written specifically to support the writer's biased opinion that capital punishment is never justified, no matter how horrible the crime.
I have no sympathy for Henley. Many people suffer major setbacks in life, but do not resort to violently killing other human beings. Drug addiction, alcoholism or having a learning disability is no legitimate excuse for avoiding prosecution for committing murder.
My first reaction to Henley's execution was, "What took them so long?" My second thought was "I hope Paul Dennis Reid is next, and the sooner the better."
Doyle Brown
Lobelville
A story that sticks
Incredible story. Well-written, and the Truman Capote comparison is valid. This is good journalism.
Beyond that, it's a compelling story that makes me feel sorry that, even on his death bed, the man lied to his children. Regardless of lying to the state, to lie to your children like that, man. Maybe he was telling the truth. His own truth. Either way, this story is going to stick with me for a long time.
Jonathan C
Seattle
The pain of Tennessee
My husband and I are both laid off and have been since April of last year ("Tennessee's Unemployment Rate Takes a Great Leap Forward," February 26, Pith in the Wind). I was able to draw my unemployment, but my husband wasn't. We are trying to make it on $155 a week for a family of four.
There's no way we can pay our bills and provide financially for our children. Our oldest child has one year left of school. What kind of a job is he going to be able to get with none out there?
This economy sucks. I worry that I will lose the only vehicle we have running at this time due to the small amount I receive on unemployment. I have already had to ask for help paying my electric bill before they came out to cut it off. I don't know how I will be able to pay this bill this month.
Reba Queen
Why tighten adoption?
The people who are supporting this are the same ones who oppose sex education in our schools, oppose birth control and support the ban on gay folks adopting ("The Pointlessness of Tennessee's Abortion Debate," March 17, Pith in the Wind).
So they want teenage girls to get pregnant because they haven't been taught how to use protection? If they know a little, it is not easily available to them. Then, if they give the child up for adoption or if the child is taken from them, the child can spend years in the foster care system because only straight married folks can adopt, and there aren't enough of them to take care of the children.
Now that makes all kinds of sense.
Fox Eyes
Comments (5)
Showing 1-5 of 5
Instead of complaining or griping about stories written in the Scene, I encourage all of you (as well as myself) to submit stories for publication. Does anyone know if the Scence accepts such stories? (Regardless of payment or not I am interested!)
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Instead of complaining or griping about stories written in the Scene, I encourage all of you (as well as myself) to submit stories for publication. Does anyone know if the Scence accepts such stories? (Regardless of payment or not I am interested!)
As a firm believer in serving in the military, I believe that it is such a small price to pay for the lives of loved ones all over the world. Serving tells your family that you are willing to do anything (including dying) for their safety and security. Far to often this is left to a few brave men and women to fend for us all. I believe that all Americans should be required to serve at least two years. If you wish to move to America and enjoy life here, show us. Join our military; here you can learn our culture, our language, while helping us all understand yours. I believe that dissertation equals deportation. Pick a country; Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, etc., we'll help you get there. It is true this is still a all volunteer military and all soldiers know that war is always a possibility. If you joined for any other reason then to protect your loved ones; please pick a country. Any members of the news media that has failed to serve and wishes to criticize our soldiers in uniform; PLEASE PICK A COUNTRY. Kevin Elizabethtown, Kentucky
I am the wife of a soldier deployed in Iraq right now. To join the military in hopes of money for your family is a understandable goal but when you sign the papers you also sign for your country. I miss my husband very much. We were only married 3 months when he was deployed and though I know he misses me I would never want him to desert our country for me. It is cowardly and dishonoring to our country that this women will cry and explain that she was home-sick as the reason for deserting. To her I suck it up and get over it because you made the decision to join and were stupid to think you could earn money and not really do anything to earn it. I am sorry if I come off as heartless but it is stupid to me that she thinks she deserves anything. I give her no respect because my husband is there now and he sees the same things as she did and not once has he ever mentioned deserted. He is honorable the men and women who stay over there are honorable. Not this women no matter what her reason. You do not desert.
I am the wife of a soldier deployed in Iraq right now. To join the military in hopes of money for your family is a understandable goal but when you sign the papers you also sign for your country. I miss my husband very much. We were only married 3 months when he was deployed and though I know he misses me I would never want him to desert our country for me. It is cowardly and dishonoring to our country that this women will cry and explain that she was home-sick as the reason for deserting. To her I suck it up and get over it because you made the decision to join and were stupid to think you could earn money and not really do anything to earn it. I am sorry if I come off as heartless but it is stupid to me that she thinks she deserves anything. I give her no respect because my husband is there now and he sees the same things as she did and not once has he ever mentioned deserted. He is honorable the men and women who stay over there are honorable. Not this women no matter what her reason. You do not desert.
