When Lu Ann Ballew, child support magistrate in Newport, Tn., took it upon herself to dictate a couple could not name their child Messiah, it confirmed America's suspicions about Tennesseans being backward, fundamentalist, mouth-breathing idiots. In more simplistic terms if a judicial official can play God with a child's name, Tennesseans deserves considerably more lampooning than they already get.
This isn't about Christianity. The word messiah comes from early Jewish scriptures denoting a function within the theocratic structure of Israel originally translated as "anointed one." It is a title, not a name. Considering every other Latin-American is named Jesus; considering the name Christian and many other first names are derived from the Christ name, it's hard to wrap my mind around what this judge was thinking.
Messiah is one of America's fastest growing chosen names for newborns. And Newport's Judge Judy just outlawed it.
The parents are appealing this questionable decision (read: unconstitutional act) and will win. What concerns me is that the Tennessee Board of Judicial Review will simply attribute it to a "Prozac" moment. Scrutiny is required here and suggests to me a review of all past decisions of Lu Ann Ballew.
David D. Fihn, Sr.
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So "suspicions" about an entire state are confirmed because of the actions of a single person, and on top of that, the entire state "deserves considerably more lampooning than they already get" because of, again, the actions of a single person?
Why will Tennessee not be vindicated of such suspicions once the decision is reversed, especially since the decision to reverse it it will come from an exponentially larger amount of Tennesseans than the original decision to ban it?
Dallas Cole
Hixson
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So since one local judge in a hamlet in East Tennessee issues a ruling on a child's name we are now, "backward, fundamentalist, mouth breathing idiots?" A rather harsh assessment I would say, but then I remember a few months ago this same writer stated that, "a great majority of our tourism," was created by Missy Crutchfield and her art group at City Hall. Funny all this time I thought tourists were coming to see the Aquarium, the Discovery Center and Rock City and all the other attractions on the mountain.
If the writer is upset by this decision what does he think of California's new trans-gender law that allows high school students to use either bathroom facility or participate in any sport that they feel comfortable. So a 6'5 male can now choose to play on the girls basketball team? Or how about the local judge in Detroit who ruled the recent bankruptcy filing unconstitutional and required a copy be sent to President Obama since he, "bailed out Detroit? She was over-turned the next day. Or finally, how would he like to live in Decatur, Ga., where their U.S. Representative asked an Admiral at a hearing if he thought, "Guam would tip over if we sent 25,000 navy personnel there.
Unfortunately there are idiots in every state. If the writer feels he is embarrassed by living in Tennessee then I remember the late Lewis Grizzards advice to Yankees who complained about life in the south, "Delta is ready when you are."
What is a "mouth breather" anyway?
Douglas Jones
Ooltewah
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I've lived in the south all of my life and I have listened to descriptions of southern people sprinkled with words like Hillbilly, inbred,etc. How many places have you visited in the South where they had "hillbilly" items for sale [all over Gatlinburg for example] like hillbilly toilet paper which was a dried corncob or dried corn husks.
Think about all the reality programming that is so popular right now. "Here Comes Honey BooBoo"-- McIntyre, Ga., "Call of the Wildman"--Lebanon, Ky., "Duck Dynasty"--West Monroe, La.
Well, it goes on and on and on with "Moonshiners" on the discovery Chanel and "Sons of Guns" and programming promoting catching catfish by hand, swamp people wrestling gators and such.
Hollywood and evidently America loves a good ole redneck, hillbilly, "reality" program. I guess its the southern charm bundled with a ripped up flannel shirt, "a howdy ya'll," and girls in tight cut-offs [Daisy Mae and Dukes of Hazard?]. Who can forget Dukes of Hazard or The Beverly
Hillbilly's or any other southern fried series.
On the other hand, I find "The Real Housewives of __________" a gem. Overblown, silicone, mega hair, plastic trophy wives slugging it out week after week from New York to OC to Atlanta. Let's not forget "Jersey Shore." What about "Hardcore Pawn" which documents a pawn shop in Detroit, Michigan. The owner and staff specialize in fighting, arguing, and having the security team toss customers.
What I really find offensive are those little dried up Yankee retirees that settle in Florida. They have a rock hard reputation for being totally obnoxious, bitter, narcissistic, demanding demolition derby drivers.
I'll take a muddy hillbilly with a deer tied to the hood of his rusted out Ford any day of the week. By the way, one of the richest comedians ever? Larry the Cable Guy. Read up on him yall. He currently began his own reality program. He is so successful he doesn't know which hook to bait next. "Get-R-Done!!!" goes all the way to the bank. So do the the Duck Dynasty boys, and Honey BooBoo as well.
"Ya'll come back now, ya here!, take ye shoes off, set a spell."
Ted Ladd
East Ridge