Love/Hate Mail
That story was smokin’
I would like to thank Kay for a great job on the story about The Bottoms (“Extinguished,” Aug. 28). And thanks to the Scene for letting her do it. I’m one of the firemen who has worked down there for some time and was there on the last day. She told a great story about the history of the hall and was right on when she said it was a brotherhood. It’s that way with all firefighters. All of you at the Scene keep up the good work, and I’ll keep reading.
Mickey Nolan, fire engineer
FIVEENG@aol.com (Nashville)
Beef—rare—for dinner tonight
Well, welcome back Duke. Finally an article about real men (“Extinguished,” Aug. 28). For so long, the print media in this country—not to mention television and movies—have fed us weak, “sensitive,” feminine men and tried to change the whole culture into believing that’s what men should be like. But on Sept. 11, 2001, and in the subsequent battles, we found out that “Duke” was still alive and who the real heroes in this country are. So I thank Kay West for her wonderful article on The Bottoms. Thanks for reminding us that those who serve us and not just “entertain” us are our real heroes.
Bill carter
over99music@yahoo.com (Nashville)
Something in common with Elise
Thank you for such an objective and insightful view of a typical, transgendered individual (“Born Again,” Aug. 21). Such efforts are rare, but necessary, to factually inform the general public in the areas of transgender. We desire nothing more than to live our lives with the same freedoms and rights guaranteed to every other citizen and immigrant in this great nation. Only when the general public understands and accepts transgendered individuals as fellow human-beings, deserving of the same dignity and respect allowed others, will all employers, landlords, sales clerks, waiters/waitresses, etc. treat us as we should be treated. Job discrimination impacts our lives in a broad, negative way. Having many similar experiences as Elise, I, too, have been employed with considerably less responsibility and respective compensation than before my transition. But my current employer, Crown Ford, has been completely accepting and allows me and another transgendered individual to be limited only by our own personal limitations. Their ownership and management team were quick to recognize our contributions, while the majority of fellow employees have been warm and friendly. After countless, negative employer and prospective employer experiences, I am thankful that God has guided me to Nashville. Despite a few outspoken and, in my opinion, misinformed, religious zealots who prevented Metro from enacting a non-discriminatory mandate, the local, private-business sector leads Nashville and the nation in embracing diversity and furthering our Founding Fathers’ central cause, the equality of mankind, which includes us!
Farah bazzrea
farah_bazzrea@hotmail.com (Nashville)
Snubbed by the Baptists
Your Aug. 21 article “Born Again” was interesting. I’m a born-again Christian who was saved in a Southern Baptist church at age 19 in 1981. I later served as a volunteer youth minister on the Air Force Base where I was stationed. I was an active member of the Southern Baptist Church. In 1998, I walked out on my wife and two children and got divorced. In July 2003, after much prayer and consideration, my ex-wife and I reconciled. I repented my sins to God and asked my ex-wife and two children for forgiveness. The Southern Baptist church where my ex-wife and two children are members refuses to accept me. I’m unable to attend church with my family. I attend services at another church (different denomination).
God has forgiven me, and my family aand I are reconciling fantastically. But the Southern Baptist church can’t see fit to let me to attend services with my family. Jesus said “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” The Southern Baptist Church seems to have forgotten the teachings of our Lord and Savior.
Ian Miller
Christeagleian@wmconnect.com (Nashville)
Correction
In last week’s cover story about The Bottoms fire hall, the Scene wrote that Engine 9’s record for calls in a 24-hour period was 16. In fact, Engine 9 has answered as many as 20 calls in 24 hours.
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