Memphis Style

I enjoyed the Flyer‘s article on local “street style”
(“Summer Style,” June 18th issue). Judging from the pictures, Memphis
has a lot of people who are fashion-savvy (and good-looking). One
question: Where did you find these people? All I ever see when
I’m out on the town are overweight schlubs in shorts, T-shirts,
flip-flops, and baseball caps.

Karen Exler

Memphis

Supporting Failure?

Republicans have said no to every policy advanced by this president.
After eight years of fiscal failures and an economic meltdown caused by
so-called free-market policies, they still insist on following those
same policies. In fact, the only thing that Republicans, nationally and
locally, seem to agree on is guns. While I agree Americans have a right
to own guns, a system that allows people with mental health problems to
buy guns is troubling to say the least.

I would like to see both parties agree on the reason that gas prices
are rising. It’s not big oil policies or Americans wasting energy; it’s
the same greedy speculators who are driving up the price at the pump.
We have been told that supply and demand works. Well, the demand is
down worldwide, and the supply is the same. So, what’s broken? It’s the
lack of oversight and control in the commodities market.

Democrats have no excuse for not addressing this issue. Republicans
have said they want Obama to fail. One way to do this is to ignore the
rising cost of energy. In the midst of the worst economic downturn in
more than 50 years, what better way for the Republicans to continue the
economic mess they created than by running up everyone’s oil costs?

No longer are Republicans the flag-waving patriots of the past.
Supporting failure in America has become the rallying cry for GOP
— and the right-wing talking heads who support them.

Jack Bishop

Cordova

No Radio

I have no complaints about MLGW during the recent storm aftermath.
My complaint concerns our local radio stations (Editor’s Note, June
18th issue). Updates and information on conditions should have been
broadcast via all radio stations in the Memphis area during the crisis.
Even WREC-AM shut down at 7 p.m., leaving nowhere on the radio dial to
get information. What a joke.

Cole Mitchell

Memphis

Anti-Semitism Epidemic

In his Viewpoint column (June 18th issue), Richard Cohen rightly
points out how anti-Semitism is an ingrained part of the culture of
many Arab Middle East countries — in their mosques, on mainstream
television, and in their classrooms. It’s a tradition of hatred that
will only be eradicated when these countries shake off the tyranny of
fundamentalist Muslim regimes and move into the 21st century. (Iran
offers a clear object lesson of how that process may unfold.)

But the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., also
makes it quite clear that here in the good ol’ U.S.A., we have our own
fundamentalist anti-Semite population. The right-wing cheerleaders on
Fox and other conservative media outlets glibly throw out incendiary
comments on President Obama and his “socialist” agenda and suggest that
he will “take away our guns.” Such irresponsible rhetoric often
motivates gullible and hate-filled people such as James W. von Brunn to
take them seriously — and to take action.

Here’s what’s fundamental: If your religion teaches you to hate,
it’s not a religion, it’s politics — the politics of fear.

Marvin Green

Chicago

A Lesson From Iran?

As pictures of the Iranian political turmoil emerged with protesters
holding signs reading, “We Want Elections, Not Selections,” I was
reminded of the recent vote in the Tennessee General Assembly that
unconstitutionally codified a judicial retention (s)election
system.

It reminded me of the parable of a dog owner who was approached by
his neighbor complaining of the dog’s incessant yelping. The owner
explained that the reason his dog yelped was because of a construction
nail in the dog’s bed that jabbed its belly each time the dog moved.
Asked why the dog simply didn’t find a new place to sleep, the owner
replied, “It doesn’t hurt bad enough.”

If there’s a lesson in democracy coming from Iran for Tennessee’s
political leaders, it’s that a citizen’s right to vote is so precious
they will sacrifice their lives for it. But only after it’s been
denied. Tony Gottlieb

Hendersonville, Tennessee