This Issue All A-Twitter -- pg. 4

Yellow Star, White Rose-- pg. 4 “Eye” on AT&T -- pg. 7 Slavery, 21st century style -- pg. 10

June 18 - Aug 6 vol 1 # 10 Pride & Prejudice: Nashville Pride and the LGBT Civil Rights Movement By Joyce L. Arnold Prejudice decreases, though is far from gone. The local Pride Fest eventually moved from Being “openly gay” and proud still meets the prejudices its original Centennial Park location, to Riverfront, to (from the perspective of the LGBTQ communities) of those who Bicentennial Mall, back to Centennial. This year it returns to oppose “gay rights.” Pride events can be for the sheer fun of it – a Riverfront. Over those years it grew from the approximate ne person’s point of pride and self-respect can be O skating party, a book reading, live music, an all-day festival. But 250 attendees to the estimated 10,000 to 13,000 attendees a point of contention and concern for another. What is there are other reasons. now common. This year it also moved from a week to a full perceived and experienced as prejudice by some can be With all the changes, including a significantly higher Pride Month, with various activities occurring throughout an expression of strong belief for others. Even without acceptance if not support for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual June. the extremes that can result, the context of such a mixture and transgender people, Pride events still take place in a nation “Pride means different things to different people,” of pride and prejudice can be both a catalyst for change which, among other things, routinely kicks “homosexuals” out according to Pride Board President Pam Wheeler. “For and a stand for beliefs. The some, it’s simply a LGBT civil rights movement celebration for the continues within such an community. For others, environment. it’s very political.” June is when LGBT The Festival is the Pride Festivals take place largest LGBT event in around the nation, and world. Middle Tennessee. Most Not every community holds attending will be local, their annual Pride events but good numbers come this month – fall is another from around the state, popular time. But June and not a few from out carries the “Pride Month” of state. “Because it’s the designation because of largest event, it reaches an event in 1969, at The more folks - not just in Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich our community,” Wheeler Village. The patrons of the continued.. “Many “gay bar” protested – very Photo by Tim Toonen straight allies participate unusually – yet another police in a variety of ways – by raid. The event became a attending, participating in catalyst for a growing LGBT movement. Bill Clinton first of the military; a nation which offers no employment or housing the marketplace and embracing the celebration.” issued a presidential proclamation regarding “Pride Month,” protections for LGBTQs; a nation which has a “Defense of The return to Riverfront was based on a number of and after eight years without such, President Obama has re- Marriage Act” as law. Certainly not everyone who attends a Pride things, including greater visibility. “A lot of thought went introduced the practice. Fest does so to make a political point, but a highly visible and into the move,” Wheeler told us. “But, in the end, we made It was on June 24, 1988, that Nashville’s first Pride largely attended event which focuses on “gay pride” is a political the best business decision for the Pride organization. A Parade began in Fannie Mae Dees Park (“Dragon Park”) statement by its very occurrence. move to Riverfront will allow us to raise…much needed and concluded with a picnic in Centennial Park. Best funds. With spirit sales and donation opportunities, we hope recollections are that about 250 people participated. And of to be out of the hole we started in at the beginning of our course, protestors were present. Pride in Nashville term.” The move from first Saturday in June, to June 20 was On June 20, Nashville’s Pride Month 2009 will The city which saw the inaugural 1998 Pride event is purely practical: it was the only Saturday available. culminate in a Festival at Riverfront Park, and expectations quite different from the one which will see the 2009 Festival. In Riverfront Park, with the event location clearly are that the 10,000 to 13,000 attendance of the last several The LGBT communities are much more visible, and much more marked off, those purchasing alcohol can walk around years will be surpassed. For many years the same group of widely supported. That isn’t to say there isn’t still significant the Fest area, unlike in Centennial Park, where a single five or so protestors made an appearance. It was so normal opposition, but through the years many more LGBT people are designated area is required. The Riverfront venue also Pride Parade marchers could name some of the protestors “out,” and multiple organizations, groups, and businesses have as they greeted them with a friendly “Hi.” Protestors are been established. continued on page 11 no longer regular attendees. Times change. Pride grows. 2 Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) to Scholastic: Put the “Book” Back in “Book Club” OUR VALUES “Put the book back in book club!” That’s the message “It’s bad enough that so many of the books sold in the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) Scholastic book clubs are de-facto promotions for media We believe our first responsibility is sending to Scholastic, Inc. A review by CCFC of properties like High School Musical and SpongeBob is to truth. We’ll strive to bring to the Scholastic’s elementary and middle school book clubs flyers SquarePants,” said Dr. Linn. “But there’s no justification for community the information it needs to found that one-third of the items for sale are either not books marketing an M&M videogame or lip gloss in elementary make sound and informed decisions or are books packaged with other items such as jewelry, toys schools. Teachers should not be enlisted as sales agents for or lip gloss. CCFC has launched a letter-writing campaign commercialized merchandise that actually compete with books in all matters that affect our lives. We urging Scholastic to stop using its school-based book clubs for children’s attention and their families’ limited resources.” won’t shy away from reporting news to sell toys, video games, lip gloss, jewelry and other non- By Scholastic’s own estimate, over three-quarters of all and information that may be unsettling elementary school teachers participate in its school-based book book items to young students. or unwelcome. Truth demands this, “The opportunity to sell directly to children in clubs by distributing and collecting flyers/order forms from schools is a privilege, not a right,” said CCFC’s director, Dr. their students. In the fiscal year 2008, Scholastic’s book clubs and it is of utmost importance that we Susan Linn. “Schools grant Scholastic unique commercial generated $336.7 million in revenue. In all, Scholastic’s in-school always act in service to the truth. access to children because of its reputation as an educational sales account for approximately one-third of the company’s publisher. But Scholastic is abusing that privilege by revenue. We’ll be responsible to the community flooding classrooms across the country with ads for toys, CCFC, which led a successful campaign to get Scholastic in which we live and work and to the trinkets, and electronic media with little or no educational to stop promoting the highly sexualized Bratz brand in schools, value.” has received more complaints about Scholastic’s in-school world community, as well. We’ll be CCFC reviewed every item in Scholastic’s 2008 marketing than any other company. In 2006, in response to good citizens, support good works and monthly flyers for two book clubs, Lucky (grades 2-3) and complaints about commercialism in Scholastic Book Fairs, help the community become stronger Arrow (grades 4-6). Of the items advertised, 14 percent CCFC created a Guide to Commercial-Free Book Fairs, which is and more cohesive. We’ll encourage were not books, including the M&M’s Kart Racing Wii distributed for free on its website and has been used by schools videogame; a remote control car; the American Idol event around the country. Many parents have fond memories of civic involvement and civic action. We’ll planner (“Track this season of American Idol”); the Princess ordering books from the company as children and are dismayed provide competent management and our Room Alarm (“A princess needs her privacy!”); a wireless by the current offerings. actions will always be just and ethical. controller for the PS2 gaming system; a make-your-own “Scholastic seems more interested in turning my kids on flip flops kit (“hang out at the pool in style”); and the to buying than on to reading,” said CCFC member Leslie Jones We’ll be responsible to our readers of Charlottesville, Virginia. “I have a hard time finding real Monopoly® SpongeBob SquarePants™ Edition computer -- the men and women (and children) game. An additional 19 percent of the items were books literature among the toys and commercialized junk. I am more that were sold with additional toys, gadgets, or jewelry. For than willing to buy from Scholastic, but only if it gets serious -- of the community, and treat each as example, the book Get Rich Quick is sold with a dollar- about the leadership role it should be playing in our schools and an individual. We’ll respect their dignity shaped money clip (“to hold all your new cash!”); the with children.” and recognize their merit. And we’ll Friends 4 Ever Style Pack consists of a book and two lip gloss rings; and Hannah Montana: Seeing Green comes with A complete list of the non-book items and products sold look them in the eye and answer for our a guitar pick bracelet. with books can be found at www.commercialfreechildhood.org. work, if necessary, openly and honestly.

The Nashville Free Press On the Web: will commence monthly pub- at www. lication in August. The new and improved thenashvillefreepress.com (larger and more colorful) Free Press will publish the Mike Harkreader first Thursday of each month.

Don Williams on Until then, follow news and commentary by Star Trek TNFP at www. TheNashvilleFreePress.com. More on Gay Photo by Harry Simpson Thank you for your support. Pride Month Peace activist Cindy Sheehan speaks at the Centennial Park Peace Rally on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 The Editor 3 MISSION CONTENTS To become an indispensable news Cover Story: resource for Nashville, enriching Pride goeth on parade the democratic process. Community Voices pg. 4 News & Views pg. 5 Rght repudiates responsibility pg. 5 STAFF More power to small FMs pg. 7 Publisher Ginny Welsch Project Censored pg. 10 Editor Paul Erland Young Voices pg. 13

Consulting Editors Mike Muldoon Free Floating pg. 14 Greg Welsch

Layout/Design Greg Welsch

Graphic Design K. Foster Design

Contributors

Joseph Allen Tracy B Ann Joyce L. Arnold Lonnie Atkinson Mike Byrd Douglas Ditche Alan Graf Steve Haggard Mike Harkreader David Harris Martin Holsinger Nell Levin Susan McKay Mark Naccarato John Reynolds G.E. Rollins Joe Scutella Jay Solomon Charles Sumner Don Williams Katina Williams

Photo Journalists Al Levenson Jeff Bressler Harry Simpson CONTACT Address all written correspondence to Letters to The Editor EVENTS The Nashville Free Press, The Nashville Free Press welcomes your 4482 Tanglewood Dr., Pegram, TN 37143. Submit notices of your events for inclusion Letters to the Editor. (250-word limit. We in our Calendar section. Email story ideas, submissions (500 words reserve the right to edit longer letters). Include maximum), and letters to the editor to your name and telephone number. [email protected] Please submit notices at least 10 days in advance of publication dates, and limit To Advertise: The best letter we print in each edition will earn your announcements to 150 words. Call 615.516.5678. the writer three golden plumes and a hearty or e-mail: handclasp. Include a phone number for verification. [email protected] Email notices to Email to [email protected] WWW.Thenashvillefreepress.COM Questions: 615.516.5678. [email protected] 4

Follow the Tweeter Contractors Carpet and Flooring offers a uniques combination of: Nicholson (just 848 followers; a Heeere’s Johnny-come-lately When I was a kid, the term “social networking” might to Twitter) is a longtime favorite of mine (“5 min to gametime!! SERVICE have suggested something vaguely sinister, like square man that little girl sang the hell out of the national anthem!!) * in-home shopping - we come to you dancing or a dinner party at the neighbors’. Now, I was crestfallen. Could there be anything more even people my age, who surely ought to know tedious? I thought of Tweeterdum and Tweeterdee, * top local installation professionals better, may find themselves inextricably, if who were going to have a big battle, but then never * style / color choice assistance voluntarily, caught up in an electronic net of Letter had one. I felt like such a twit. But after some semi-anonymous acquaintanceships, chirping consideration, I realized: SELECTION Twitter was a great leveler. You could like so many stupefied birds. * all types of flooring products “You need to be on Twitter, to from The follow the tweets of the great and discover: Their promote your paper,” more than one person lives are just as insipid as mine (and vice versa, * name brands you know advised me. Twitter, a little bird told me, was of course). So the genius of Twitter was in its * large samples available a Web site that allowed people who subscribed celebration of democracy. (Tweeple) to alert other subscribers as to their Editor Brilliant on the one hand, bird-brained on the SAVINGS whereabouts, their activities, their up-to-the-minute other. I felt that Twitter had no further charms for me. But activities, and their thoughts (such as they are), and to then… * below big box store pricing be alerted in return. The latter class of Tweeple, called I had followers! * never a charge for measure / quotes This was different. After just a couple of desultory “followers,” were, to all appearances, vastly in the majority. * we work with you and your budget Isn’t that the way of all life? tweets, I was being followed. This gratified me, naturally, but it also, as I marveled at it, filled me with a sense of…responsibility. I could see right away the inherent value of MEMBER BELLEVUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Twitter to self-obsessed celebrities (Tweeple Who Need If I was going to be a leader (or Tweeter), I ought to give my fans something to live for. Tweeple), but, besides the (evidently) titillating creepiness of CALL FOR APPOINTMENT “following” someone, what was in it for the little Tweeple, I In short (140 characters maximum, as a matter of fact), wondered. what I came up with was: Poetry. (615) 943-9595 So I signed up. I followed the directions for Just got up, gonna have some cereal/Twitter doesn’t following people and looked forward to relishing the think that’s immaterial. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS intimate dispatches of the rich, powerful and famous. I Not too bad. joined the hordes following, among others, John McCain I edit and edit and edit and edit/And illiterate writers get (779,443 followers -- “Great to see Sarah and Todd at the all the credit. dinner tonight - nice reunion”), Oprah (1,495,824 followers Just kidding with that one. But this was fun. Besides -- “Got to hug Whoopi. Haven’t seen her since????! What adding at least a modicum of interest to tweets, it imposed some a fun night”), Bill Gates (38,507 followers -- “Glad a lot of discipline on the form. you like Windows 7”), and Kobe Bryant (36,276 followers So I encourage everyone to follow suit, and tweet me -- “Game 3 is set for Tuesday night at Amway Arena”). Jack your verses. (http://twitter.com/paulerland) Who knows, out of all of it an artist may arise—a new Twitman.

Chemical Eye on Yellow Stars and the White Rose by Preston MacDougall documentaries. These all created an emotional need to visit the films made by media accompanying British and Russian sites of the concentration camps themselves one day. liberators. As numerous and impression-forming as the What made me want to visit the museum in D.C. was the historical artifacts are, I still find the number of Holocaust impression that it made on intelligent and optimistic adolescents victims unfathomable. Three years ago this weekend, with the alarm set at 4 from Tennessee. I was impressed by the passion and detail in my From the depth of these horrific artifacts, however, am to catch an early flight into Washington, D.C., alone, it daughter’s recollections, and by her declaration that it would be and nearing the end of the exhibits, I discovered a blooming wasn’t shaping up the first stop if the family ever took a capital vacation. She was inspiration: the leaves of the White Rose. I refer to both to be the happiest of inspired to read “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry, as well as the the anti-Nazi leaflets, and to the students and their professor birthdays. So, for diary of a less-fortunate teenage girl, Anne Frank. who wrote, printed, and distributed them at great peril in the full effect, I went As an educator, who teaches a subject that too many 1942 and 1943. to the Holocaust students are preconditioned to loathe, I was just as interested in I have since learned that these heroic stories are well Museum - for almost seven hours. how the museum presented Holocaust history as in the exhibits documented so I will be brief, and tell only part of the story. Actually, I had wanted to visit this museum ever and historical artifacts themselves. Hans and Sophie Scholl were brother and sister. Along with since my daughter did, along with the rest of her classmates In retrospect, the key to the museum’s firm and long hold a few other members of what came to be called the White in Lasater’s Amazing Fifth, over six years ago. (Her older on my attention was its combination of imaginative multimedia Rose, they studied at the University of Munich and were brother Devon made the same visit, with the same teacher, exhibits and their exhaustive detail; from the Machiavellian influenced by Professor Kurt Huber, a scholar with wide and had the same reaction, four years prior to that. Dads political machinations that turned the democratic Weimar interests in musicology, psychology and philosophy. sometimes need to be reminded what’s important.) I had Republic into the Hitler dictatorship, to the nightmarish life in Among the museum’s displayed contents of their been to D.C. four times since my daughter’s visit, but ghettoes and concentration camps, and finally to the manufacture leaflets was the following resonating admonition: “Nothing always found a reason not to go. I guess I was in the mood and murderous application of the Zyklon-B canisters (that is so unworthy of a civilized people as allowing itself to be on the fifth trip, and it was amazing. released, by evaporation, poisonous hydrogen cyanide, also governed without opposition by an irresponsible clique that Prior to Aurora Claire’s class trip, I had met tattooed known as “Prussic acid”). has yielded to base instinct.” Holocaust survivors, and read multiple autobiographical There are countless other historical artifacts, often Most of the members of the White Rose were accounts, such as Italian chemist Primo Levi’s “Surviving presented from multiple perspectives. General Eisenhower’s arrested, and executed by guillotine, often on the same Auschwitz”. And, like many people, I had seen Sophie’s personal reflections, after his visit to camps that were liberated by Choice and Schindler’s List, in addition to several U.S. troops, are presented alongside hard-to-watch documentary continued on page 9 5

Right-wing media and the fringe: Judge Rules Dorm A growing history of violence (and denial) Room Search Illegal from Media Matters for America it sets the stage for social unrest.” That same day, conservative justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Tammy Bruce wrote that the Obama administration’s “increas- A has ordered police to return a laptop and other property ing anti-Israel rhetoric and the pandering to the Jew-hating world seized from a Boston College computer science student’s This week, the country’s attention was cap- Arab world ... encourages all the beasts among dorm room after finding there was no probable cause tured by the horrific shooting at the U.S. Holo- us.” Newsmax.com published an op-ed, cited on to search the room in the first place. The police were caust Memorial Museum, allegedly by James W. Limbaugh Friday by Michael Savage, claiming that Obama investigating whether the student sent hoax emails about von Brunn, an 88-year-old man with ties to white “is most certainly creating a climate of hate another student. supremacist and anti-Semitic organizations. against” Jews. Colorado radio host Bob Newman The Electronic Frontier Foundation said the computer The fatal shooting came just two months after even raised questions about whether Obama’s science student was forced to complete much of the final an April 7 Department of Homeland Security recent visit to a concentration camp, or his state- month of the semester without his computer and phone. BC report detailing potential increases in right-wing ment about Israeli settlements, were factors in the also shut off the student’s network access in the wake of the extremism. shooting. now-rejected search. As Media Matters for America docu- But as always, the most virulent reality- In her order, the judge rejected the commonwealth’s mented, the DHS report was immediately and denier was Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh claimed theory that sending a hoax email might be unlawful vehemently rejected by numerous conserva- that von Brunn “is a leftist if anything.” He said under a Massachusetts computer crime statute barring the tive commentators, such as Lou Dobbs, Rush that Obama is “ramping up hatred for Israel” and “unauthorized access” to a computer, concluding that there Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, that “anti-Jew rhetoric comes from the American Hannity could be no violation of what was only a “hypothetical and David Asman, who portrayed it as an il- left.” He claimed that MSNBC broadcasts “hate internet use policy.” The decision now stands as the highest legitimate and politically motivated assault on 24/7.” Despite the right wing’s repeated use of state court opinion to reject the dangerous theory that terms conservatives. violent, revolutionary rhetoric, Limbaugh said of service violations constitute computer “hacking” crimes. Following the Holocaust Memorial Mu- that it was actually Obama who “thrives and The judge further found that details offered by police as seum attack, these commentators faced criticism needs chaos” to succeed. And in response to corroboration of other alleged offenses were insufficient and for their earlier dismissiveness. Some have since Shepard Smith, he remarked that the “claim that did not establish probable cause for the search. unconvincingly (and in the case of Joe Scarbor- the atmosphere is somehow more violently anti- “No one should be subjected to a search like this ough, inaccurately) defended their past assess- Obama is simply preposterous.” based on such flimsy theories and evidence,” said EFF’s ment, and a handful of reporters and analysts Indeed, Smith’s remarks were the excep- Matt Zimmerman. “The Fourth Amendment flatly bars such are still engaging in falsehoods and inconsisten- tion for the right. Despite its love of fearmon- fishing expeditions. Computer expertise is not a crime, and cies in criticizing the DHS report. But on Fox gering, Fox News spent the 24 hours after the it was inappropriate for the commonwealth to employ such News, Shepard Smith took a different position Scarborough von Brunn shooting downplaying it. And on his -- for which he was attacked by conservatives transparent scare tactics in an attempt to hide the fact that broadcast that night, Bill O’Reilly, who hypo- ■ -- saying that the report “was a warning to us critically and incorrectly criticized the media they had no case.” all. And it appears now that they were right.” for a supposed lack of coverage after the shoot- The day before the Holocaust Memo- ing death of Army recruiter Pvt. William Long, rial Museum attack, Media Matters Senior and who stokes the anger of viewers whenever Fellow Eric Boehlert wrote that Fox News and it suits him politically, barely mentioned the Take two tokes, and its hosts “will have more right-wing vigilan- shooting and instead featured what he called a call me in the morning tism to explain.” He added that “militia-style “very important story” on gay penguins. “Do vigilante rhetoric has become a cornerstone of they wear tight T-shirts?” he asked, laughing. the conservative media movement in America, During the two shows after the shooting, Han- and it’s now proudly championed by Fox News on a nearly nity barely mentioned it. ■ he U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case hourly basis.” T brought by San Diego and San Bernardino Counties that While right-wing media are certainly not legally For more information visit www.mediamatters.org challenged the validity of California’s medical marijuana culpable for any recent attacks, they are responsible for laws, putting to rest a common objection by medical promoting a culture of fear, paranoia, and violence that marijuana opponents that federal law overrides states’ is anti-government in the extreme -- a culture in which medical marijuana laws. extremists, including von Brunn and Richard Poplawski, Want To Learn Spanish? “The Supreme Court and the lower courts in who fatally shot three Pittsburgh police officers, were appar- California have blown away the myth that federal ently immersed. Poplawski was convinced that the Obama Take A Class at law somehow prevents states from legalizing medical administration was going to take away his guns. Even though Woodbine Community marijuana,” said Rob Kampia, executive director for the no evidence of such a policy exists, right-wing commentators Marijuana Policy Project. “Opponents can no longer hide and news organizations made the claim repeatedly before the Organization behind federal law in order to excuse their war on medical shooting and have continued to do so since. ■ Predictably, conservative media figures responded to Beginner and Intermediate marijuana patients.” the museum shooting by attempting to shift attention away Classes Start August 11. from themselves and onto political liberals and even Presi- dent Obama himself. On June 10, the day of the museum For More Information shooting, financial analyst and radio host Jim Lacamp said on Fox News that “we have an administration that’s really Contact Ginette Cambronero done a lot of class warfare, a lot of class-baiting. And so, (615) 646-3477 or (615) 403-1700 6

Man Jailed Legislative Duct Tap e Dragging our feet for E-Mails to From Amnesty International makes us sick Newspapers

n response to President Barack Obama’s recent national security I A new report from the Center for American Progress address, Amnesty International’s executive director Larry Cox The ACLU of Louisiana filed suit against the City of shows that an America without health care reform is an issued the following statement: Mamou, Louisiana, on behalf of a man who was arrested America where families face ever-higher health insurance (In his speech) “…President Obama said the right words for contacting the media about official misconduct. Bobby premiums, businesses drop coverage and trim employee about returning to the rule of law and reclaiming America’s moral Simmons, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, served 27 years as benefits, doctors lack access to objective information about authority. Now he needs to ensure his actions reflect American a police officer in Franklin and Abbeville. Last May, Mr. the treatments they provide, and millions of Americans live values and the rule of law. Simmons contacted media outlets and inquired into coverage just one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. It’s an “The president said that the struggle against terrorism is a of Mamou police chief Greg Dupuis’ improper conduct. America that spends billions on tests and treatments that struggle rooted in values. In the past eight years, the United States Within days, Mr. Simmons was arrested and charged with cannot be shown to improve health—even as more than 50 has abandoned deeply held principles and empowered those who “criminal defamation.” Simmons, who suffers from a million people go without health insurance. terminal lung disease, was denied food, water, and access to seek to harm Americans. The president recognized the perils his essential medications during his ten hours in custody. He of sacrificing our values to pragmatism, which is precisely the CAP says those who oppose health reform are repeatedly asked for medication and was denied. His wife challenge he faces in closing Guantanamo. choosing to maintain this status quo. But without reform, our made attempts to bond him out and was denied. It was only “Revising the military commissions is a mistake. It is a broken health care system will continue to squeeze families, ■ when Simmons requested an ambulance because he could system so broken, so discredited, that it cannot be saved by any businesses, doctors, the federal budget, and the economy. not breathe that he was released on bond. ■ amount of administrative or legislative duct tape. Americans have put faith in their federal court systems for more than 200 years. Read the full report at www.americanprogress.org. All detainees can be tried in these courts and brought to justice. The rule of law must be our guide as the nation seeks to close ACLU Suit Stops Guantanamo and reclaim its moral authority. Tennessee Schools “When the United States wanted to understand how something like September 11th was allowed to happen and how to from Censoring Gay prevent another occurrence, Americans turned to an independent Educational Websites and bipartisan commission. The country faces similar questions today regarding abuses committed in the name of national security. Americans cannot simply turn the page and pretend that these things never happened. An independent commission must Tennessee school districts relented and unblocked gay be established to find the answers.” ■ OIN US SUNDAYS educational websites after the American Civil Liberties J Union and the ACLU of Tennessee filed suit in federal court 9 am & 11 am against two Tennessee school districts, charging the schools were unconstitutionally blocking students from accessing online information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and WHERE WE SEE MAN AS WINNER, transgender issues. Nashville Public Schools and 106 other NOT MAN AS SINNER school districts in the state use Internet filtering software to block web sites containing pro-GLBT speech, but not web sites touting so-called “reparative therapy” and “ex-gay” www.FirstChurchUnity.org ministries. The filters block the sites of many well-known To Advertise LGBT organizations including Parents, Families, And Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Gay Lesbian Call (615) 516-5678 Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Tennessee law requires that schools use Internet filtering software, but that law is meant to protect students from information that is obscene or harmful to WAR AND NON-VIOLENCE minors. However, the LGBT filter category does not include material that is sexually gratuitous. That kind of content is filtered through the “pornography” category. ■ “We cannot have peace if we are only concerned with war. War is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of a certain way of life. If we want to attack war, we House Considers Bills have to attack that way of life.” ~A.J. Muste to Equalize Federal Drug Nonviolence is the constant awareness of the dignity and humanity of oneself and Sentencing others. It renounces violence both in method and in attitude; it is a courageous ac- ceptance of active love and goodwill as the instrument with which to overcome evil and transform both oneself and others. It is the willingness to undergo suffering and The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on others. It is the willingness to undergo suffering rather than inflict it. It excludes eliminating the unjust and discriminatory 100-to-1 disparity retaliation and flight. -Wally Nelson between crack and powder cocaine sentences under federal law. As part of the hearing, entitled “Unfairness in Federal Cocaine Sentencing: Is it time to crack the 100-to-1 Middle Tennessee Veterans for Peace disparity?” lawmakers considered several bills to equalize 292-5608 or 485-1616 crack and cocaine sentencing statutes. Federal law treats five grams of crack cocaine the same as 500 grams of [email protected] powder cocaine. ■ 7 Court vindicates FCC’s effort to save small stations from • • • • • loss of channels Eye on the Media

AT&T’s behavior towards SlingPlayer mirrors its Low Power FM stations win major victory AT&T’s Not So treatment of Skype, another iPhone application permitted in the ongoing battle with the National Secret Veto Over over WiFi but not AT&T’s 3G network. Skype is not Association of Broadcasters prohibited by AT&T’s terms of service. Instead, AT&T 3G SlingPlayer defends its restriction simply by saying that Skype isn’t Mobile being blocked in the network. Make sense? Consumers have the right to use the applications On June 5, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the D.C. by Ginny Welsch of their choice on the Internet. Circumventing openness Circuit ruled in favor of the Federal Communications by blocking an application, whether in the network or Commission (FCC) and against the National Association of through vetos over the distribution chain, goes against Broadcasters (NAB), affirming the December 2007 Federal the consumer rights established by the FCC in its Internet Communications Commission decision to protect low power Modern TV is digital, and it is everywhere - from the Policy Statement. FM (LPFM) stations against “encroachment” by full power laptop to the cell phone to the wristwatch. If it has a screen Even AT&T recognizes that the principles of radio stations. Had the FCC not intervened, these low power and a radio, you can probably watch TV on it. Innovations the policy apply to both wired and wireless networks. stations would have been forced off the air by full power abound in this market. One of these, the Slingbox, redirects The Washington Post quotes AT&T’s lead lobbyist stations wanting to change their broadcasting location.The cable television signals over the Jim Cicconi as saying, “The same Prometheus Radio Project, represented by Media Access Internet for remote viewing. With principals [sic] should apply across Project attorney Parul Desai, was an intervenor in the case the right technology, consumers can the board. As people migrate to the on behalf of the FCC and the threatened LPFM stations. watch TV anywhere, any time. use of wireless devices to access In the lawsuit, the NAB alleged that the FCC defied Unless those consumers the Internet, they . . .certainly the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act when it granted use iPhones. iPhones version of expect that we treat these services waivers to keep LPFM stations on the air. The court denied the Slingbox remote, SlingPlayer the same way.” some of the NAB’s claims as lacking merit, and dismissed Mobile, released in the Apple So why does AT&T others as being unripe for review at this time. Thus, the FCC application store, comes with access want to block SlingPlayer and is free to continue balancing the interests of LPFM stations to AT&T’s wireless 3G network Skype? AT&T has essentially and full power stations that want to change their facilities. permanently disabled. Since the admitted that it prohibits Skype The Prometheus Radio Project, on behalf of hundreds Apple store is the only (practical) out of anti-competitive motives. of low power radio stations across the country, thanks the way to add applications, iPhone users Cicconi told USA Today “We D.C. Circuit Court for their decision vindicating the FCC’s are effectively denied access to this absolutely expect our vendors not new procedures regarding low power stations threatened service. to facilitate the services of our with encroachment. Why would Apple restrict competitors.” AT&T’s exclusive “This is terrific news for the low power radio com- SlingPlayer? It didn’t; AT&T did. deal with Apple for the iPhone munity,” said Sakura Saunders, a board member of the AT&T seems to hold a secret veto has netted the company many, Prometheus Radio Project. “The few protections offered to over every application released in the many new customers, most these small stations were threatened by this lawsuit. Now, app store. With SlingPlayer, AT&T locked into lengthy contracts. these stations can focus on serving their local communities, hasn’t even attempted to hide its These individuals deserve a better rather than live in fear of displacement due to the whims of involvement. After the story broke, it explanation than they’ve been their full-powered neighbors.” released an official statement explaining why SlingPlayer was getting. Prometheus would like to acknowledge the outstand- not permitted to use the 3G network: Perhaps AT&T is a victim of its own success. By ing work of the low power radio stations across the country, “Slingbox, which would use large amounts of adding so many users before adequately building out its whose public service has won them a measure of protection wireless network capacity, could create congestion and network to accommodate them, AT&T may worry that in the face of full power encroachment. According to Pete potentially prevent other customers from using the network. widespread SlingPlayer usage will reveal the limits of its Tridish of the Prometheus Radio Project, “Many lesser orga- The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. network. However, a comparable application, OrbLive, nizations would have folded in the face of the sheer financial Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal was approved, and the iPhone comes with a built-in, non- and legal resources of the National Association of Broadcast- computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of removable YouTube button, so the network can clearly ers. However, the dedication of the volunteers at low power service. We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be handle some video. stations to their mission – to serve their communities with personal computers in that they have the same hardware and If AT&T’s network is indeed limited, the local content and democratize the airwaves – has proven so software attributes as PCs....” right solution is to be up front about limitations on great that they will endure any challenge in their work to free In March, AT&T modified its prohibition on the network, on the reasons why YouTube is ok but the electromagnetic spectrum from corporate dominance.” redirecting a TV signal to a “personal computer” to include SlingPlayer is not. The right solution is to allow This means major changes are in store for Nashville’s “any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device.” applications, including Skype, over the network in a only true community radio station, WRFN 98.9 lpfm, Radio After complaints the language seemed targeted specifically nondiscriminatory manner. And the right solution is to Free Nashville. “We have been dealing with encroach- to SlingPlayer, AT&T retracted the change, claiming it “was build the network out as fast as possible to accommodate ment issues with a full power station since RFN went on done in error.” Shortly thereafter, it re-inserted the language, the applications that consumers want (and have the right) the air in 2005,” said Greg J. Welsch, General Manager of prompting some to declare the language a “non-issue.” to use. Popular demand is reason to accommodate, not to WRFN, “they were recently granted a construction permit But two weeks after the change, SlingPlayer was prohibit. to move their tower closer to Nashville and they would have released, with its 3G connectivity disabled. It appears likely If AT&T won’t do the right thing, then Congress obliterated our over-the-air signal here in West Nashville that SlingPlayer was waiting in the Apple store’s approval and the FCC should step in. The open Internet must and environs, and we would have had no recourse.” This process while AT&T made these changes to its terms of be protected on all access networks, whether wired or ruling will speed our approval by the FCC to move to a new service to more clearly prohibit the application’s use over 3G. wireless. For consumers, there’s no “wired Internet” and ■ frequency, (107.1 fm). Our new signal will be clearer and When that attempt failed, AT&T decided to call the iPhone a “wireless Internet” -- there is only “the Internet.” “personal computer” in order to fit its prohibition within the unencumbered allowing us to serve the Nashville community Contact Ginny at: even better. This is a great victory for a more diverse media original terms of service. [email protected] and for American democracy as well.” ■ 8

That’s where the “culture of money” comes in. In nearly every one of these high-cost communities, Gawande found working for change doctor-owned hospitals that promoted and even institutionalized deep green perspective mark naccarato maximizing profits instead of serving patients. Gawande found brother martin places like Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance in McAllen – a physician owned campus that “aggressively recruits high-volume doctors to become investors and send patients there”. Horror A step in the Doctors, Pens, stories abound of doctors demanding payments ($100,000 is the right direction and Money asking price in McAllen) to send patients to hospitals, while using that money to in turn open their own imaging or surgery centers that the hospitals would send patients back to. Home-health agencies are jumping into the game as well. It’s not uncommon On my WRFN radio show last month, I suggested cAllen, Texas happens for these agencies to bribe doctors with football tickets, jewelry – M that, rather than pursue the chimeras of Maytown and the to be the most expensive some even make the doctors “consultants” or “medical directors” Convention Center, Nashvillians would be better served healthcare market in the and pay them a salary just to drive business towards them. Over by taking the suggestions of the Mayor’s Green Ribbon world. The town is chock- and over, these high-cost markets show a never-ending cycle of Committee and running with them. Much to my delight, full of smart doctors, thriving profit, none of it to the benefit of public health or patient care. that’s just what Metro Councilman Jason Holleman is doing. hospitals, and modern Meanwhile, places like The step he is proposing is a no-brainer, really, and equipment. Medicare the Mayo Clinic, which is I was surprised to learn that it needs to be taken, but--get spending there is double one of the highest-quality, this: for about the last fifty years, it has been illegal to have the national average, lowest-cost healthcare a community garden in Nashville. It doesn’t matter if you spending some $7,000 systems in the country, own the land and it’s an open field, you can’t legally farm more per person each year pursues a more community- in the urban services district. Not only that, but it’s actually than an average American driven model of service. The illegal to sell produce from your back yard garden. city. And yet, compared core tenet of the Mayo Clinic Gee...I thought the only produce that was illegal to to neighboring El Paso, is “the needs of the patient sell was the kind people grow in closets...but it turns out McAllen’s hospitals come first”, and to that end, that the criminal agricultural population is not restricted to performed worse in 23 of the doctors at Mayo decided pot growers...all the urban community gardens springing up 25 standards of quality. to pool all their resources and around Nashville are technically illegal. We are fortunate Meanwhile, in pay doctors a set salary so that Metro has not sent out the paddy wagons and bulldozers Rochester, Minnesota that their goal in patient care to round up these criminal gardeners and turn their paradises – home of the Mayo could not be to increase their back into parking lots. Clinic – healthcare costs income. “The aim is to raise Holleman’s bill is co-sponsored by Kristine are lower than just about quality and to help doctors LaLonde, Emily Evans, Erik Cole, Mike Jameson, Bo anywhere in America and and other staff members Mitchell, Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard, Sandra Moore, Erica the quality is legendary. work as a team,” Gawande Gilmore, and Darren Jernigen. Remember those names-- How is this possible? observes. “Almost by happenstance, the result has been lower these are the Metro Council members who have at least a Atul Gawande, a doctor from Boston, investigated costs” and better health outcomes. clue about where this country is headed, and we need to and discovered the answer to a question that has vexed In Grand Junction, Colorado local doctors decided years support them. In an email to me, Councilman Holleman researchers and politicians for at least two decades. ago to have a system that paid them a similar fee whether they wrote that his proposal has attracted “questions about the Gawande’s stunning New Yorker essay, “The Cost saw Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance patients so that details, but no negative feedback.” In other words, there’s a Conundrum,” is sending shockwaves through the medical there would be little incentive to cherry-pick patients. They also strong likelihood that it will pass. community and inside the Beltway with its indictment of decided to work together in a peer-review committee to solve One hair that the bill splits is that, while it legalizes an entire industry that consumes nearly one-sixth of our problems and troubleshoot. As a result, Grand Junction stands the sale of produce grown in the city, which will allow country’s output and is the single leading cause of personal out as one of America’s best “high-quality/low-cost” healthcare gardeners to support and expand their operations, it does not bankruptcy in the United States. The culprits in today’s markets. allow “farm stands” at gardens in residential neighborhoods. out-of-control healthcare crisis? The culture of money and a As the debate in Congress ramps up on healthcare reform, In other words, you can’t have a stash of picked tomatoes doctor’s pen. it’s important that advocates understand the implications of what sitting there waiting for customers. Gardeners must take Gawande realized that the nation’s healthcare system Gawande has uncovered. Whether you’re for a single-payer, a their produce elsewhere and sell it, or contract with people could be broken down into what he calls “high-cost” and public option, or a “free market” solution, government will only through consumer-supported agriculture-type arrangements. “low-cost” markets. Over and over, the high-cost markets have a limited impact in solving the nation’s healthcare crisis My guess is that this restriction will erode over time. like McAllen tended to have a culture where doctors unless doctors decide to change their ways. When it comes to The bill does not permit raising livestock in the overprescribed, over-tested, and overmedicated patients. the healthcare crisis in America, the (doctor’s) pen is mightier city, which I think is another prohibition that will soon fall. The patients in the high-cost markets were also less likely than the sword, and until doctors decide to do what’s best for Currently, if you have a few rabbits, chickens, or pigeons to receive preventive services, they were faced with longer the people instead of what’s best for them personally, patients, in your backyard, you have to be able to pass them off as waits, and were less likely to have a primary care physician. providers, and taxpayers will pay the (highest) price. ■ “pets”--but who’s going to notice where your breakfast egg “They got more of the stuff that cost more, but not more of comes from, or complain if one of your “pets” disappears what they needed,” Gawande says. Contact Mark at: and ends up on the dinner table? Is this what the National [email protected] Animal Identification System is intended to enforce? “Mrs. Jones, we’re from Animal Control and we noticed that the transponder on one of your chickens went dead yesterday. Here’s our search warrant--why don’t you just tell us: where’s the body?” Yeah, right... BUTLER NETWORKS Backyard animal raising is a more complex issue, in The Last Connection Your Business Will Ever Need. some ways, because animals, unlike plants, sometimes make noises and create odors that are annoying to neighbors. Perhaps the way to deal with this would be to allow people Full T1 to the Internet just $500 per month - Anywhere in Tennessee to keep animals if all or most of a neighborhood is in In-office fiber installation for any size pipe from 4.5 Mbps to 1 Gbps agreement. It’s certainly worth discussing. What do you

www.butler.net - 615-369-7070 continued on page 15 9 vital signs susan mckay Greed at a Glance

Do-Nothings, Part II Tales of Corporate Excess Last column I talked about us having a choice of either worse economic times since the Great Depression and Tennessee being a Do-Nothing or Do-Something from national health sits on a $750 million rainy day fund. It also has a $475 million care reform this year. Now, I’d like to turn attention to TennCare reserve. ”Ben Stiller. Michael the Tennessee General Assembly and governor, who are Now, one might argue that the rainy day fund should not choosing to be Do-Nothings for state health care. be used to cover state health care programs and services. But Jordan. Smokey Robinson and the I have a general theory doesn’t it stand to reason that Miracles. Miley “Hannah Montana” about Americans, American TennCare reserves should Cyrus. They all put in star turns last politics, and American indeed be used for health care? week at Wal-Mart’s annual shareholders politicians, which is rarely Well, guess what? refuted. It goes like this: The Do-Nothing state meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They Americans generally are legislators and the governor all must also have cost a pretty penny. content with the status quo are insisting that they must But, hey, Wal-Mart’s top brass felt like so long as they think they are use the TennCare reserves to celebrating — and for good reason. In part of it and feeling pretty shore up other areas of the state comfortable with their lives. budget, rather than delve into fiscal 2009, the year that ended this past Few take interest in public the rainy day fund—which is January 31, Wal-Mart’s top five execu- policy except by falling specifically designed for budget tives together pulled in over $70 million. victim to fear-mongering shortfall rainy days! The state from assault weapons and has been sitting on Tennessee’s Their $14 million average amounted to anti-investment crowds. taxpayers’ rainy day reserve for 622 times the annual take-home at Wal- Every now and then folks years and all the while robbing Mart’s $10.83 average full-timer hourly take an interest in electing a the TennCare reserves to shore wage. Crowed the Wal-Mart vice chair- president, maybe a member up non-health care areas of the or two for Congress. Few budget. They have no plans to man at Friday’s annual meeting: “Win- pay attention to state or local stop the shell game. And why ning feels good, doesn’t it?” elections. I liken American should they? Few in the press political attention span to horse racing, few care for the track call them on it. Most constituents sure as heck don’t. In other regularly, but most enjoy the Kentucky Derby. To carry the words, Do-Nothingness is everywhere. analogy a step further, most get frazzled if they must pick a This is the point where I am suppose to offer some Chemical Eye... favorite from more than two, and want the two (appear to be) uplifting news: the Do-Somethings prevailed last November and from similar stock. there are more Do-Somethings in the White House and Congress continued from page 4 If you dispute this theory, just take a glance at our than we’ve seen several years. Still, the Do-Something mentality two-party political system with Do-Nothing politicians of has not trickled down to Tennessee. So, despite valiant efforts, it both clubs desperately vying for the so-called middle and appears the Do-Something Tennesseans will lose to mediocrity, day as brief show trials. From the guillotine, Hans shouted doing their darnedest to not rock the bus on the road to again. For the tens of thousands of Tennessee families struggling “Long live freedom!” nowhere. with physical and mental medical challenges that nobody would Even after these executions, some of their fellow So, then, is it any wonder that Do-Nothings prevail wish upon their worst enemy, this is too, too bad. ■ students continued distributing the leaflets. One was in Tennessee’s state house? Horrendous cuts to programs chemistry student Hans Leipelt. This Hans had been and services for Tennesseans with severe medical conditions, expelled from the University of Hamburg because his both mental and physical, are about to happen. This, despite Contact Susan at: mother, who had a doctorate in chemistry, was from a Jewish the fact that Tennessee families are struggling with the [email protected] family. Hans continued his studies at Munich, where the director of the Chemical Institute, Nobel laureate Heinrich Wieland, ignored Nazi rules regarding race. Wieland knew bilious behavior when he saw it – his 1927 Nobel Prize was GET YOUR HAND OFF THE TRIGGER for the investigation and chemical identification of the bile acids Hans Leipelt was arrested, not for his role in As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan drone on, the U.S. anti-war movement must not distributing the leaflets, but for charitably raising funds for give up its efforts. Unfortunately, there has been no mobilization to stay the hand of the Professor Huber’s destitute widow and their children. Later, Obama administration as it increases the pressure on North Korea over its building nuclear he too was executed. On the sixth and final White Rose leaflet, which Hans weapons. Although North Korean nuclear aspirations should always be problematic for copied with a portable typewriter, he added the heading the Left, the U.S. has no right to demand that North Korea halt its program. Certainly, “And their spirit lives on, despite all!” the U.S. has no right to plunge the world into a war on the Korean peninsula. We must be When I returned to Tennessee, and shared my united in the demand, “Obama, get your damn (Editor – if you feel compelled to remove museum experiences with my children, it occurred to me that, in particular, the spirit of Hans and Sophie - brother and “damn” we understand) hand off the trigger!” sister - indeed lives on, despite all. ■

Preston MacDougall is a chemistry professor at Middle Tennessee The Harpeth Institute for Public Policy State University. His “Chemical Eye” commentaries are featured (www.harpethinstitute.blogspot.com) in the Arts and Public Affairs portion of the Murfreesboro/Nashville NPR station WMOT www.wmot.org. 10

Money Doesn’t Talk, It Swears...

In our ongoing effort to foment class warfare and Guest Workers Inc.: Fraud and piss off the right-wing radio idiots, “Money Doesn’t Talk Human Trafficking It Swears” will be a regular feature in the Free Press

While the guest worker program in the United States lucrative. Labor recruiters usually charge fees to the worker has been praised and recommended for expansion, human to cover travel, visas, and other costs, including profit for the Wealth at the Top: rights advocates warn that the system seriously victimizes recruiters. The workers frequently obtain high-interest loans to immigrant workers. Workers, labor organizers, lawyers, come up with the money. Recruiters sometimes require them to A Global Contrast and policy makers say that the program has locked leave collateral, such as the deed to their house or car, to ensure thousands into a modern-day form of indentured servitude. that they fulfill the terms of their individual labor contract. The concentration of Congressman Charles “The tendency has been for the H-2 program . . . to wealth in Germany is Rangel has called the devolve into a system guest worker program that approximates the increasing, that nations’s “the closest thing I’ve exploitative, illegal, top economic research agency ever seen to slavery.” underground labor In the process market it was (in part) reported last month. of attaining a H-2 guest designed to replace,” worker visa, workers write David Griffith But Germany’s wealth typically fall victim in his book American distribution remains to bait-and-switch Guestworkers. schemes that force “Indeed, there is some substantially less top-heavy them to borrow huge evidence that without than the distribution of sums of money at high this downward trend interest rates in order in conditions…legal wealth in the United States. to land short-term, guestworkers become low-wage jobs that less attractive to US all too often end up employers.” Share of Personal According to the shorter-term and lower- Net Worth 2007 waged than promised. class action lawsuit filed Under crushing debt, in 2008 by the Southern and legally bound to work only for the employer who Poverty Law Center, filed petition for them, these workers often face the most Signal International LLC, a marine and fabrication company that dangerous and harsh of working conditions in places like subcontracts for Northop Grumman Corp, engineered a scheme shipyards, the forestry department, or construction, with no to defraud the workers and force them to work against their medical benefits for on-the-job injuries or access to legal will in Signal facilities. After Hurricane Katrina scattered its services. Bosses often hold workers’ documents to make workforce, Signal used the federal H-2b guest worker program to sure they don’t “jump jobs.” import employees the Gulf Coast to work as welders, pipefitters, There are two levels of the current guest worker shipfitters, and in other positions. Hundreds of Indian men program—H-2a for agricultural work, and H-2b for non- mortgaged their futures to pay recruiters as much as $20,000 or agricultural work. Though the H-2a program provides legal more for travel, visa, recruitment, and other fees after they were protections for foreign farm workers, H-2b workers have no told it would lead to good jobs, green cards, and permanent US rights or protections. residency. The exploitation of guest workers begins with the When the men arrived in early 2007, they discovered initial recruitment in their home country. US employers they wouldn’t receive the green cards, but only ten-month, H- almost universally rely on private agencies to find and 2b guestworker visas. They were forced to pay $1,050 a month recruit guest workers in their home countries. for crowded company housing in isolated, fenced labor camps The entirely unregulated recruiting business is quite where as many as twenty-four men shared a trailer with only two toilets. When they tried to find their own housing, Signal officials told them they would still have the rent deducted from their paychecks. With the exception of rare occasions, such as Christmas, visitors were not allowed into the camps, which were enclosed by fences. Company employees regularly searched the workers’ belongings. Workers who complained about the conditions they faced were threatened with deportation. Workers started organizing in March 2007, and Signal responded with an early morning raid by armed guards on the labor camp in Pascagoula, Mississipi. Three of the organizers were locked in a room for hours, told they would be fired and deported. One of the workers slit his wrist in desperation. He recovered after being hospitalized. The incident prompted hundreds of workers to strike. Signal fired the organizers. ■

11

Pride and Prejudice... Some years have included parades, others haven’t. There In addition to the market place, with its multiple will not be one this year. “We simply couldn’t afford it,” Wheeler vendors; in addition to the many represented groups and continued from page 1 said. “The new board took over in August, $15,000 in the hole. If organizations, and to the Kid’s Zone, the stage will provide we couldn’t do the parade proudly, we didn’t want to do it. The entertainment throughout the festival. Deborah Cox, with parade discussion isn’t over, hits on the R&B, pop and just tabled this year.” dance charts, and starring Wheeler was first in Broadway’s Aida, will involved with Pride in headline. Other artists 1999, eventually becoming include Kelly King, Eric president of the Board. She Himan and the Adams, returned in August of last Jason Antone, Atomic year, to the same position. Blonde, and the Atlanta Keith Hinkle is also back Freedom Marching Band. on the Board after the Lady Bunny will serve as same 1999 beginnings. “I Festival Emcee. remained (after 1999) with For additional the group for another three information about the festivals and learned a lot Festival, and about Photo by Tim Toonen along the way. Each year, I Nashville Pride in general, enjoyed seeing attendance Photo by Tim Toonen visit www.nashvillepride. makes it possible to have specific entrance areas. Pride and participation grow.” He’s org. For more information Fest will have two. This will allow volunteers to get a back, he says, “after some of my about the history of Pride more accurate attendance count, and to ask for donations, friends discussed getting involved, and I thought I could help take and the LGBT movement, check out the expanded story at something that is rather hit-or-miss with an all-open access. it to a new level. I realized I had more to offer now in terms of www.thenashvillefreepress.com. ■ Wheeler said they expect to increase donation collections as relationships and resources. I’ve enjoyed watching this group pull a result. together and to keep the event on track to being a great Nashville Another change introduced this year is that Festival event.” Our caption contest winner is attendees will choose the winner of the Community Service Even with the various changes, one thing remains Award through ballots received at the gate, and now constant: the need for volunteers. The Pride Board, and all other Don Peterson from Nashville. available in the June issue of Out and About Newspaper. The volunteers, make the month of events, and the Festival itself, person chosen will be announced later, perhaps in July, and happen. Wheeler noted that the June 20 Fest itself will require Hey, God, move over honored at Pride 2010. 140 volunteers. you’ve got my seat.

2911 12th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 297-3776 (888) 535-2287

Don wins a free 1/4 page ad in the Free Press for the business of his choice.

Contact: Loraine Segovia Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 615-216-5737 www. nashville hispanic chamber .com 12

Franklin suburbanites would not cotton to rehabilitating ex-cons to assume more social responsibility than their density squarely in their communities. Instead, they pursue fundraising dictates while accepting none themselves fit the textbook local knowledge efforts on behalf of charities that look more like insurance policies definition of NIMBY. ■ M I K E B Y R D or bribes to push ministries to less wealthy neighborhoods. Being AIMBY, there is no contradiction in me living with rehabilitative services and demanding that some be placed Contact Mike at: in communities who refuse to bear any of the burdens. Those [email protected] Call me AIMBY, outliers taking advantage of urban myths by expecting urbanites not NIMBY the politics of dogs tracy b ann I break with many progressives in my criticism of the oversaturation The Value of Dog Training of urban neighborhoods with social services, charities and programs of uplift. As a result, opponents tend to label me NIMBY (as in Not In My Back Yard), which I consider This seems to be something few people get. They see the They learn to sit and stay, down and come with a misunderstanding on their part. The misunderstanding value in paying thousands for a puppy. They see great value in a myriad of distractions; traffic noises, lawn mowers, rests on simplistic assumptions about classic urban anomie buying fancy collars and sweaters and beds and squeaky toys and helicopters, the dog next to them being fed a cheeseburger. without attention to suburban social dislocation. soft “loveys”, engraved food bowls, and car seats. But training? When your dog chooses to listen to you despite all the NPR reported two years ago that across America Nah… that can be done at home; you can learn it from TV or a distractions you have a dog that will listen when you call it low-income people were already moving out of the cities book. to come away from traffic or when you ask it to sit instead and into the suburbs for cheaper rents and jobs, even as This is sometimes true. There are dogs that just come of chase a squirrel. social programs of aid failed to move to the suburbs with wired to be obedient. They don’t chew, they come when called Many classes have playtime before or after the class them. To watch those waves fan out of the city and to expect and they just generally don’t create a problem. so your dogs learns great socialization skills with its own them to spend money for transport to come back seems Sure, and some kids learn to read on their own. Most have species. They learn the proper way to greet a dog – despite impractical and foolish. And to continue to double-load to be taught. what puppies think, it’s not polite to jump on another dogs urban neighborhoods with both local needy populations and Owners tend to head to say hello. low-income suburbanites seems imbalanced and prejudiced. undervalue the benefits They learn when Not only is it entirely fair and reasonable for of formal training. it’s ok to wrestle a dog urbanites like me to criticize the overload of social services When I trained my to the ground and when in our neighborhoods, but we do not deserve the label first dog years ago, my it’s not. Very importantly, NIMBY when we do so. If I were NIMBY, then I would not favorite part of class they learn bite inhibition. accept any social services whatsoever in my neighborhood. was talking to other All dogs bite. Nothing On the contrary, I already do accept them. Within a half-a- dog owners. “Your you can do about that. mile radius of my house there are two halfway houses that I dog does that too? With proper training know of. One of them housed at one time two convicted sex So does mine!” The they can learn to control offenders. Right around the corner is Cheatham Place Public camaraderie is such a their bites and not hurt Housing, as is the Union Rescue Mission’s Women’s Home. draw. anyone. Dog class is a Nearly next door is the Metropolitan Action Commission, Plus, most safe environment to learn which provides assistance for needy people, and Head Start, dogs don’t come this. an education and nutrition program for low income children. preprogrammed to Of course, it all So, labeling me NIMBY is not only naïve but wrong; listen to their owners when asked. Owners don’t magically pick depends on what your goals are for your dog. For some it’s I am “AIMBY.” The services for those fallen on hard times up an understanding of basic dog psychology, body language and just to get their dog to stop jumping. (A six-week course are Already In My Back Yard. They are already a part of my communication when they buy their first pup. should do that nicely.) My goal for my dogs has always landscape. I could not practically be NIMBY in the precise Formal training gives owners and dogs a chance to build been that I wanted them so well-behaved that they could be sense of standing against the entry of services that have not on their relationships with the guidance of a trainer. A trainer who at my side off-leash in the grocery store and no one would arrived. And I am not advocating running the existing ones does “speak dog” and who has years of experience with thousands notice. And I have fairly large, noticeable dogs! out. I am asking for compromise and sharing. I am resisting of dogs. I went to classes non-stop for two years and then did the oversaturation of my neighborhood with social programs Dog class is also a huge ego booster. You get to see people a year of private sessions with a behaviorist. I loved all of it. simply because it is urban rather than suburban. who are worse at it than you are. It’s also inspiring in that you get My advice would be to find a trainer you like and Charities and services should also be a part of the to see people who have been to class after class and both dog and go to a class and then go again. I think you and your dog increasingly impoverished suburban landscape, even as owner have mastered communication and are awesome to watch. will both enjoy and benefit from it. The value will be self suburbanites generally refuse to tolerate even drug-addiction In a training session your dog is exposed to lots of evident. ■ halfway houses. Yet, if you really want to “mainstream” different people, places, and things; including cars, squirrels, addicts, the suburbs are exactly the deepest channels where birds and best of all, other dogs. Contact Tracy at: the mainstream flows. So why can’t they accept some of the burden, too? In my view they refuse because they are more [email protected] accurately NIMBY than any city dweller living by modest means. The wealthier suburban neighborhoods become, the more intensely NIMBY they are. In fact, I call wealthy communities NEVIMBY (that is, NEVer In My Back Yard). Last year a firestorm of controversy erupted in an Antioch suburb when a prison ministry sought to build a halfway house campus near some schools. According to blogging Metro School Board member Karen Johnson, ministry leaders had powerful people and wealthy churches from affluent neighborhoods in Brentwood and Franklin Cutting Through The Spin! supporting them. Rest assured that those Brentwood and 13

though with no relation to the energy molecule adenosine triphosphate—will be co-curated by the ever eccentric eschewing obfuscation Flaming Lips. As ATP stated on their website, “every act charles sumner that plays will perform an exclusive special show, bespoke for this event,” so keep in mind that capacity for ATP Summer 2009’s best is limited to only 2,800 and tickets will sell out rapidly. The Sage of This year’s ATP festival lineup features EI-P, Deerhoof, Monticello music festivals the Melvins, Iron and Wine, Caribou Vibration Ensemble, (Part 2) Deerhunter, and Animal Collective.

All Points West Music and Arts Festival Austin City Limits Music Festival July 31-August 2, Jersey City, NJ October 2-4, Austin, TX We owe a lot to Thomas Jefferson, “The Sage of Monticello.” Newborn All Points West Music and Arts Festival is Texas’ best-loved three-day music festival returns this October He was a man for all seasons: slated to be a whirlwind force to be reckoned with in its with, as usual, over 130 bands and artists on eight outdoor inventor, philosopher, statesman. horticulturist, architect, very first year. Also coined as Coachella East—due to stages observed and enjoyed by roughly 65,000 concert-goers archaeologist. He was fiercely attacked because of his its being organized by the same geniuses who brought each day. Austin City Limits Music Festival, now one of unorthodoxy in religion by political opponents when he ran you Coachella in California America’s most nonpareil rock festivals, is not only organized for President in 1800. Jefferson certainly was no saint, but earlier this spring—All by the same company that co- the sermons which warned that he would overthrow religion Points West will not only produces Lollapalooza, but and destroy the Bible were (to say the least) exaggerated. entail rockin’ music and will also be featured on late There really was no reason for New Englanders to hide their a recycling program, but night installments on PBS Bibles when he became President. eco-friendly transportation available for music-lovers Thomas Jefferson was not an atheist. His religion options to get there as who can’t make it this year. was more in the image of the basic tenets of Renaissance well. Rumor has it that (Check your local listings Humanism, which considered man empowered, limitless in APW has enlisted the for showings of ACL around his capacities for development, and it led to the notion that service of a river ferry midnight.) The lineup for people should embrace all knowledge and develop their that leads directly to the this fall’s Austin City Limits capacities as fully as possible. His admiration for the life site of the festival, where includes (but is not limited and teaching of Jesus is well-documented. He wrote that his parking available only for to) Dave Matthews Band, “system of morals is the most perfect and sublime that has carpoolers will be offered. (Even more incentive for STS9, the Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Flogging ever been taught by man.” However, he thought it necessary Molly, Andrew Bird, Kings of Leon, Citizen Cope, and “to knock down the mysticisms, fancies and falsehoods by you to bring a friend.) All Points West has announced ■ its killer 2009 lineup, which includes bands like Fleet Medeski, Martin & Wood. which the religion-builders have distorted and deformed Foxes, Crystal Castles, the Beastie Boys, Silversun the doctrines of Jesus and get back to the pure and simple Pickups, My Bloody Valentine, Gogol Bordello, Tokyo doctrines He inculcated.” He believed himself to be “a Police Club, and Echo & the Bunnymen. NOTE: In “Summer 2009’s best music festivals, part one,” it Christian in the only sense in which Christ wished any one was said that DJ’s will be spinning at Perry’s at Lollapalooza, to be, sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all All Tomorrow’s Parties when Perry’s is, in fact, part of Bonnaroo. I regret the error. others.” September 11-13, Monticello, NY Jefferson biographer Dumas Malone called Jefferson’s faith “the religion of a reasonable man.” And Taking place at Kutschers Country Club in Monticello another student of his life, Merrill Peterson, said that this fall, All Tomorrow’s Parties—a concert- and NOTE: If you’d like to submit your (or your Jefferson “wished for himself, for all his countrymen, not festival-promoting organization based in London— student’s) essay or article for consideration to run freedom from religion, but freedom to pursue religion returns with a bang to the Northeast for its second on the Young Voices page (600-word limit), email wherever reason and conscience led.” He and his family annual New York bash. While being co-hosted by My it to [email protected]. Include your contact were baptized, married and buried by the Anglican Bloody Valentine in 2008, 2009’s All Tomorrow’s information. Church, and he was always on good terms with the local Parties festival—more commonly known as ATP, minister. He also donated money to both Presbyterian and Baptist churches and in later years he rode his horse into Charlottesville to attend joint services of three Protestant denominations. Yet he did not believe in the Trinity. The reason for understanding Jefferson’s religious views is that it is helpful in understanding his intense belief that the institutions of religion and of government must remain separate and free in order to guarantee freedom Divorce -- DUI -- Criminal law of conscience and equal treatment before the law for all. Hence, Jefferson’s “Wall of Separation.” The Baptists were a religious minority in Contact Attorney James L. Widrig Connecticut, and they complained that in their state, the religious liberties they enjoyed were not seen as immutable rights, but as privileges granted by the legislature. Their (615) 417-7800 letter expressed concern over the lack in their state constitution of explicit protection of religious liberty and against a government establishment of religion. 501 Union St. Suite 503 Nashville 37219 In their 1801 letter to President Jefferson, the Danbury Baptists affirmed that “Our Sentiments are (615) 417-7800 FAX 401-2555 uniformly on the side of Religious Liberty - That Religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals - That no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on www.widriglaw.com account of his religious Opinions - That the legitimate Power

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the wine sherpa the real music city joe scutella steve haggard “Enotria”... Who Are the Head South! Cut-throats, Exactly? Take Control of Your Website Content.

In 2003 scientists in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia or the first time in a while, I’m not to discovered an ancient ceramic F going begin my column by writing about storage vessel, some 8,000 years the Somali pirates. They may creep in a few paragraphs down the old. Testing the long-since-dried line, but I’m going to try to resist the temptation as long as I can. residue in the vessel revealed that it had contained wine. Instead, I’ll write about another topic that I’ve touched on This, a vintage that was thousands of years before the before, and that has generated some lively response from readers: Greeks and subsequently the Romans raised wine to God- that is, musicians playing for free in Nashville. Or anywhere, for like cult status. that matter. With Sitemason you can... The history of the vine and man are inexorably As I’ve mentioned in earlier columns, people wouldn’t ����������������������������������� tied together, as wine appears in some of our earliest texts, think of asking an auto mechanic or a dentist or a plumber or an �������������������������������� most notably the Bible. Fabled Roman poets from Catullus airline pilot to work for free; but for some mysterious reason, ���������������������������������������� to Pliny the Elder extolled the glories and virtues of wine it’s somehow different when it comes to musicians. (Of course, ���������������������������������������������� as it became the fuel which ignited Roman culture. Though people in those other occupations wouldn’t agree to work for free, ������������������������������������������ the Republic of Georgia may have traded the juice of the and they might very well have some choice words for you if you �����������������and �������������������������� fruit of the vine for more spirited libations, the Italians even suggested it… whereas many musicians will not only work ������������������������������������� have embraced vino like no other. Their famous Tuscan for free, they’ll stand in line to do it.) Sangiovese-based wines, such as Chianti and Brunello di Make Your Website as Dyanmic as Your Business My point, by the way, is not to criticize those musicians Montalcino, and their Nebbiolo wines of the Piemonte, ������������������������������������������������������ who do it – and I welcome feedback from all sides on this issue Barbaresco and Barolo, are legendary for their age- – but merely to explore why club owners can get away with it. worthiness, finesse, balance and tannic power. They also As part of my research on this subject, I recently enlisted a tend to be expensive. visiting musician friend to do some investigative reporting for me. Head south in Italy and land gets less expensive, the My “accomplice” was an excellent English singer and songwriter weather hotter, the foods spicier and the grape varieties more named Michael Jay Cresswell, for whom I was producing an obscure. The south of Italy has seen its share of conquerors album project. Michael was in Nashville for the entire month of over the centuries, and each brought along grapes from April, and naturally spent some time visiting local clubs. their native lands. In fact, today the Italian government has Posing as an innocent English tourist, he went forth to “viticulture archeologists” going through people’s backyards do my dirty work for me, and he came up with some interesting in places like Calabria and Puglia, doing DNA testing on responses from club owners when he asked about the playing-for- a treasure-trove of long-lost and forgotten grape varietals free issue. brought there by conquering civilizations eons ago. My favorite one was actually an answer that Michael The wines of Southern Italy are a treasure-trove in came by indirectly. He was in a bar downtown, and noticed that themselves. In fact, those who primarily drink new world the drinks there were much more expensive than in the other wines from California or Australia might find the southern establishments he’d visited. Asking the manager about this, he Italian style more to their liking. The wines in the south tend Forever Jewelers was told that it was because the bar had live music. to be less tannic, not overtly finished in oak, if at all, well- “Oh,” said Michael, who had seen a tip jar near the stage, concentrated and far less expensive than those from Tuscany With each $25 purchase, “you mean you pay the bands?” and Piemonte. The grapes may be unfamiliar and hard to register to win $150 gas card. “No,” replied the manager with a straight face, “they play pronounce but I believe you will find the wines to be quite for tips”. approachable. With each $199 purchase, get a free pair “But then why do the drinks cost more if you don’t pay Look for some of the following. of princess-cut diamond-stud earrings the musicians?” asked our intrepid – and justifiably confused Whites made from the Falanghina grape, of which – reporter. valued at $99 Pliny described as “beloved by bees,“ emanate from the “Well,” answered the manager with a bit of stunning (while supplies last). volcanic soils north east of Naples in Campania. These Alice-In-Wonderland logic, “the band draws a lot of people, so can be lush and wonderful wines. Search out the 2007 Forever Jewelers we have to bring in extra staff to handle the crowd”. Falanghina Dei Feudi Di San Gregorio, $20. This wine I will comment more on that next time.... 101 W. Kingston Springs Rd. is honey-hued, full-bodied, rich, silky and sumptuous. The But for now, let us speak again of pirates. You may Kingston Springs wine pops with pear, apricot and tropical fruit flavors, more remember that I wrote my last column while somewhat inebriated 615.952.3033 honey, and finishes with nice mineral tinges. on a balcony in New Orleans. Puglia, the “stiletto heel” of Italy and Sicily, Italy’s Hrs. 10-5 Tues.-Th., 10-6 Fri., In it, I discussed pirates. Naturally. golden isle, can also be the source of affable, affordable 9-noon Sat. Well, a musician friend of mine, who doesn’t want to wines. From Puglia look for wines made with the Primitivo Browse & purchase online at continued on page 15 continued on page 15 www.foreverjewelers.us 15

“Enotria”...

talking downfall blues continued from page 14 Douglas Ditche Primitivo grape, thought to be an ancestor of the Zinfandel. Tea Parties are for tea sippers The 2007 “Sfida”, a 70 percent Primitivo and 30 percent Negroamaro, is a good place to start. This robust red offers juicy cherry, plum and black currant fruits, with nice spice. The Negraomaro is perhaps the only “noble” variety in the south, and it gives the wine great structure and focus for its I’m a little late in weighing in on this topic, but my thoughts and globalization and greed and environmental devastation. I’m price, which is $13. about it had not coalesced until recently, when I ran back certainly not gonna fight for the Establishment. That’s where From Sicily look for what I believe could be the across a quote from Fox News commentator Michelle the Tea-baggers are confused. They want to believe they are the next big thing in everyday reds, Nero D’Avola. This Malkin: “Fiscal responsibility is the new counterculture, and counterculture now. They are not and never have been. They are chameleon of a grape finds many expressions, all easily that’s what we’re seeing here.” just pissed that the rest of us want something different than they approachable. The 2007 Petraio Nero D’Avola, $9.99 is a It seems to be a refrain in her writing from the want. And for us, it has nothing to do with who is President. ■ fine introduction. This is a medium bodied, un-oaked red time the Tea-baggers had their Tea Parties denouncing big and it is a delight for those looking for a summer sipper government and president Obama. The mantra has also been Contact Douglas at: or a Pinot Noir alternative. Petraio Nero D’Avola yields a taken up by other pundits who believe that President Obama [email protected] fresh palate of red berry- blueberry fruit with some plumy is the devil and that they are modern-day patriots. They want notes mingling in as well. The wine is quite smooth and the to return America to what they believe it used to be, before tannins are soft and powdery. Obama. The Greeks called southern Italy “Enotria,” There really are so many angles to address here. translating to the “land of the vine.” Something tells me they Maybe that’s why it took me so long. Stat of the Week knew what they were talking about. ■ The Tea Parties were organized by the same people who still forward pictures in emails of Obama, and In 2008, the worst year for the U.S. econo- underneath it is the whole Master Card “Priceless” gag. my since the Great Depression, pay for CEOs Contact Joe at: Let’s say there’s a photo of Obama taking the First Lady to a at publicly traded corporations with less than [email protected] movie; underneath it would be, “Cost of movie tickets: $12. Cost of large popcorn: $8. Cost to shirk responsibility while $1 billion in revenue actually rose — by 8.1 economy spins out of control: Priceless.” These modern- percent, researchers at Equilar reported last day patriots are still stuck in 1998. They’re still flogging the week. Over three-quarters of the companies same dead horse. Sure, a few hundred people coming out in the Equilar survey registered revenues to demonstrate is a feat, but I can’t help but imagine more people would show up if it weren’t organized by a cookie- over $100 million. The new figures cover cutter political action committee. Originality is priceless. 1,064 CEOs. They averaged $1.3 million. This group is hell-bent on thinking that Obama is stealing from their children’s future and trying to turn America into a Socialist hippie commune. Though you couldn’t tell that from some of the signs that were held Cut-throats... indicating the Klan was reforming for the 21st century. If this had not been most of those people’s first protest, they would continued from page 14 have known that the key to a good demo is to have one solid message that many individuals can display uniquely. Instead, be identified for obvious reasons, wrote in to say that he was EDWORKS the Tea Parties looked like a convention of schizophrenics. drunk on a balcony in New Orleans many years ago, and he was No forethought, little planning. thinking about pirates then, too. He didn’t remember how many Ed Brannon Although their message was completely years ago it was, and in fact couldn’t remember whether or not indecipherable and the planning was shoddy at best, they still he had fallen off said balcony. (Apparently he was more than 615.584.5936 had wider media coverage than did the last eight years of “somewhat inebriated”.) anti-war rallies put together. Although subversives and lefties And on that cheerful note, I’ll close for now! ■ House maintenance have the creative nailed down, they still lack the media omnipresence the Tea Parties had for one lousy rally. Now, Contact Steve at: and remodeling why you do suppose it worked out like that? Maybe they just [email protected] got lucky. Maybe their boring, incoherent message struck a “Jack of all trades chord. Or maybe they got so much media coverage because and master of a few” they are the media. Or rather, they are the establishment. Sage of Monticello They were claiming that Obama stole their kids’ piggy banks, but where were they when George W. Bush was continued from page 13 using their kids’ piggy banks to fund an illegal occupation and war in Iraq? This group was not, and is not, protesting the ever-skyrocketing military and defense spending budget of civil government extends no further than to punish the man Right Direction... (yes, it is increasing under Obama, as well). And where the who works ill to his neighbor...” hell were they when it was clear that Bush and Cheney both As a religious minority in Connecticut, the Danbury continued from page 8 deserved impeachment for wiretapping, torture memos, and Baptists were concerned that a religious majority might “reproach their chief Magistrate... because he will not, dare not assume the CIA-identity leaking? I’ll tell you where they were. They think, Metro Council members? Are you ready for the next prerogatives of Jehovah and make Laws to govern the Kingdom were at the front, throwing stones at those of us who protest bold step in local food security? of Christ,” thus establishing a state religion at the cost of the injustice and governmental abuse regardless of the face it Full disclosure: I’m pretty much a vegan, but I liberties of religious minorities. So we will see how these shows or the party it represents. recognize that not everyone wants to, or has to, go that concerns were treated by Jefferson. ■ TV host Glenn Beck, Congresswoman Michelle route..... ■ Bachman and others like them have called for revolution. I don’t know about you, but if I’m gonna be part of a Contact Charles at: Contact Martin at: revolution it’s gonna be against corporate welfare and racism [email protected] [email protected] 16 parecon transgenerational planning the living words lonnie ray atkinson a l a n g r a f david harris An Economy is Heard any good Nothing More books lately? than a Recipe

Because economics affects Some years ago, not long everyone, it should be understood after I got my first dog, I found by everyone. When, however, myself wandering around economics is too difficult for the in the woods for an hour or so at a time. Now, I’ve read average person to understand, it’s Thoreau, and I appreciate the beauty of the woods and the to keep decision-making power out of his or her hands. The Past is a Present to the Future quiet and all that, but enough is enough. Hiking the same Since that’s not my idea of a good economy, that’s trails every day, you finish marveling at the wonders of not the way I plan to talk about economics. So for anyone I remember my mother’s smile nature after a couple of weeks. who thinks, like I once did, that this will probably be too And that was when I started listening to audiobooks. much to comprehend, you only need to know one thing. An I remember when we played for a while I started by taking tapes out of the library, but eventually the economy is nothing more than a recipe. There’s what you she’s pushed me in a carriage real slow habit grew to the point where I was downloading them into put in, what you get out, and how you cook it. an MP3 player. There are a number of outfits that provide What you put in is, of course, your main ingredients. fed me, nourished me, watched me grow downloads now, from The Teaching Company (courses in all And in an economy, the main ingredients are what we call I remember that cold clear day sorts of interesting subjects, at fairly high prices) to Librivox institutions. (public domain books read by volunteers, for free). What you get out is how the dish is experienced when my pappa passed away When I was in graduate school, and had to produce (things like look, taste, smell, texture, whether it’s healthy, the lonely feelings deep inside a list of all the books I had read in connection with my etc). In an economy, these desired experiences are simply the studies, I was warned not to include books I had only values we desire in our economic life. a little boy, with nowhere to hide listened to but not read from paper. Why not? How is the How you cook it is what you do with your main experience of listening to a book inferior to reading it? The past is a present to the future ingredients to get to that desired experience. In an economy, After all, many of us grew up listening to people it’s basically all the little details concerning how you run I remember when the mountains grew read to us. Listening to stories has been with us much longer your economic institutions. than reading them, as a culture as well as individuals. Some the sea passed over and the light shined through And just like we have basic food groups from which of us, as adults, still read to each other. Anne Fadiman, in to choose our main ingredients, all economies boil down to I remember the creatures of old an essay in her book Ex Libris (which I have not read, but how you answer a few basic questions. These questions are listened to), describes the pleasures of her husband’s reading essentially: Who owns what? Who calls the shots? Who does and all the stories that ever been told to her every night; we’ve adopted this practice in our house, this, who does that? Who gets this, who gets that? And how I remember when the earth stood still too. are prices and wages set? Listening to a story, you do miss out on any As we know, what you choose from the basic food John and Martin gone with a chill typographical idiosyncrasies (my wife is currently reading groups makes an enormous difference in what dish you hope and hopelessness side by side Now Playing in Canterbury to me, and she is always end up with. In an economy, how you answer these basic stopping to show me what the pages look like), and the questions can literally be the difference between life and life and death together for a ride spellings of names, but you do get the complete text. (I insist death. So how do you decide? The past is a present to the future on unabridged recordings.) Is the appearance of the text on Well, any good cook knows that if you’re creating the page that important? Not for most books. a recipe from scratch, you don’t start at the beginning. You I remember a new spring day But the experience of a book is very different on the start at the end. You ask what it is you want out of the dish. page. All we have, in most cases, is the little black squiggles will the memories fade away And in Participatory Economics, there are four basic to tell us what the characters look like and sound like. values that we want to be experienced: equity, solidarity, friends and lovers gone and past Without our active involvement, those little squiggles just self-management, and diversity. lie there on the page. When we do bring our imaginations to beauty and tragedy, does anything last? Equity is simply fairness. It’s a fair norm or standard bear, the best of them come to life, better than anything on applied to all individuals, a fairness that doesn’t allow for I remember love and hate television. unjust disparity in wealth, resources, or chances. When we hear a book, we are having an Solidarity is working together as part of a I remember when the birds couldn’t wait interpretation imposed on us. Even the flattest reading community rather than working against one another in the to sing melodies of a sweet love song carries some meaning, and a truly flat reading makes the service of individual materialism and material disparity. book sound more boring than it actually is. On the other It’s cooperation and civility rather than competition and to fly in the open where nothing could go wrong hand, a masterful reading shapes how we think about it. selfishness. Solidarity is not getting yours at someone else’s I remember yesterday One of my favorite readings, for example, is Jeremy Irons’s expense, but rather standing up for the common good of all. performance of Lolita. Listening to that, you cannot help Self-management is the concept that no one it seems a little foggy for only just a day thinking of Humbert Humbert as looking rather like Jeremy individual or group should have undue power or control over and tomorrow will come and tomorrow will pass Irons (and, as we all know, he really looks like James your life. Instead, you have a certain degree of autonomy, Mason). Even when you don’t know what the performer a certain amount of say in society proportionate to how yes the future will be here looks like, your perceptions of the characters and how the decisions affect you. In other words, self-management is real sentences should be emphasized are shaped by the voice. but the future won’t last democracy. This doesn’t only change our interpretation of the Diversity is the idea that if everyone’s inputs are the past is a present to the future text; it can make us like the book more or less, according considered, rather than just the inputs of a few powerful to the quality of the performance. For exactly that reason, individuals, not only will we have more choices, we’ll have at least one writers’ organization (the Science Fiction and better choices. Unleashing the imagination of more minds Alan Graf Fantasy Writers of America) has decided not to include will enhance the arts and sciences. Greater debate and Contact Alan at: continued on page 19 [email protected] continued on page 19 17 Bread & roses no holier than thou n e l l l e v i n Jay Solomon

Nashville’s Can growing Muslim populations Uptown Pipe result in shrinking Islamophobia? Dreams and Down-Home Music I recently watched a video of some of the most subtle fear Perhaps more significant, and a factor into which mongering I’ve seen since the last time I enjoyed an afternoon of we can’t delve deeply here, is that developed nations have Fox News. lower population growth (based on fertility and ignoring The video, called Muslim Demographics, began by immigration) than developing nations. Thus, although Muslim explaining that for a culture to continue for at least 25 years, that families grow faster than their Western counterparts now, Nashville’s wheelers and dealers, from Mayor Karl Dean culture requires a minimum fertility rate of 2.11 children per family. within developed nations, at least, either group’s children will on down to developers like Jack and Frank May and Tony Western nations, we learn, have fertility rates between 1.1 and 1.6 likely reproduce at more comparable rates - meaning that this Giarratana, are suffering from illusions of grandeur. Their children per family; historically, these rates trend, like all historical ones, is not illusions are compounded by greed, visions of millions of are impossible for a culture to recover from. everlasting. tax dollars flowing into the city’s coffers, and the myth that The video revealed that for some reason, The world does not stay any Nashville is so “special” that we can go down the über- populations in western countries are growing one way forever. People, religions, development road and not get mired in the mud like other much faster than the fertility rate indicates. cultures, and political entities come cities. “Why?” the narrator asks in an increasingly and go. It’s an inevitable, and, up to Building a convention center at a time when the conspiratorial tone. “Muslim immigration.” this point, unstoppable process. To convention center market is saturated, when attendance is It’s at this point that we’re expected to gasp, imagine that the current situation off nationally, when the whole model of corporate excess, shield our ears from the muezzin’s call and of western technological and such as lavish meetings, is being called into question seems fear for the future. geopolitical hegemony could last especially foolish. Many organizations have cut their travel Based on the rate at which Muslims forever - especially considering budgets. Gas prices are on the rise. Corporate profits are are immigrating to western countries how long it’s been going on - is down. As several articles in the Nashville Scene have pointed and their remarkably high fertility rates, nothing short of naive. out, consultants typically give clients, like the Nashville Muslims will be the largest demographic Historically speaking, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, what they want: inflated in the world in the next five to seven years. neither the past nor the future convention attendance statistics. Moreover, at these rates western civilization can be isolated in 25-year stints, Maytown Center is another pipe dream. Why build will disappear as Muslims move in and as the video demands, which a second downtown when we can’t fill the offices in our take over. In the video’s final seconds it means that the turning tides of first downtown? Why build more condos when condos says, “We call upon you to join the effort geopolitics are hardly accounted are vacant all over Nashville? Why commit the city to and share the Gospel’s message with the for in a rudimentary comparison spend billions on the Maytown infrastructure when we changing world.” Muslims!!!!! of population growth and fertility are in a budget crisis that may get worse next year? Why Let’s set aside the video’s derisive rates. Moreover, large historical destroy Nashville’s most charming rural area, where the vast tone and closing agenda-revealing remarks, changes do not result from one thing, majority of the residents oppose this development? As Bells and look instead at the reality of the situation. It’s true that Muslim but rather, are the result of an infinite number of factors, of Bend resident Brenda Butka points out, the Mays and Tony populations are growing at a faster rate than western countries’ which we as historians manage to identify only a few dozen Giarratana “won’t ever develop Maytown--they don’t have populations. However, a common method used to exaggerate data (if we’re lucky). It is an understanding of history’s complexity the experience or resources. They want zoning to change so is to look at rates of change rather than actual numbers, a strategy - rather than say, “the butterfly effect” - that makes it so they can sell to other developers. This isn’t a development; the video employs to influence Islam’s population impact. fascinating. it’s land speculation, which would bring unimaginable profits You may notice that, generally speaking, this was not to a tiny handful of investors.” a refutation of the video’s key point: that Muslim populations The Maytown developers are using TSU as a pawn are growing much faster than western ones. Is my lack in their game. They have promised the university 250 acres, of worry about Muslim growth to say that I want Islam to a $400,000 donation and $49,000, contingent on Maytown’s “take over the world?” No, but I don’t want any religion to success. They have hired TSU students to flak for them, be dominant; I want the perpetuation of certain humanitarian making calls supporting Maytown while ostensibly doing values while people enjoy any religion they want. More “objective” research. importantly, I want to emphasize that Muslim participation in When the referendum on the Titans stadium was western culture is not bad. It is inevitable, and thus, should be held, TSU was promised that it could use the stadium for treated thoughtfully. its football games, thus insuring that a portion of the black Despite erroneous western beliefs and prejudices, community would support this tax-payer funded gift to Bud Islam is not a religion of the sword and it did not spread as Adams. Nashville citizens were also promised that they many think. That is long-standing and enduring Christian could use the stadium for public events. This has never propaganda. This video can be grouped under the same rubric, materialized. Like so many promises made by developers and rather than allow it to scare us, I hope we use it as a tool who stand to make big bucks, the promises quickly recede to better understand our global neighbors so that no matter from memory once the deal is done. what the future’s demographic make-up, all of our children Nashville IS special and is not because we have more can enjoy it together. ■ malls, or condos, or office towers or two downtowns or a bigger convention center than other cities. It’s because of Jay Solomon is the author of the upcoming The Zen of South our music. Park and conducts Quran Read-A-Long every Wednesday at According to a recent report, in 1970 Nashville was http://jaysolomon.wordpress.com. a minor music center focused on country music. By 2004, Contact Jay at: continued on page 19 [email protected] 18 anything goes queer thoughts j o h n r e y n - joyce arnold

A letter to To know you is to… probably be more accepting of you Stephen Colbert know someone who is gay or lesbian. Of those 58 percent, For people who celebrate who 40 percent say that legalizing “gay marriage” will have no effect on society, while 30 percent think it will. For those Dear Stephen, they are with an annual Pride Fest, who mark each October 11 as who said they do not know anyone who is lesbian or gay, 63 National Coming Out Day, the results of a May 7-10 USA Today / percent believe “gay marriage” will change society for the I am a songwriter in worse. Nashville Tennessee, not to Gallup poll bring no surprises. The poll asked respondents about their views on issues related to gays and lesbians (they left out Of those who self-identify as liberal, 71 percent be confused with Nashville say they personally know someone who is lesbian or gay, a North Carolina also named bisexual and transgender persons; unfortunately, this isn’t news either). The unsurprising results: Knowing you know someone significantly greater percentage than those who identify as for Francis Nash the great grand father of Nash Bridges, conservative or moderate. They are more likely to fall in the that infamous television sequilist. As you might imagine, who is lesbian or gay (and bisexual or transgender, I’d argue) often trumps the myths and labels imposed by the less factually range of the national average of 58 percent. I am known far and wide, within the confines of Davidson Perhaps even more revealing, those among the “I County. In short, I am a big fish, sort of a carp, really. and personally informed. For a good many of the younger members of Queerdom, know someone” category indicate they are comfortable My illustrious family dates back to revolutionary around lesbians and gays. That comfort factor falls to times and we have been living it down ever since. At family “coming out” might seem a quaint custom of their elders. Although it is very important to state that for many of those 64 percent among those who stand with the “I don’t reunions we often share stories of cousin Bean who when know anybody like that” category. I suppose it’s kind of at bunker hill penned the oft quoted anti-British paean “the same folks, harassment, verbal and physical, makes them all too aware of the dangers of being identified as a “fag” or “dyke,” and encouraging, that only 36 percent% or so of those who song heard round the world” which was later changed to the don’t think they know anyone from the LGBT communities innocuous “shot heard round the world”, all rights reserved. goddess help you if you’re a “boy wearing girls clothes,” or a girl who “looks like a boy.” If you’re bisexual, then you most likely indicate discomfort being around us. My relative Huey P. Long, another songwriter, even had This isn’t new information, but it’s important: the a book commissioned after his death, which became the will be perceived as lesbian or gay, period. In this 2009 Pride Month of June (officially proclaimed so more people who know us, the more likely an accepting famous biography “All the kings men” and was later attitude will flourish. Or at least have a chance to take root. changed to “All the kings women” starring Paul Newman. by President Obama, following the lead of President Clinton, and in contrast to President Bush, who did not so proclaim), being out Although the poll didn’t address this, I’m confident that the Today I write not to praise you but more to more openly supportive are our allies, the more likely it is appraise you of some things you may not know about the is easier, though certainly nowhere close to fully “accepted.” For many people, it’s still quite difficult, if not dangerous. Teens are that those who are unaware or undecided, and maybe even military. I have never been in combat myself but no matter. leaning toward un-accepting, will also be encouraged to take Not withstanding any of your silly Bob Hope references still kicked out of their homes by parents. People are still denied a job, or fired from a job, or refused housing, because they are, or a step into the Queer comfort zone. (got yah) American soldiers are not, the complicated, To know us might not be to love us, but multicultural, possibly gay but for gods sake don’t tell are thought to be, something other than a “normal” heterosexual. “Homosexuals” are still kicked out of the military (an estimated “comfortable” is a step above “accepting” and several steps anybody, hugely divergent group of woman and man you beyond “tolerance.” Keep the Pride faith, all you knowing seem to be pandering to. So come on! 200+ just since Obama took office) . people of whatever orientation. It makes a difference ■ I am from a Military family and was born at West But, as the recent Gallup poll reveals, it’s less likely Point. I was not born in the year of our lord 1492. That was that such discriminatory words and actions will come from the year Columbus discovered that America had already people who know they know someone from Queerdom. The Contact Joyce at: been discovered by millions of inhabitants and decided poll revealed that, in general, 58 percent of Americans say they [email protected] they would make great slaves. Anyway, Soldiers are not concerned about the press seemingly forgetting them. Personally I have not read a newspaper since refusing to wear my first pair of glasses because they made my head look like a piñata. Military families always buck it up, are used to the world forgetting them and never suffer from posttraumatic difficulties. I am a great example of this. That brief stay at Belleview was only an aberration, an “artist” thing, you understand. For the record, all military personnel vote republican, its imprinted in our DNA. On a side note, did you know that if you place the phrase “I’m so proud of bein’ an American” after any sentence known to man it makes for a great patriotic song. Try it. Stephen, may I call you Stephen? I respect your attempt to re-connect America to her troops, but please, Newsweek, That rag is as spent as a third tour national guarder thirty clicks north of Kazakhstan. And that photo- shopped cover, like you were really going to cut off all your hair. About your broadcasts from Iraq, do you think the President, who not one soldier voted for and is a man of color but speaks very well, has the time to send personal greetings to those he has sent into harms way. I think not. And that General, who does he think he is, supreme commander of allied forces in the region or something. Lastly, i have a confidential note to share, just between “artists”. In the final seconds of your first show

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Avant-Gardening ORGANIC LANDSCAPE katina williams GARDENER Biotech bad boys GE foods, despite the abundance of scientific studies exposing the Organic landscape gardener dangers they pose. feel the heat in Nashville since 1995, Although ADA studies in 2007 and 2009 revealed plants with excellent local references. cultivated organically contained higher levels of nutrients, it hasn’t stopped ADA member Marianne Smith Edge from giving Take advantage of my many years of The American Academy anti-organic keynote addresses at meetings of state dietetic experience as a full service gardener from of Environmental Medicine associations across the nation. The ADA’s own studies contradict maintaining healthy soil, stone paths and (AAEM) released its position its website statement that “nutritionally there is no evidence that Photo by Alan Messer paper on genetically modified organic produce is better or safer than conventionally grown raised beds to passive composting (it’s foods. Citing several animal studies, the AAEM concludes produce.” as easy as it sounds), edible landscapes, “there is more than a casual association between GM foods Strong-arm tactics by any multibillion-dollar corporation weed and pest control, and of course plant and adverse health effects,” and because “GM foods pose to squelch or sway important information pertaining to the health selections. a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and welfare of Americans should not be tolerated by any of us, and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, and certainly not by the US government. Turn your outdoor living space...be it physiologic and genetic health,” it called for a moratorium Let’s all un-complicate our lives...eat Organic. ■ landscape, balcony, or rooftop into a truly on them. ecologically friendly environment...with- “Multiple animal studies have shown that GM foods Contact Katina at: out the use of toxic conventional cause damage to various organ systems in the body. With this mounting evidence, it is imperative to have a moratorium [email protected] chemicals. on GM foods for the safety of our patients’ and the public’s I am also available for garden coaching health,” said Dr. Amy Dean, PR chair and Board Member of AAEM. The most common foods in North America for those wishing to do it themselves but which are consumed that are GM are corn, soy, canola, and are in need of guidance... email me at cottonseed oil. [email protected] In a related story, farmers, consumers, and civil- A TIP society organizations in Australia, Canada and the U.S. released a joint statement confirming their collective Heard any good books... commitment to stop commercialization of genetically List your meetings and engineered (GE) wheat. In 2004, global pressure prevented events (for free) on continued from page 16 biotechnology company Monsanto from pushing GE wheat onto an unwilling market. The group statement www.NashvilleProgressiveCalendar.com centers on the pledge: “In light of our existing experience audiobooks in its fiction awards. They are performances, and with genetic engineering, and recognizing the global to boost attendance and to have to compete with film and television. consumer rejection of GE wheat, we restate our definitive prevent schedule conflicts. So audiobooks are great, and tremendously opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the convenient, but they aren’t quite the same as books. It made commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops.” Proving sense to keep them off my list of books I had read; they are that good things can happen when people do something. translations into a different medium. ■ Genetically engineered crops have been linked Economy is a recipe... to increased pesticide use, insect and weed resistance, and Contact David at: have been banned in many countries around the world. Additionally, genetic drift hurts farmers who choose not continued from page 16 [email protected] to plant GE crops. Beyond Pesticides and other groups have successfully sued to prevent GE threats to organic dissent will enhance democracy. In a world that values education and conventional farming. Fighting the good fight has its over censorship and dialogue over dogma, our chances at a better Pipe Dreams and Music... rewards. quality of life are enhanced. Despite more than a decade of biotech hype, this Equity, solidarity, self-management, and diversity. These continued from page 17 industry has not introduced a single GM crop with increased are the values we want in a future economy. These are the yield, enhanced nutrition, drought or salt-tolerance. experiences we desire from a better world. ■ The plot thickens. Prominent corn insect scientists Nashville had grown to major music center with only New at public research institutions submitted a comment to the York and L.A. boasting more musicians. Nashville is the EPA charging that patent-holding companies, including Contact Lonnie at: only city that grew during this period, in effect sucking up Monsanto, Syngenta and others, interfered with their genetic [email protected] all the growth in the music industry. Today, Nashville is engineering research on crops. home to over 180 recording studios, 130 music publishers, “If a company can control the research that 100 live music clubs and 80 record labels and the center for appears in the public domain, they can reduce the potential Letter to Colbert... many musical genres from country and gospel to rock and negatives that come out of any research,” said Ken Ostlie continued from page 18 pop, attracting top talent from across the United States and (Univ. of Minnesota), one of 26 to sign the comment. the globe. We possess the world’s best writing and studio Cornell University’s Dr. Elson J. Shields told the Times talent and the best recording infrastructure. the companies “have the potential to launder the data, the from Iraq, the camera panned back. By the time your camouflage Instead of spending tax-payer money on a new information that is submitted to EPA. People are afraid of suit Faded into that sea of cheering service men and women so far convention center and a second downtown, we need to tout being blacklisted. If your sole job is to work on corn insects away from home and at least for a moment in the forefront of our Nashville’s unique role as a major music center. After all, and you need the latest corn varieties and the companies thoughts, my mother and I, (yes I am still living at home but don’t there are lots of lavish convention centers and downtowns, decide not to give it to you, you can’t do your job.” spread it around) were both crying. Mr. Hope would have been but no other city has thirteen hundred and fifty two The American Dietetic Association, the world’s proud. Nashville Cats that play clean as country water. ■ ■ largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, OOHRAH! whose findings influence health care professionals, media, Contact Nell at: and state/federal policies, have remained curiously silent on Contact John at: [email protected] [email protected] 20