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There is a Law, You Know

How upsetting that Carl "Two Feathers" Whitaker [in the Jan. 23 Citybeat] would offer oversight to construction workers concerning cultural resources while making misinformed statements such as "We're there to make sure [construction workers] don't dig up bones and put them in a box, take them over to the McClung Museum and keep them there." Has he never heard of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act? This law protects human remains, grave goods, and sacred objects.

If someone brought a box of Native American remains to the McClung, the first thing the museum would do is report it to the appropriate state Indian affairs agencies, which would in turn contact local Native American organizations. No respected archaeologist would take human remains or cultural artifacts without the consent of those deemed legally responsible for such materials. Responsibility for special artifacts and remains is assigned by a thorough process designed to find the closest cultural link between modern tribes and those of the past.

In the past, archeologists were not always sensitive to the groups they studied. It is one thing if Carl wishes to withhold forgiveness. It is more worrisome if he is ignorant of this important law.

Greg Nesteruk
Rachel Sewell Nesteruk
Knoxville

Blues? We Got Yer Blues

In response to comments contained in the Jan. 16 Eye on the Scene, which said that "really there aren't that many blues bands in Knoxville," I would like to suggest that there are in fact many blues bands and a thriving blues scene here. I cite blues bands such as Cheryl Renee' Blues Band, Jobe Blues Band, Bad Weather Blues, Shades of Blue, Jenna and the Joneses, Mojo, and Slow Blind Hill. Other local bands that are heavily blue include Mike Crawley and the Macdaddies, Nan Citty and the Blues Voice as well as Blue Mother Tupelo (which may as well be local for as much as they play around town). I also cite venues which feature blues such as Coyote Joe's, Brackins, The Palace, Baker Peters, The Spot, Blue Cats, and The Platinum as well as blues offerings at Michaels and other locations around town. As the Knoxville Blues Society would agree, the blues is alive and well in Knoxville.

Jill Green
Knoxville

It's Pointless to Try, Joe

Joe Sullivan's editorial [Jan. 16] calling for release of Tennessee Department of Transportation funds into the general state budget sounds initially like an incredibly logical way to ease the budget crisis, at least somewhat. As usual, he proceeds to thoughtfully list points to bolster his position. However, he somehow managed to leave out the two most critical facts of all.

A few years ago, when I moved back to Tennessee after 15 years absence, one of the first bits of political absurdity (bordering on immorality) I noticed was the designated gas taxes and registration fees going to an account completely isolated from other state funds. I began writing letters to legislators and talking to organizations about ways to change a situation that could only get worse.

After many months of stonewalling, hesitation, head-wagging, and obfuscation from pretty much everyone, I finally had the unexpected opportunity to talk to a full-time Nashville lobbyist who represents a professional association I belong to. I shared my endless frustration with him, and he told me the situation is very simple, and that it is totally hopeless to expect any kind of change. Since this was some time ago, I will have to paraphrase:

Ninety of Tennessee's 95 counties are rural. Only the citizens of the five urban counties want to get at the TDOT funds. In many of the rural counties, TDOT is a primary employer, or at least a primary source of incoming state money. So though there may even be a large percentage of Tennessee citizens in the cities wanting to make a change, the vast majority of the legislators are from the rural counties, and there is no way they are going to vote to bring less state money into their home territories. It is a total waste of time and money to try to lobby to change this situation.

To complicate matters even more, and I am bordering on prejudicial characterization of country folk, statistics show that the majority of citizens in these rural counties do not have college educations, nor do a lot of them even have high school diplomas. Many of them see no reason to ask their representatives to vote more money for higher education—an imbalance that Sullivan frequently addresses.

I am surprised that the wise and erudite Mr. Sullivan did not include these factors in his arguments, except that they would have been rendered impotent. On the other hand, someone has to believe that things can get better in Tennessee. Thank you for trying, Mr. Sullivan.

Charles Barber
Knoxville

Don't Take the Bait!

I agree with the three letters critiquing Attica Scott's Dec. 19 article "The End of Racism." In response to both that piece and her more recent column, "Sitting in Silence," I would just add the following.

Ms. Scott instructs us that we cannot heal race relations unless we talk about race. True enough, but this is only the beginning of the truth, not the end. It is not enough to say that we must talk about race, for it is HOW we talk about race, WHAT we say about it, that is crucial, and to which Ms. Scott seems to give little critical, constructive thought. To listen to her, one would think that the news about race relations is always simply bad, that nothing has changed in 50 or 200 years. Yet only one who insists on seeing the world in simplistic terms, ignoring its moral complexity and diversity, could take such a position.

To be sure, one can always find evidence of racism, unfortunately even among prominent figures who should know better. From Louis Farrakhan's and Jessie Jackson's comments about Jews to Trent Lott's comments on Strom Thurmond to Shaquille O'Neal's recent reference to Yao Ming to the local Dunkin' Donuts incident which Ms. Scott cites, it is clear that there is yet far to go to end racism. We may in fact never fully arrive, since some people might always simply assume the worst about other races. As an example, while not all blacks think this way, I have heard some say that "since white people will always assume the worst about me because of my race, I don't even bother trying to be civil." This, however is a shortsighted cop-out, as it invites whites to complete the vicious circle: "Why bother, if they will always assume the worst about me because of my race?"

A useful step back from the edge, I submit, is to recognize that whites who accept the invitation play right into Ms. Scott's hands, giving her ammunition to support the view that racism is the only real force in American society. My suggestion is that those who truly care about race relations not take the bait. I urge that we not let the views of a vocal, shortsighted few deter us from consistently presuming the best, absent clear evidence otherwise, about those of any race with whom we interact, treating them with respect, and as valued members of our community.

It may not be easy. There may always be those who defiantly dismiss the possibility that racism exists as a matter of degree, that it is not confined to all or only those of any one race, and that the good news about race relations is often overlooked. They might never, that is, fairly acknowledge UT's establishment of the Black Cultural Center, or its support of Kappa Sigma's suspension over last semester's blackface incident, or Sam Venable's News-Sentinel column on the broad white opposition to the Dunkin' Donuts incident, or the pile of recommendation letters that teachers like me have written over the years for minority students we have mentored.

But such deliberate obstinacy can never be the point of departure for thinking people of good will. In the spirit of Dr. King, whose birthday we celebrated last week, I ask that we not take the bait. No matter what some will say, we must not act in a way that justifies their sweeping claims, and thus helps to ensure that race relations never substantially heal.

Martin Carcieri
Knoxville

Smoke 'Em Out

When is the local government going to begin enforcing emission controls on motor vehicles? I feel that there is enough urban sprawl to necessitate a regional "smog certificate." I'm sure many of your readers have found the gases present in the Knoxville air. Do local officials not smell the problem?

Officials need to enact a mandatory emissions check, starting with an arbitrary year. Vehicles will have a grace period during which they can voluntarily submit to emissions testing. After the grace period, I think that vehicles displaying visual smog or pungent odor should be fined. This money will be directed towards the emissions testing stations, and furthering the beautification of our neighborhood. The politicians will insist on bickering over details, but we're already behind the times (see Middle Tennessee; California).

We have plenty of examples, and access to equipment and resources. Knoxville, please stand with me in my quest for cleaner air. Write your local officials and demand the enforcement of emission controls on a regional level.

Harley Helterhoff
Knoxville

Get Real

What would you think if a real estate agent trying to sell you a house told you that you would have to move your car every twelve hours? Even if you liked the house, you might wonder how you could comply with this inconvenience if you were on an extended errand, confined to bed with sickness, or on vacation. And yet, this is the solution to the residential parking problem that City Council has just approved for the downtown area. If revitalization is to occur, parking for residents and business patrons must be addressed with a more realistic plan.

Jack Slade
Knoxville