Correction
Last week’s feature story incorrectly stated that Molly Bingham produced the film “A Powerful Noise.” It was produced by CARE, a nonprofit organization that helps fight global poverty. Bingham will be part of a panel discussion that follows the film at the opening of “The 10 Most Inspirational Women” exhibit on Thursday at the Muhammad Ali Center.
Step Off the Blame Game
Attn: Ricky L. Jones (regarding his April 15 column): Word association is one of my favorite games. So yes, let’s play. When you say “black man,” my first thoughts are “sexy,” “strong,” “misunderstood” and “fatally envied and admired.”
So of course I take offense to your statement that black women are at the top of the list of black male haters. In fact, many of those very women you feel are the “worst culprits” in the defamation of the black man’s character are your strongest supporters. I, like many of my black female friends and relatives, know without a doubt that we could not survive in this world without black men, and vice versa. Even in the game of love, we women KNOW that the saying that “all black men are dogs” is simply untrue. Yes, there are some who have been hurt to the point of no return and will never give credit where credit is due, but they definitely don’t represent me, and I will bet money that they don’t represent the majority of the women you’ve come in contact with throughout your lifetime.
As your friends’ background stories illustrate, not all black men step out on their obligations, thus not all black men deserve the negative stereotype that is assigned them. This, I assume, is the point you are attempting to make in your article. Yet your method seems one-sided and misguided. Romantic relationships by themselves are disturbingly complicated, and when you place a child in the mix, it just makes things that much harder. I know; I’ve been there. We’ve all been fools in love before. But that’s just the thing: We’ve ALL been fools in love. Your need to step on black women in order to shine a positive light on black men is disheartening.
Shaunitra Wisdom, Hikes Point
Tolls Unconstitutional, Too
In Stephen George’s column last week, “Crossing Thunder Road,” he brings up a point I’ve pondered for a while. If “the Constitution provides the ability to travel freely between states,” then how can the Bridges Authority legally impose tolls on all three local bridges with the closest alternative bridge in Brandenburg? I feel such tolls would unjustly tax the locals forced to use the bridges daily, while the entire states of both Kentucky and Indiana, as well as the nation, benefit from the interstate commerce the bridges carry. The whole “Bridges Project” seems a cynical political scheme to delay the building of an East End bridge that would have been built 20 years ago if the political willpower had ever actually existed.
Larry Jouskey, Crescent Hill
Hoops Oops
I noticed an error in a recent article by Francene (LEO Weekly, April 8). I don’t believe she was intending to disparage new Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, but there was an incorrect comment made about the vacated NCAA Final Four appearance by the University of Massachusetts in 1996.
Her comment was about recruiting violations involving Marcus Camby that led to the stripping of the UMass Final Four appearance. This is not accurate. There were never any allegations of recruiting violations involving Calipari or anyone at UMass. In fact, Marcus Camby had contact with an agent and took gifts from that agent, thus making him ineligible as a student athlete. Even though there was no knowledge of this by anyone at UMass, the NCAA stripped them of the Final Four appearance.
Interestingly, something just like this happened at Duke. A former player, Corey Maggette, was found to have accepted cash from a summer league coach, thus making him ineligible. In this case, though, Duke did not have to forfeit any of their NCAA Tournament games.
Kelly Anderson, Germantown
More Mountain Love
Regarding the staffpick on “Louisville Loves Mountains” (LEO Weekly, April 15):
That is very good to hear about the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. I met Silas House one time and have read a couple of his books. He’s a real unassuming man, but he has a great voice and experience in fighting against the total destruction of not only mountains, but the people’s water systems and homes and views of their homeplace. I am glad to hear people who are trying to champion that special ecosystem are finally being listened to. It’s shameful what has been done to the Earth so we can have air conditioning, etc. There are other ways to get energy without ripping up entire mountains, destroying streams that will never again be what they evolved to be, and totally disregarding what that destruction was doing to all the people and animals who once lived there — who were there a long time before the coal companies came in.
Nan Boone, Campton, Ky.
Tea Bagged
I’m afraid I can’t let today (April 15) pass without tossing into the harbor a few crates of poor logic on the issue of taxes.
To the Tea Partygoers around the nation: 95 percent of you just received tax cuts from President Obama. Yes, earmarks are an outrage, but they are bipartisan. The GOP uses them every bit as much as the Democrats, the numbers show.
To William Gregg, whose letter to LEO (April 15 issue) said the president is wrong to compare his economics to Bill Clinton’s, because “Clinton used his economic policies to bring the U.S. budget into balance” whereas Obama’s aim is to massively and permanently expand government: At this point in 1993, the Republicans were saying that Clinton’s objective was to vastly expand government and that his policies would never balance the budget. Now, Clinton is being given praise by critics of spending. My, things have moved to the left.
George Morrison, Original Highlands
Happy Earth Day!
Wednesday’s Earth Day observance should encourage us to leave adequate natural resources for our children by making changes in our driving, shopping, recycling and diet.
Yes, our diet. A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization blamed meat production for 18 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That’s more than automobiles! Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, etc. Moreover, meat and dairy production dumps more animal waste, crop debris, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants into our waterways. It is the driving force in wildlife habitat destruction.
This Wednesday and every day, let’s celebrate Earth Day by replacing meat and other animal products in our diet with a healthful, eco-friendly spread of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. More info is available at www.greenyourdiet.org.
Louie Ralls, South End
