Thinking About Parking
The “Lost in thought” piece (LEO Weekly, Aug. 22) was very historically informative, as “The Thinker” is one of my favorite pieces of art. It is an honor to have it at our city’s most well-known university, and yet recently it seems full of irony. The University of Louisville is a well-loved education center, but this wonderful sculpture is indicative of quite the opposite of what the university is doing to their students. As of the last two years, they have provided a great disservice to their students and employees by constantly expanding the campus with new structures being built on the scant parking lots that are becoming more rare by the week.
The campus is known as the most likely place in Louisville to get a citation or tow for minor infractions. What exacerbates this situation is that, although there is severely inadequate parking for faculty and students, the price for parking passes is raised ridiculously each year (more than $300 presently). These are people simply coming to work and school who are gouged after already paying inflated tuition rates, and when no parking is available, they are towed for parking in “restricted areas.” These are greedy and malicious acts in an economy hardly supportive of struggling families. My point: There doesn’t seem to be much thinking about those who are paying U of L board members’ salaries. Please, give us all break!
Scott Clemens, West End
Low Blow, Bro
Damien McPherson recently reviewed The Relic: The Return of a Magic Mill (LEO Weekly, Aug. 29). It was not only a bad review, but McPherson successfully humiliated the artist, who happens to be my father. My dad consulted me during the entire production, seeking input that would help give his project a modern-day appeal. Though the CD will not resonate with people my age because it’s reminiscent of old school hip-hop, I was impressed with the lyrical and production content. I had no idea he was that good. Writers like McPherson are the reason I had no interest in journalism when I declared my major, because they oftentimes sit securely behind word processors pounding out words of bravado. Unlike law, with journalism, the accuser doesn’t have to face the accused, which is too bad, because comments like “… tell him to zip up his damn jump suit and stop rapping” make me wish McPherson one day encounters The Relic. For his benefit, I hope McPherson is as tough as his words.
Christopher Milliron, Old Louisville
Beat Your Meat
In response to Kevin Gibson’s Aug. 29 Taste Bud, “It isn’t a wing if it isn’t made of meat”: OK, Mr. Gibson, I’ve got a bone to pick (pun intended) with you. For you to tell vegans that we should just go ahead and “order up some wings” because eating faux meat means we’re secretly craving animal flesh is extremely insulting and completely misses the point.
I didn’t give up meat because I hated the flavor of it; I gave it up because I don’t believe animals should be raised for human consumption. I also believe in the health advantages of a vegan diet (as does my doctor). I don’t think any vegan will tell you that faux meats (and, um, Mr. Gibson, you do understand what “faux” means, right?) taste just like the real thing, but they serve a purpose for people who want to transition to a vegetarian/vegan diet.
I’ve never had the vegan wings from BBC, so for all I know, they might have tasted like crap. But I commend any restaurant that tries to accommodate a growing number of vegans in this town. (I just wish the server wasn’t so negative about them — taste is subjective, after all.)
I “own” my choice to lead a cruelty-free lifestyle, Mr. Gibson. And, hey, it’s OK if you want to “own” your choice to eat meat. But don’t make fun of my lifestyle because of one experience you had and the five minutes you spent Googling “seitan” on your smartphone while waiting for your “real” wings to arrive.
Amanda White, Schnitzelburg
