TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE
In memory of Barbara Bush
In 1990, I wrote a letter to First Lady Barbara Bush, and she wrote me back. The letter had nothing to do with politics. It was all about womanhood and respect.
The First Lady had been invited to serve as commencement speaker at the prestigious Wellesley College for women. The college women protested, basically because they didn’t think she had accomplished enough to speak to them.
“She’s only a wife and a mother,” they said. “She’s not a feminist or career woman.”
Being the “see the big picture” person I’ve always been, I told Mrs. Bush that despite the many stellar accomplishments of Wellesley women, I was disappointed with their shortsightedness on this.
One of the first laws of “feminism” is respecting, valuing and lifting up other women. There are a thousand things we can learn from women who are wives, mothers and First Ladies. An impressive job title doesn’t necessarily define your wisdom, life experiences, or ability to inspire. Every woman has a story.
In her letter, she thanked me for my “thoughtful” letter, said that she would be speaking at Wellesley after all, and was looking forward to it. At the Wellesley commencement, she received a standing ovation.
Janas Jackson, Memphis
With age comes wisdom
It is always amazing that older administrators and politicians are valued. Older teachers and school counselors, who love working with children and have high evaluation scores and want to continue working are not valued.
Maybe sometime in the future that mentality will change and older teachers and school counselors will be respected and valued for their continued contribution to our children.
Susan Green, Cordova
Senate makes room for moms
The U.S. Senate recently changed its rules for the first time since 1977 to allow senators to bring a child under one year of age on the floor. This change was made in response to the history-making birth of a child to Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who then made history again by bringing her newborn daughter with her for a vote.
This rule change is much-needed and hopefully will set off a ripple effect across the entire U.S. workforce. Too many parents of newborns find their workplaces are simply not accommodating to the needs of their children, whether that is paid parental leave or a safe and clean place to express milk.
For many years, the federal government has lagged behind what many cities and states have done to protect pregnant workers and new parents. With the Senate now providing a national example, I hope that state and local government will go even further.
This example from the center of our nation’s government should also make it more difficult for opponents to argue that such measures are impractical in the workplace. If an institution as steeped in tradition as the U.S. Senate can do it, any employer can do it.
Tom Spiggle, Washington D.C.
Snubbing loyal Tigers fans
I couldn’t be happier about Penny Hardaway being the new Memphis basketball coach, but I also couldn’t be more disappointed in the treatment loyal season ticket holders have experienced during the frenzy surrounding Penny’s hiring and the long awaited signing of great recruits.
Last year, we could no longer stand watching up close what had become of Tiger Basketball, so we gave up our Plaza Level season tickets in June and moved to the Terrace Level.
Those Plaza level seats were offered to us again for 2017-18 (in October) for the ticket price only (no donation) because nobody else would buy them. We opted out because we couldn’t justify paying that much to watch another bad season.
Fast forward to March 2018 when we would have gladly accepted our old seats and paid full price, if we had only been given the chance to do that.
I can’t blame the university for wanting to take advantage of the hype surrounding Penny’s hiring and move up the ticket purchase date, but taking care of existing ticket holders with “priority points” should have remained a priority.
I had no idea that I would need to scramble for seats and camp out at the ticket office because I was under the impression we would get the first option to purchase tickets, as always.
After several emails over a couple of weeks’ time and playing telephone tag with the Tiger Scholarship Fund office, I was finally told the seats I held for many years were not available, but our Terrace Level seats were.
I guess we will have to sit there, but was I supposed to be grateful for that? No apology for not notifying us of the new policy or giving us first shot at good seats or even for not responding promptly to my inquiries.
Evidently, the Tiger Scholarship Fund office no longer values or appreciates loyalty. Someone who has never been to a Tiger basketball game will probably be sitting in “our” former seats. Something about that just isn’t right.
We will be there to cheer for Penny and the Tigers, but being relegated to the nosebleed section after years of paying top dollar for the Plaza level just doesn’t sit well with me somehow. Call me crazy, but I expected better treatment from my alma mater.
Mary Hendrix, Memphis
Boycott Memphis haters
Our state legislature has once again confirmed that it can’t see the trees for the Forrest.
How arrogant to decide that they know what is better for Memphis than Memphians themselves. Consider a good, old-fashioned boycott. Don’t renew those Titans tickets or patronize UT football. Stay away from Nashvillebased concerts and Predators games. Instead, invest in the Grizzlies, the Tigers, and the Redbirds. Spend money on Beale Street and at FedExForum.
If possible, think about sending a modest check to the City of Memphis or Email letters to letters@commercial appeal.com; mail Letters to the Editor, The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union, Memphis, TN 38103; or click on the “Submit Letter” link on the Opinion page atcommercialappeal.com. whatever entity will help celebrate Memphis. Just a few dollars multiplied by 600,000 people will more than make up for the paltry sum that petty state lawmakers have taken away. We don’t bluff !
Bart Williams, Dyersburg
Alarming fee increase
The Metro Alarm permit renewal fee was recently increased by five times the original amount for businesses. Now the fee will be billed and collected by individual alarm companies to submit to Memphis.
Since there will be such a substantial savings in administrative work and postage for Memphis, wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume that the permit fee would not have been increased so drastically?
Three phone messages to the Metro Alarm Office went unanswered.
Lisa Zepeda, Memphis For more commentary, go to commercialappeal.com/opinion/
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26
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