Letters to the Editor Stop Littering To the Editor: I read with great interest your offer of grants to those who wish to make a difference in millennial Memphis. As I read it, a blizzard of Winston cocktail napkin advertisements was blowing down my street from the direction of your newspaper box. Therefore, I challenge you to make a difference in Memphis and stop accepting drop-out advertising inserts in your paper. We have enough litter in this city as it is. Michael B. Conway Memphis Praise for Potter To the Editor: Memphis and Shelby County are indeed fortunate to have Judge Potter participating in making the communities better places for their citizens. As a former Memphian and city employee, I saw firsthand how Judge Potter influenced the theory of “doing the right thing” when it came to health and safety issues. He is a no-nonsense individual who makes a difference. His decision on the Tennessee Brewery building certainly warmed my heart — I have often admired the building and am thankful that Judith Johnson of Memphis Heritage was able to leverage a “good” deal for both the environment and history. Congratulations on a job well done! Rebecca Gibbs Fahey e-mail (Shrewsbury, PA) To the Editor: I really appreciated your article on the Shelby County Environmental Court. As an attorney, I have been in front of Judge Potter many times. He is genuinely concerned with changing people’s behavior, rather than fining them and sending them on their way. He is a pioneer for this type of court, and I hope the Citizen’s Review Panel will blaze the trail for other jurisdictions to follow. I also appreciated the information on Keep America Beautiful in the article. The Memphis City Beautiful Commission was the first KAB affiliate. The Commission is composed of 30 or so volunteers who have challenged the cause of keeping Memphis “clean and green.” I believe as citizens we all need to take a more active role in citywide beautification. If you see trash while walking, pick it up. If you see someone pitch out trash, let them know you don’t appreciate it, instead of mumbling in disgust. We must make it clear littering will not be tolerated. Take a look at the city around you. We used to be one of the country’s cleanest cities. Can we say that now? Judge Potter and the city/county governments can’t do it all. Every one of us has this responsibility. Environmental Court helps to give a few a little helpful nudge. Michael W. Mitchell Attorney, City Beautiful Commission A Young Playwright Remembers To the Editor: It was a pleasant shock to realize that the Young Playwrights Showcase is still alive and kicking. As a past winner (in 1988 for a snappy little play titled One More Week), I’m thrilled to see Children’s Theatre is still giving a voice to creative teens. The program certainly inspires: “The Industry” is literally teeming with CT alums! Joshua Stevens e-mail (Beverly Hills, CA) Blues Questions To the Editor: What’s up with the Winston Blues Revival (as promoted in a two-page advertisement in the March 18th issue)? I guess Memphis is not on their tour list since the “Real Blues” don’t need a revival in Memphis. Or maybe this is another example of a Memphis fruit not being able to see its roots and not knowing where it came from. John Dougan e-mail (Cordova) The End of This Discussion To the Editor: Paul B. Brown implies that I am a homophobe (“Postscript,” March 18th issue). That would require an irrational fear of homosexuals, which I have not. To clear things up, the Levitican Laws were written for the Jews who were under the sacrifice/law system of redemption. As Christians, we are under God’s grace as our source of redemption. Jesus was the fulfillment of that law and the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. Lest you think that I am implying that none of the law is still applicable, I believe Paul makes it abundantly clear in Romans 1:24-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that Leviticus 18:22 is still very applicable. I do love my neighbor as myself. If, however, he were doing something that the Bible says is wrong, I would tell him because I love him. I would expect the same of him. Fundamentalist Christians are infinitely more tolerant than liberal America on this issue and many others because of one thing: We feel that it is wrong in the first place. That is a presupposition for the existence of tolerance — you cannot be tolerant if you don’t feel it is wrong. Despite what this godless liberal society thinks, tolerance is not a substitute for truth. There are moral absolutes and a fixed truth. E. Blake Daigle e-mail (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 letters@memphisflyer.com. All responses must include name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters should be no longer than 250 words. Editor’s Note We would like to hear from readers who may know of Memphis-area pro basketball players whom we may have overlooked in Paul Gerald’s column last week, “Wither Thou Hoopeth.” Former MUS and Rhodes star Albert Johnson is playing for a team in the Netherlands (the only American on the team, he has led them to first place in their division). Also, Cory Beck’s cousin called to say the former Fairley star has signed an NBA contract with Charlotte.