All About the Ball
We forgive Ricky L. Jones (city kid) for butchering the rural idiomatic phrase “a hard row to hoe” (LEO Weekly, March 20). He called Ashley Judd’s prospects for a Senate seat “a hard road to hoe.” The fact is that he may have been closer than he appeared to be at first blush. Unfortunately, the Grand Old Party would have made sure that Ms. Judd’s “road” to that goal was littered with a depiction of her as a “hoe.”
But, and this is a big but (“but” having been spelled as intended), there is no need to worry. As James Carville would tell the GOP if they could afford him, “IT’S THE BASKETBALL, STUPID!” As we all know, Ms. Judd is a big UK fan, and that trumps politics for the knuckle-draggers who have voted for Mitch in the past. Those of us who would vote for anyone but the incumbent would have voted for Ashley Judd just to have a break from being embarrassed weekly. But then, there’s always Rand Paul filling that role.
Charlie Baker, Highlands
Lost Cats Fan
In response to Evan Hilbert’s article regarding how “Mediocrity killed the Cats” (LEO Weekly, March 20), I am not disputing that Kentucky had a miserable season and going to the NIT was certainly not the way any Kentucky fan wanted to follow up a National Championship season. However, his assertion that “nobody gives a shit” is unfounded, and Kentucky fans will follow and support this team regardless of the mediocrity.
Also, given the huge chip U of L fans bear on their shoulders for always being “little brother” and the urban school that no one outside of this miserable city gives a shit about, the U of L fans who I know care more about whether UK loses than whether U of L wins. Despite LEO Weekly being a Louisville-based publication, a large number of your faithful readers are Kentucky fans, and this is another in a long line of disparaging articles and commentary against UK.
So count me among your former readers. It seems I no longer “give a shit about you.”
Kris M. Kemp, Georgetown, Ind.
Them Fightin’ Words
Reading Joe Sonka’s March 13 article about the so-called “religious freedom bill” in the Kentucky General Assembly, I was struck by the sharp contrast in the rhetoric of the two speakers he quoted. One sounds contentious, even angry, while the other seems calm and collected.
Near the beginning, Sonka quotes Michael Aldridge of the ACLU of Kentucky as saying, “Passage of this legislation is an affront to those who have fought for decades to insure every Kentuckian is treated with dignity and respect.” These are obviously fighting words.
Then several paragraphs later, he quotes Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign. Observing that some of the bill’s original sponsors have withdrawn their support, Hartman reportedly says, “That is a sign that House members are willing to look at it again and that leadership has the responsibility to look at it again.” Hartman sounds like a negotiator.
Both kinds of rhetoric are useful. My guess is Aldridge’s purpose was to mobilize his supporters, while Hartman wanted to appeal to legislators willing to change their minds. Personally, I just wish we could hear more conciliatory words and fewer fighting words in the public arena. Let’s have more discussion and less screaming. Leave the screaming to the attack ads on TV. Press the mute button.
Tom Louderback, Highlands
Pope on a Rope
Why the big fuss? For the umpteenth time, a celibate old man will tell millions of Catholics — heterosexuals, homosexuals, married, cohabiting, etc. — how to live their lives. It makes less sense now than it did two 2,000 years ago.
In 1968, when Pope Paul banned the pill, a Catholic cabdriver was heard to mutter, “Aw, rats! Why the hell did they ever tell him about it in the first place?”
Good luck on that!
John Gamel, St. Matthews