Make 'Best' All-Knoxville
I know that every year the "Best of Knoxville" edition is incredibly popular and that businesses proudly display their winning plaques for years on end. I am writing you because the Best of Knoxville competition needs some improvement. This state of affairs has been annoying me for years, and this year is no exception.
We call it "Best of Knoxville" and it should be just that: the best of what Knoxville has to offer. I always look forward to this Metro Pulse edition so I can see what others consider the best, but each year I am disappointed by non-Knoxville winners.
I will never understand how McDonald's could be mentioned at all, since it should not even be in the competition. This year's victory for Starbucks as the best "Knoxville" coffee shop was disgusting when there are so many wonderful Knoxville coffee shops. The Best of Knoxville, I repeat, should not simply be the best in Knoxville but the best that the city can offer. The competition should be restricted to Knoxville's originality and the reasons to come here, not just products that can be found in any other city.
Knoxville has so many unique qualities; let's celebrate what we have that others don't!
Jon Hickman
Knoxville
Out of Proportion
Soon the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether colleges will be able to use race as a factor in admissions. Given that a previous Supreme Court ruling years ago allowed race as a factor in college admissions and the fact the court is ruling on the same issue again, I think it is safe to say that the court will severely restrict or ban the use of race as a factor in college admissions. So, if the court severely restricts or bans race as a factor in college admissions, then what?
Since people do not proportionally have the same desires, abilities, etc., according to race, gender, etc., there will probably be less proportionality throughout society the less race is used as a factor in college admissions and other areas. Regardless of the Supreme Court's decision, there will always be those who will attempt to uphold proportionality (or diversity) at all costs, as if that blatant discrimination is somehow more noble than something like individual desire or ability.
If the court severely restricts or bans race as a factor in college admissions (affirmative action), I think the government will, among other things, put even more pressure on government agencies and private industry to hire and promote people proportionally according to race, gender, etc. The mindset behind this kind of thinking is that it is better to look nondiscriminatory than actually being nondiscriminatory, even if it means using discrimination to achieve that dubious result. The government agency that will be on the front lines of this discrimination effort will be the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC may like proportionality but not when it comes to the rights of white males. The EEOC's data on their website lists 38 percent of the work force as being white males but you won't find even 3.8 percent of the cases highlighted on their website involving defending white males from racial discrimination, and I believe this also holds true with the rest of the EEOC's cases. So much for equality. If you think it is bad now, just wait until after the court's decision.
Andrew Norris
Knoxville
Happened to Sam?
I listen to WNOX every morning on the way to work. Mr. [Hallerin] Hill, Dave Folk, and Sam Brown who reads the news.
I recall Sam when he was on TV. Always smooth, every hair in place and appeared to do his job very well. I noticed [Ear, May 8] that he was relieved of his position at WNOX.
I do not know Mr. Brown, have never met him, although I saw him one time at the BP on Northshore, have no relationship whatsoever, and I ain't got no dogs in this fight. I just do not understand why he is gone.
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville
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