Love/Hate Mail
Don't blame book buyers
The consumer is not to blame for the loss of Davis-Kidd ("The End: At stake in Davis-Kidd's closing is more than where to buy books," Nov. 18). The whole article was devoted to sharing info on what has turned out to be the culmination of bad business decisions. The city and people within are more than capable of the responsibility to support them, but the leadership of Davis-Kidd took their stature for granted. They became confused and lost sight of their mission.
The sadder part is Davis-Kidd is still profitable, yet is still going to close the doors. Without a fight to survive, a fight to reinvent, an effort to sell to someone else with a better vision and leadership? The consumers did not quit on Davis-Kidd; no, it appears they quit on Nashville.
Roberto
Nashville
As Davis-Kidd goes, so goes Nashville
There's a much bigger conversation here, which I believe the article alludes to, of what it means to be a growing city with increasingly materialistic ideals ("The End: At stake in Davis-Kidd's closing is more than where to buy books," Nov. 18). Green Hills Mall seems to be an alternate dimension where the economic uncertainty gets drowned in delusional fits of shopaholic denial.
While Davis-Kidd was very much a safe haven in the middle of an otherwise star-studded location, the crowd that comes to be catered on, sold to, doted upon and "seen" feels a duty to carry the facade of the spoiled-brat mentality throughout the visit. This includes those who end up at Davis-Kidd.
Nashville isn't a city of ME ME ME. Nashville is a city of HOWDY! — courteous, kind, respectful and pure. We must refuse to continue the trend toward "my stuff makes me valuable" and usher in a trend toward "my contributions make my community valuable."
Davis-Kidd, as it was before it was bought out, will never be again. But we can take this as an opportunity to realize that we are changing as a city. Whether it's for the better or worse is up to us.
Michael Jones
Nashville
Fair questions
At last a story about the fairgrounds that didn't focus on attacking those who want it preserved — and improved! ("Too Long at the Fair," Nov. 25) The worst-kept secret in town is that I plan filing a lawsuit against Mayor Dean and Metro to halt tearing down the fairgrounds. But I've been delaying in hope the council will take seriously some questions I have raised. A few: What about an obscure law that says if two state fairs are not held at the fairgrounds the land reverts to the entity that sold the land to the county in 1911? What about an opinion from a not-so-long-ago Metro law director who wrote about this problem? What about bonds that were sold to establish a permanent state fair — the bonds were approved in an election that featured the promise of a permanent state fair? Just where is the state fair going to go — Columbia or Shelbyville, because a new State Fair Association has been formed and wants equine activities? What about the Fair Board's power to mortgage the fairgrounds — that is, borrow money? What about the $4,131,846.09 that was taken out of the Fair Board's undesignated fund balance on June 30, 2007 — where did it go? And most important of all — when will lobbyist James Weaver, the mayor's bully on the Fair Board, simply resign? And take board member Varney with him?
Lewis Laska
Nashville
Photo finish
Regarding your photography cover story, perhaps there should be two categories: retouched and unretouched ("The Photography Issue 2010," Nov. 11). While many of the published images appear to be slightly altered as one would do in a darkroom (crop, alter contrast, darken blacks) it seems to me that that dark, soft shadows were added to each corner of the winning photo of Miss Lycopene to give the image a more vintaged look. It's a very popular technique these days. I would like to know if the shadows were added to the image.
My favorite photo? Ryan Burkholder's shot of Emerson Burkholder running, trying to break the world record for the mile.
Hugh Brian O'Neill
Brentwood
Get on the bus
A letter-writing campaign has begun to encourage Karl Dean and the MTA to address an ongoing issue that plagues the Oasis Center here in Nashville: bus passes. Lack of transportation for the youth they serve to get to and from the center, educational facilities and jobs is a constant, nagging problem for the Oasis Center. In other cities, free bus passes are provided to organizations that are doing work similar to the Oasis Center, so why not Nashville? This is a world-class organization that has gotten national attention for their efforts aimed at strengthening and aiding young adults here in our city.
This story and plea for help could use some media attention!!
Cathleen Windham
Nashville
