A Mayoral Payment Plan
To the Editor:
Okay Mr.-Doctor-Mayor Herenton, you gambled with Lt. Wagner and lost, so now take some of your "nobody's-business-how-I-earned-it money" and pay off. You are familiar with casino operations and know that winners are paid immediately.
Wayne D. Ashford
via the Internet
Too Dumb To Act Alone
To the Editor:
Your editorial, "Wrapping Up the Ray Case," in the June 19th edition was surprising and disappointing. It was not a surprise to see the recent editorial in the other Memphis newspaper, the C.A., that was similar in nature.
Your editorial indicates how little you actually know about the conspiracy to end the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. After spending two days cross-examining James Earl Ray at a prison in Nashville, it is obvious that anyone would conclude that he is a very dumb and ignorant individual.
This man alone could never plan and carry out an assassination of a person such as Dr. King. He could not even pull off a robbery of a local liquor store without getting caught.
There is adequate information that the murder of Dr. King was well planned. It is clear that James Earl Ray was heavily involved in the assassination. However, he had plenty of support from individuals on the local and national level.
The other newspaper, the C.A., never supported the sanitation workers in their efforts to improve their existence in 1968. Not too many years ago, citizens who were not white had to use separate restrooms, separate water fountains, go to the back of the bus, and attend separate schools. What did the other Memphis newspaper do to attempt to change these conditions? Absolutely nothing.
Why not use your editorial space to try to promote relations between the races?
Lewis K. Garrison
Memphis
Lament For 315 Beale
To the Editor:
As one of the many musicians who was lucky enough to do some recording at 315 Beale Recording Studios [City Reporter, June 19th issue], I must express my support for Elizabeth Johns and all the folks who are associated with that studio. In so doing I must express my outrage with their ex-landlord, Memphis Sound Productions, for their dishonesty and lack of courtesy toward 315 Beale.
Beale Street is supposed to be "The Home of the Blues" yet the recording studios have been replaced by restaurants, gift shops, and other tourist traps. Sure it brings in the money, but at what cost? Memphis is losing out on a piece of its history and very essence every time a franchise like the Hard Rock Cafe replaces a true "home" to bluesmen and other musicians like 315 Beale. I suppose the next step in the progression will be to displace the genuine blues bands which play in the courtyard area every night for T-shirt kiosks or a McDonald's.
Ask yourself this, my fellow Memphians: "Who wins on this deal?" Obviously, Memphis Sound Productions, The Hard Rock Cafe, Herenton, Kane, and so on... the same old tired story. "Who loses?" I say, all the rest of us.
Good luck and God bless to all of you at 315. I hope to see you up and running soon; continuing the history, tradition, and music that made Memphis a candidate for the Hard Rock Cafes of the world in the first place.
Andy Gross
Memphis
Disney and the Baptists
To the Editor:
Top 10 Reasons for Boycotting Most Southern Baptist Churches:
10. Blatant Segregation -- There are more black hockey players than black Southern Baptists.
9. Peculiar doctrine of more bowling alleys, skating rinks, and health spas equaling an increase in the denomination's ability to "Do God's Work".
8. Grape juice and crackers.
7. SBC thinks walking on water is a team sport.
6. Drinking, smoking, gambling, and dancing = Heinous Sins; Hypocrisy, intolerance, money grubbing, and Y chromosome = Pastor and Deacon Prerequisites.
5. Misprint in Convention Program correctly referred to SBC president's scheduled speech as "Jawbone of an Ass."
4. Many Southern Baptists believe the "No Dunking" signs at urban basketball facilities send a subliminal message to America's youth that Baptism is Evil.
3. Failure to see the irony of simultaneous support of pro-life and pro-capital-punishment agendas or the absurdity of their motto: "Turn the other cheek or we'll kill you."
2. Proud of the fact they have elevated women from fourth- to second-class citizens.
And the number one reason to boycott Southern Baptist churches
1. Jesus would rather go to Disneyland.
R. Russell
Cordova
Plug City
To the Editor:
Our favorite newspaper, The Memphis Flyer. Our favorite radio show, Out of Bounds (on WSFZ 1030 AM). Thanks to Jim Hanas for writing the great "Radio Days" article [June 12th issue] on our secret sin of the AM airwaves. And to think we'll soon be able to watch the show as well.
Regina Norwood and Monica Angus
Memphis
The Memphis Flyer encourages reader response. Send mail to: Letters to the Editor, POB 687, Memphis, TN 38101. Or call Back Talk at 575-9405. Or send us e-mail at memflyer@aol.com. All responses must include name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters should be no longer than 250 words.