Only Out West
In regard to Joe Tarr's "West Knoxville: The Other," from "In the Spirit," Metro Pulse Nov. 22:
Are there other groups of people having different values and lifestyles from Mr. Tarr, for whom he holds the same type of snobbish disdain?
John Rebori, Jr.
Knoxville
www.tv.argh
This is in response to a letter by Ralph Markowicz [Nov. 22 Incoming]. He states that those who don't use/own a computer have a "narrow mind." I believe that frame of mind has more to do with harboring prejudices, disregarding others' points of view without any consideration and refusing to grow, learn and change than it does with whether one owns a computer or not.
He says that he keeps up with "what's going on in the world," learns, and keeps his "mind active" because he has Internet access. And I'm sure he does—it is a wonderful tool. However, I also keep abreast of local and world events, continue to learn and keep my mind active by accessing bookstores, libraries, discussion groups, intelligent friends, quality newspapers and magazines, public speakers, the world of nature and the arts.
Finally, Mr. Markowicz points out that a television only brings us what "others want us to see" and that he has a "choice" of what he views. I also have choices. My TV has these wonderful things—a channel changer and most importantly, an "Off" button.
J.K. Hall
Knoxville
TDOT Lays Waste
Thank you, Victor Ashe. You're the first official to question the logic of the gas tax being separate from the general fund.
It all goes to road building. TDOT should be called TDORB, the Tennessee Department of Road Building. This system has destroyed the American inner city. It unjustly subsidizes the trucking industry, while the railroads have to build and maintain their tracks without any help from the two cents out of a dollar that car drivers pay. It's like saying that the taxes I pay on a drink in a bar should all go to build more bars.
The railroads are over 100 times more efficient than rubber tires on asphalt. Let's be sensible . It would be safer and less polluting to put 100 trailers on a train than to keep adding lanes through Knoxville. The convention center and L&N Depot should have Amtrak running to them.
Rollo Sullivan
Knoxville
Yorkies All!
Today, I announce the birth of a new word that is greater than all of us, because it represents all of us. From now on, the word "york" means courage.
Not just any level of courage, mind you. But courage greater than any level of courage which the word "courage" ever described. It is a monument, something stronger than concrete and steel, to commemorate the way our New York empire responded to September 11, 2001. I give you something eternal, a monument that will outlast any physical monument—a word. "York" means courage. The courage to jump off the World Trade Center. The courage to jump in the burning fires of hell, to die, to try to save others. A fiery, burning kind of courage. Americans put the "c" in courage. Now they will put the "y" in it ("york"). I am talking about the courage needed to be somebody. The "york" to win at life itself.
"York" is not just a tribute to the people of New York state (although that is critically important). "York" describes the current state of America's courage, a courage that is higher and stronger than any that has gone before. It is our eternal literary response to all terrorists who threaten our peoples, our shores, our freedoms and our great, democratic way of life.
This is a grassroots, democratic effort to get "york" ratified as a new word, or an old word with a new meaning. We will change the dictionary. My email addresses are [email protected] and [email protected]. I want to talk to you.
Do we, as a nation, have the "york" to w-i-n? I think so.
May "The York" be with you.
Owen Emil Liles
Knoxville
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