Fred Who Now?
I'm sure that gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons everywhere are sleeping more soundly now that they know that Glenn Reynolds has his straight eye looking out for the queer guy (Signs and Sides, Nov. 6). I'm sure that they are pleased to know that the Rev. Fred Phelps and his few evil followers are alone responsible for inciting or committing violence against them.
The other anti-gay groups might be misguided, but they can't be blamed for hate crimes as long as they don't stand next to Rev. Fred Phelps.
And the straight population has a lot to thank him Mr. Straight Eye for too, not least for outing the Stalinist Workers' World Party (Now there's a queer political group for you!). There can be no excuse now for holding the belief that an act that was wrong at the outset remains wrong in continuance because that's a platform of the nefarious SWWP. There can be no excuse now for demonstrating against a foreign policy because the demonstrator next to me or the organizer up on the dais might harbor anti-American thoughts in his or her heart.
Our leaders of this great country have set us a fine example by never making alliances with despots or organizations with questionable political goals, no matter how expedient such an alliance might be. In these times of trouble, we ought to side with our leaders.
Well, I know which side I'm on. And the next time I see a sign that says "Fags Die!" I'll feel better knowing that the person holding it is only misguided. Unless, of course, that person is the Rev. Fred Phelps. Maybe you could print a picture of the good reverend in the next edition, though I wouldn't want you to take column inch(es) away from Mr. Straight Eye.
John P. Zomchick
Knoxville
Knoxville's Time All Right
I moved here 12 years ago. I wanted the feel of a great downtown, friendly people and a diverse culture, etc. Here we are in 2003 with all these "things" in the works. The city will never be what it could be until some tough decisions and apologizing take place.
Danny Mayfield was a great man who stood up for what he believed. His widow was promised that he would be long remembered with a park dedicated to his memory. Still no park. I do not even mention the almost Lakeshore Gardens.
We built this great convention center without even thinking it needed an anchor hotel? Ughhh. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that most successful centers have most everything within walking distance. We have failed once again to do something right, and now we want to bring it to a referendum. I feel this giant sucking sound of our tax dollars going down the drain everyday this goes on. The Tourism and Sports Corp. can only do with what they have. Build something to spur its booking potential.
Great concerts used to come here as did unusual acts and performances. Unfortunately, if it isn't country, it isn't gonna draw. Why is that? Ask yourself why we do not have an arena of 8-10,000 capacity. That is the size of arena needed for special events, and hopefully a hockey team for a long time. We had to have the biggest, ugliest sports arena to compete with Lexington. We lost the Cherokees, Smokies, and I could go on and on.
The new mayor must unite all people of race, color, religion and origin in the city and county, or we will continue to be the most underachieving city in America, with 11 million people kicking our tires while passing us by. Give our people a reason to come to the center city, not just at the 4th of July and Dogwood Arts Festivals. Take notes from the very successful Sundown in the City series.
If you have it for free they will come.
We need vision, pride, progress, and most of all, we need someone to take on the status quo in this beautiful county. If Mr. Haslam can do that, I'll eat crow because I voted for Rogero. I'll support Bill in every way, but many of us downtown area folks are watching very closely to see what promises are kept and what were just smoke blowing to get our vote.
It is Knoxville's time—to be the great diverse city it can be. I do not
want our city to be compared to Asheville or Chattanooga, I want them to look at us in five years and say, "Hey we did it right!" The clock is ticking!
Douglas Clark
Knoxville
| 
