Letters to the editor:
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Don't Make Us Open a Can o' Whup-Ass...

As deplorable as many of the stereotypes depicted in Mike Gibson's "Taking Out the Trash" [Jan. 10] piece are, let us not forget the idea of "tolerance" that many of the Metro Pulse writers seem to embrace.

Tolerance appears to be appropriate when applied to minorities or any other group that the contemporary intelligentsia choose to embrace, yet this seems to be an arbitrary concept that, judging by the tone of the article, does not seem to apply to such easy targets as "rednecks" or "white trash."

Just remember that somewhere someone else is entertaining his or her self by discussing idiosyncrasies of the small town weekly writer. After all, a little downward social comparison is quite a boost to one's self-esteem, right?

Rick Greene
Knoxville

Can't Even Say It

I love good parody. I got no laughs from your [Jan. 10, "Taking Out the Trash"] article. To define a group by skin color and low economic status for the purpose of poking fun at it lacks class, is unfunny, and trashy. You have certainly written much better stuff previously. Metro Pulse ought to do better.

Probably you will get many complaints from readers with similar feelings. Some will likely be from my colleagues in the community relations community who, like me, cringe when we anticipate the effect of such writings on efforts by the [Nine Counties. One Vision.] Diversity Task Force, National Conference for Community and Justice, Project Change, Hate Crimes Working Group (sponsor of the Traveling Trunk), Rev. M.L. King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, Knoxville Jewish Alliance and others.

Did you review this article with your legal counsel? Of course, you have the absolute right to write it; but if it appeared in an employer's newsletter, it would be strong evidence of a hostile working environment toward poor white employees (thereby leading to a monetary award to an aggrieved employee). Say, does Metro Pulse employ anyone who hunts, fishes, has a dog in the yard, drinks beer or wine, eats at Shoney's, knows someone in jail or who has been in jail or who might go to jail, pays (or fails to pay) child support, etc.?

Arnold G. Cohen
Knoxville

Information Flow

As Katie Allison Granju points out in the Dec. 6 issue, in her "Loco Parentis" article, "Mother's Milk," many physicians have not received medical training concerning lactation and the breastfeeding mother and baby. The physician organization the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is working diligently to establish the incorporation of training into medical and nursing school curriculums nationally. Many professionals already in practice didn't receive the benefit of extensive education in the dynamics of lactation and breastfeeding. Ms. Granju says she began to educate herself, and this is a message worth listening to. Parents should be proactive on their own behalf.

It is unfortunate, in the "Information Age," for some medical professionals and parents to be unaware of the resources they have at hand. Your readers will be interested to know that, for example, there are nearly two-dozen Lactation Consultants (LC) practicing in Knox and surrounding counties who are members of the East Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition (ETBC), an organizational network of breastfeeding specialists. The ETBC distributes the Greater Knoxville Breastfeeding Directory, a listing of breastfeeding classes, pump rental stations, hotlines, support groups (including La Leche League contacts in six counties), milk bank and pharmacological resources, and breastfeeding specialists. Physicians can refer mothers to an LC. Anyone can use the directory to seek the expertise and support of a breastfeeding specialist.

Contact information for the ETBC is listed with Knoxville's Just Ask 211 (call 211).

As more medical professionals and parents learn about the "how-to" of breastfeeding, perhaps they will join those already accessing the expertise and resources that are available to them.

Marcie Singleton,
MS, RD, LDN, IBCLC
East Tennessee
Breastfeeding Coalition
Knoxville