Letters

Another hat in the ring

To the editor:

I thought about submitting my resume for the honorable judgeship position, but I know I couldn’t touch the depth at which you hit on the exact issues that give “our” judicial system its wonderful reputation (Toland 6/7/06). By the way, I too, have no legal experience except for minor infractions. I have however served as a juror one time. Maybe I should have submitted my resume.

Thank you for the inspirational entertainment.

Matthew Bryant

Mobile

Make the past prologue

To the editor:

As a long time resident and fervent supporter of the preservation of Mobile’s heritage combined with a well-balanced addition of new architecture and facilities, I write to share with you my ideas for the current site of the old Mobile County Courthouse.

I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel across this wonderful country of ours and visit numerous cities whose blend of history and development has created vibrant centers of gathering for both local residents and visitors. These centers have become cornerstones of economic success and provided caveats for attracting residents back to the heart of a city. Pikes Market in Seattle, Thaniel Hall in Boston, The Embarcadero in San Francisco, Reading Terminal in Philadelphia and the French Market in New Orleans. The commonality – all waterfront cities that have created vibrant open-air market centers around, in and on sites with significant historic prevalence.

With the re-birth of a residential focus on downtown, combined with the significant progress in hotel infrastructure, entertainment options and the reality of the cruise industry, downtown Mobile is undoubtedly on an upward path of being rediscovered by not only its residents, but also by a multitude of new visitors who have never stepped foot inside our incredible city.

Thus, it is time for us to begin the development of a gathering center similar to the cities I referenced earlier. The Mobile County Courthouse site is across the street from one of our most treasured historic jewels, the City of Mobile Museum, housed in the beautiful Old City Hall. This historic structure was originally Mobile’s “southern market” where residents and visitors would arrive to purchase fresh produce, fresh seafood, meats, unique southern delicacies and a variety of handcrafted items.

Now that the waterfront has re-opened to residents and visitors, the site of the Mobile County Courthouse represents a tremendous opportunity for us to re-establish that gateway by recreating an authentic open air “southern marketplace.” Imagine a structure similar to the Old City Hall where vendors display their fare, entertainers stroll the arched pavilions delighting residents and visitors, colorful café tables and umbrellas comfort those sipping a nice glass of wine or local microbrews, wrought iron benches provide a respite for a good book and beautiful foliage creates French style gardens and courtyards.

That’s what happens in Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, etc. and we should embrace this opportunity to make this site become our gathering center.

As a real estate professional many may say I should support the use of the site for residential real estate. I do support the use of the site for some residential development, but I feel the cornerstone of the site should focus on creating a gathering center, with residential as a peripheral enhancement. Those two missions can be accomplished in harmony.

Christopher J. Clarke

Mobile

Hot about the collar

To the editor:

I was delighted to read the Canon T. Mark Dunnam’s letter in your publication dated May 24 and learn of the Bishop’s office concern with the arts scene in Mobile. As a life-long Episcopalian, I have heard far, far too much about the Church’s silence on various of our Bishops’ questioning of Christ’s divinity, our drastically shrinking numbers, our general abandonment of Biblical direction in favor of a no-fault, guilt-free, “feel-good!” study group. Who cares about that kind of stuff?

I want to hear our priests talk about precious, innocent young children being shown male nudes. If only Rev. Canon Dunnam’s battery had not been dead! He could have posted his exquisite pictures on the Diocesan Web site for all of us to admire.

Please let the bishop know how happy we are that his office has taken a principled stand; please let him know how very PROUD all of us Episcopalians are that he has come out squarely and proudly in favor of FULL FRONTAL NUDITY in the Mobile art scene. At last we can hold our heads up again!

Ladd Leatherbury Inge

Mobile

Do you know me?

To the Editor:

After a night filled with drinking, rave music and meaningless sex I didn’t get home until 4 a.m. I needed to wash all the cigarette smoke and other unmentionables away so I took a bubble bath with the new Bath & Body Works Tropical Colada (3-in-1) and after I moisturized, I managed to hit my 1000-thread-count sheets at 5 a.m. It’s a good thing my father is rich or I’d actually have to go into work tomorrow when I could be sunbathing. But I digress.

I wake up at noon and take a diet pill, eat three Skittles and start my day fresh. I still had a couple of the guys’ numbers from the night before, I did lose a few when I puked in the parking lot off Conti, so I may call one. Then I remembered it was Election Day! What was I thinking? I had signed up to vote at either a PFLAG or HRC meeting where I go to cruise hot older guys, and now I am able to vote. Thank Goodness my father had Judge Lackey get rid of that awful drunk driving conviction!

I pick out a cute A&F outfit I bought last week from the new summer line and I spend another 30 minutes on my hair. Now I’m ready! I print out the e-mail from Gabriel’s Downtown that advised whom to vote for, three more Skittles for lunch and a bottle of Evian and out the door I go, skipping the whole way. The leather seats of my BMW 330ci are as hot as a firecracker, but who could park in the garage drunk?

Upon entering I feel so superior to these common people I decide to say something catty to the lady in line in front of me about her hair and hot oil treatments. I mark the names from my e-mail and then I flip the ballot over and mark NO to the real reason I came here (Marriage Amendment). I take the ballot to the lady by the machine and feed it in. She asks if I want a sticker and I let her know it might leave a stain and I walk out, with my usual strut. When I get home I lay out and praise myself for changing the world. I voted and we will all show them, we will get married if we want to. I have four boyfriends and in my head decide which will make the best first husband. I decide on Mark, but leave Rick and Steve as possibilities.

You could just imagine my shock at the ten o’clock news when they say that 80 percent of the people in this state voted YES on the Amendment. Can I not get married? Was today a total waste? What do those Southern Baptists think telling me what I can and can’t do with my life. Damn Grassroots campaigns! I need a drink.

Since the State has made up their mind from stereotype of how Gay Men and Women live I thought maybe this little fictional story would make them feel better about their choices today.

You don’t know me! You don’t know the life I live and you should be ashamed to think you are so much better than someone else because you’re attracted to someone of the opposite sex! Heterosexuals are the only people who deserve the right to know their children will be with their spouse if they die? Heterosexuals are the only people who deserve tax breaks and laws of protection to name just a few? Heterosexuals are the only people who deserve to stand in front of their families and friends and pledge their lives to one another and have a state that recognized that?

NO NO NO! The answer is NO, you should have Voted NO and remember no matter how good and holy you feel about yourself, YOU DON’T KNOW ME!

Lucian Manning, Jr.

Mobile, AL

It makes me feel so safe

To the editor:

I really enjoyed your article on civil liberties (Holbert, 6/7/06). But, did you know that our nation has been wiretapping since WWII? There is a clause in three amendments in our constitution that can actually be allowed for this. I also recently found out that Bill Clinton e-mail tapped. ABLEDANGER and ECHELON were two of Clinton’s babies used to track people who typed the word “Islam” or say, “Muslim” into the “to” or “subject” area of their e-mails.

So I guess the slippery slope of wiretapping has begun and I guess I’m one of the few people who after traveling a lot actually am comforted by it.

Toni Marie Jones

Mobile

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