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From: Loyd Dill I read over several pieces, among them your opinion piece and the "No news is bad news" link from the Nashville Scene, and readily agree with you (I had to stifle my "Amens") and only partially disagree with the Scene. I thought it interesting that a free-copy, liberal, arts-and-entertainment paper complain about the lack of political coverage, but one comment in particular caught my eye. They remarked "that First Amendment guarantees that nobody will mess with news organizations". Regretfully that was the slant that the Supreme court recently took when they (and Congress) robbed individual Americans of the right to pool their money and voice their opinions through collective organizations like the ACLU, the NAACP, the AARP, and the NRA. The First Amendment was supposed to be a protection of all political speech whether it came from intervals, individuals pooling their resources, or the media at large. Regretfully, the media has just been handed a massive responsibility to cover politics in minute detail and in a non-biased manner so that the rest of us can make the best decision possible, and frankly I don't think that they're up to it. Here is where I agree with the Scene again. Where is that coverage, especially at the local level? Have a good one. It's good to see "the Files" back in business. ***********************************************************
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 2:00 AM Hello. We are writing because we are very upset. We have a few friends in the Army National Guard. They serve one weekend a month, two weeks a year. They are currently at Fort Knox serving those two weeks. Tonight one of them got drunk and started getting rough, wanting to wrestle with other soldiers, so 3 of these soldiers decided that it was a good idea to use duct tape to subdue him. After they duct taped him, one soldier who did not particulary like him kicked him in his stomach. They then decided to pick him up and bring him to his bed. Of course, he was struggling, and they ended up dropping him on the floor face first, breaking his jaw and a few of his teeth. What made us upset is the fact that the injured soldier is only twenty years old, and therefore should not have been drinking in the first place. Secondly, these soldiers only train one weekend a month, two weeks a year, which is not a lot. They have to pack a lot of knowledge into these days. How much can a person really learn when they are drunk or coping with a hangover? These people are supposed to be able to defend our country in times of war. Do they have the skills and knowledge that it takes to do that? We know that they know how to tap a keg; they drink from them on buses while travelling to military bases. They also drink during most of their weekend drills. Not sure about others, but we do not feel comfortable with the thought of depending on a bunch of drunken people with guns to protect us and our country with all of the noble things that the red, white, and blue stands for. Shouldn't there be more control from the military superiors? These men are role models for the children of America. Aren't they suppose to stand for honor and integrity and represent our nation? Should we put beer cans in the hands of military action figures and give them a Hooters to hang out at? Are these the heroes that we want our children to look up to? It is not right for our soldiers to be allowed to spend the weekend tapping a keg when they should be learning how to protect our nation. We think that actions should be taken to prevent this from happening so that when we need them they can retain the knowledge that they were there to learn. We were hoping that this would strike a chord with you and maybe the issue could be addressed, for we are sure there are others that would share their concern. We look forward to your response. Thank you for your time.
Sarah and Sam ***********************************************************
From: J Thouin
Hi Nash, Been checking your news whenever I get a couple of spare moments.
Want to let you know I think you're doing a great job and are providing a
Thanks,
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From: WSlim29 MR. WYLIE I'M WRITING IN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE ON KEITH WASHINGTON. I FAIL TO COMPREHEND WHY OFFICERS WHO TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE TREATED MR. WASHINGTON IN THE MANNER THEY DID. THEY "CUFFED AND STUFFED" A MAN WHO IS LEGALLY HANDICAPPED. THE ARRESTING OFFICER DID NOT BOTHER TO ASK WHAT THE BACK BRACE WAS FOR BUT INSTEAD WANTED TO KNOW IF HE HAD A FIREARM CONCEALED IN IT. WHAT CRIME DID HE COMMIT BY STRETCHING HIS LEGS? I IMAGINE THAT IN THEIR MINDS HE WAS "GUILTY BY SUSPICION" OR HE WAS "DWB" (DRIVING WHILE BLACK). THIS IS THE KIND OF STIGMA THAT MANY POLICE FORCES IN AMERICA ARE TRYING TO ERASE BUT AS IT SEEMS,NOT IN NASHVILLE. THANK YOU, S.M.W. ***********************************************************
From: Brent Hurst I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE STORY YOU WROTE ABOUT THE ARREST OF KEITH WASHINTON, KEITH IS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE AND HAS BEEN FOR APPROX. 20 YEARS, KEITH WAS ON HIS WAY TO VISIT HIS FAMILY AND MY FAMILY IN MICHIGAN BEFORE HE WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A VERY PAINFUL BACK SURGERY AND BE BED RIDDEN FOR QUITE A LENGTHY RECOVERY. HE WANTED TO SEE EVERYONE BEFORE HE WENT UNDER THE KNIFE. HE WAS WELL WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO OWN AND TRANSPORT THOSE WEAPONS(READ THE SECOND AMMENDMENT), AND HE ALSO TAKES THOSE PAIN MEDICATIONS FOR HIS SEVERE BACK TROUBLES. I THINK THE POLICE ARE BEYOND OUT OF LINE CALLING THE ATF! IM SURE THAT ALOT OF THIS STEMMED FROM KEITH'S BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND THEY SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED FOR BOTHERING THE GUY IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'M WHITE, AND NEXT TIME I WONT EVEN STOP IN NASHVILLE FOR FEAR OF BEING ACCOSTED BY PARANOID, RACIST POLICE THAT SPEND THIER TIME BOTHERING PEOPLE LIKE MR. WASHINGTON INSTEAD OF STOPPING CRIME.
BRENT HURST ***********************************************************
From: marilyn rightor Mr. Ville, I am the mother of a close friend of Keith Washington. As long as I have known this gentle man, he has upheld the highest honesty and integrity. He is very dear to our family. I am also appalled at the injustice inflicted upon Keith Washington during his arrest in Nashville. I understand that the police had not even intended to arrest him until the media showed up. When I spoke to Keith, immediately after his release on bail, I detected, from his breaking , barely audible voice, that he had suffered unbearable pain and humiliation throughout the entire ordeal. He expressed his agony by wishing to be put out of his misery. His medication was withheld from him when he obviously, and sorely needed it. The extremely expensive prescription medicine is still being withheld by the ATF. As you know by now, Keith has severely painful, debilitating back injuries, which were intensified by his inhumane treatment by the police department. He is still suffering now, and will probably never have a day without pain through his entire agonizing life. He receives very little income and needs that medication back. If you are aware of any agencies that can help Keith with the injustices he experienced, please let us know how to contact them. He has already suffered so much in his young aching life. Respectfully Yours, Marilyn Rightor ***********************************************************
From: YN2 Edward Olavarrieta Mr. Nash, I am appalled at the way the Police have treated Keith Washington. He is a very good friend of mine on his way to see his family in Michigan. He always carries papers for his guns. I got a call Saturday from another friend stating he was in jail. My first concern was how is going to get by in jail without his medication for his back. My second concern was that he is a black man most likely in white town and will get the 3rd class treatment. I just got off the phone with Keith. He is waiting for the ATF to release his car. I am going to pay the charge for him to get it out of that hell hole. He also told me that the police would not give him his medications back. He is suffering right now and no one will do anything about it. He can't even pick up medicine from the hospital since he is low on funds. I hope Keith has gotten a very good lawyer. After this experience I will never take myself or my family to Nashville.
v/r, YN2(AW) Olavarrieta *********************************************************** |
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