This Modern World
To the Editor:
Your disgusting cartoon, “This Modern World,” by Tom Tomorrow, published in your rag of a newspaper [April 9th issue], would be expected on the shelves of a pornographic bookstore, but not in a public media. How could the Flyer publish a series of explicit sexual relations depicting homosexuality, anal intercourse, and depravations under the banner of humor? Your editorial staff, which permitted this publication, is guilty of endangering the youth of our fragile society, who, themselves, are searching for ideals and role models.
Tomorrow’s depraved mentality is evidence that here is a sexual degenerate who should be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In the most disgusting acts of sex, his subjects discuss the brittleness of our journalistic society, insult the Congress and the executive office with choice platitudes, then has the audacity to end the work with a woman in bondage saying, “It’s truly appalling, I wish they’d show a little restraint!”
Thumbing through your rag, I see you display advertisements from this city’s leading merchants. Do you believe that these entities want to be related to this smut? …
I expect and demand a public apology for your onerous behavior and your staff’s indifference to your journalistic profession, which encouraged, and approved this publication of immorality that quite reasonably will influence those of our society who have weak personal standards.
John-Patrick Scott
Memphis
To the Editor:
Regarding the cartoon in the April 9th issue: Whoever drew it was sick. Your decision to publish it was irresponsible.
Mary M. Merritt
Loudon, TN
To the Editor:
I enjoyed your Tom Tomorrow cartoon, but have heard it’s caused some controversy. I personally think America needs to regain its sense of humor.
Here’s a suggestion. In place of any advertisers that may have gone away; print the original art works that Tomorrow sampled, including Cezanne’s The Bathers and Luncheon on the Grass by another Impressionist painter … .
I think we all know that these businesses exist, but apparently there are people who have never seen or heard of those works of art.
Roy Berry
Memphis
Editor’s Note: For more on the Tomorrow controversy, see “Media” .
Negative Dispatches
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the feature “Postcard From Yugoslavia” by Jacqueline Marino in the April 9th issue. Jacquie was traveling with the International Children’s Heart Foundation to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with a team of doctors and nurses who had volunteered two weeks of their busy lives to help children with congenital heart disease. The ICHF travels to developing countries with the sole purpose of helping these children by performing palliative and corrective surgery for their heart defects.
I am offended by Jacquie’s ruthless attack against the Yugoslavian people. It was insensitive and narrow-minded. She makes Belgrade seem like a chaotic cesspool of humanity. It isn’t. I was on that team of doctors and nurses from the ICHF.
The people I met were warm and friendly. They cared deeply for their children. They don’t agree with the way their country is run, and would change it if it was in their power…
Instead of concentrating on the dregs of a society that is trying to recover from war, maybe Jacquie could have found the good in those people that might eventually make that country better. They aren’t all egomaniacal, power-hungry dictators or sex-crazed druggies. I can only surmise that she chose to represent the bad because she thinks it makes a better story.
Heaven forbid, maybe she could have celebrated just one of the 16 children that went home with their parents after lifesaving heart surgery. That is why she was there, after all.
Elizabeth Jameson RN
ICHF trip coordinator
e-mail (Memphis)
Editor’s Note: Marino’s in-depth story on the ICHF trip to Yugoslavia will appear in the June issue of Memphis magazine. Her assignment for the Flyer was to capture a sense of the country and its people.
Ced
To the Editor:
Thank you for the enjoyable article on Cedric Henderson [Sports, April 9th issue]. His achievements are no surprise to knowledgeable basketball fans. He is a shining example of University of Memphis basketball who is just now getting the national exposure he deserves. Now let’s see an article about Tony Williams. Go Tigers.
Scott Arnwine
e-mail (Memphis)
Remembering Hamp
To the Editor:
On behalf of Hamp Dobbins Jr. and his family, thank you for choosing Hamp as “Best Unsung Hero” [“Best of Memphis,” March 26th issue]. We are all so touched and comforted by the kind article and the knowledge that your readers share some of our memories of Hamp. His life was so full of service and passion for the Earth and for the children who will inherit it. We miss him terribly.
Carol Dobbins-Nokes
(Hamp’s sister)
e-mail (Memphis)
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