Hated Showdown
I was stunned by the "Showdown at McCrory Corral" article by Tara Servatius (CL, September 26). I don't know what Ms. Servatius was hoping to accomplish, but what she showed me was that she lacks any compassion and humanity for her fellow Charlotteans, and indeed she lacks any caring for other humans at all.
By taking a toy gun into the Government Buildings and parking decks, Ms. Servatius clearly put other people in harm's way to serve her own selfish agenda. What if a security guard had noticed the gun, and in these very stressful times decided to pull a firearm of his own? What if an innocent bystander was injured if the security guard happened to be a little trigger happy? You can try to justify what you did by saying that the citizens of Charlotte need to know, but there are responsible ways to make a point without carrying a provocative toy firearm into government buildings. Your actions were selfish and quite juvenile.
I hope that those who were on duty at the buildings and parking deck didn't lose their jobs over this article. They probably have families to feed, but Ms. Servatius obviously lacks compassion enough for her fellow human beings to care about them. She has marginalized herself with her lack of maturity and selfishness.
Loved Showdown
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the hilarious but sadly accurate article by Tara Servatius on the "beefed up" security at the Government Center. Two good things came out of that story, it seems. The city government's blather about how they were working hard to make everyone safe was a bunch of hot air and wasted money on some junior Barney Fifes, and now everyone knows it. Also, now the powers that be have been forced to make some real changes in the Government Center's security measures. It's sad that it took your article to make it happen, but I hate to say that I'm not surprised. Keep up the good work.
Stand Up To Irresponsible Eateries
Lucy Perkins' commentary "Beat the Parents" (CL, September 26) was short-sighted. It is your responsibility as a patron to voice your complaints to the restaurant manager, and it is the restaurant management's responsibility to ensure you have an enjoyable dining experience. I know of a small, independent restaurant that often turns customers away who demanded separate tables for their children. They would rather the customer leave without buying anything than to upset the other patrons who wanted an enjoyable dining experience.
All restaurants that do not serve fast food should have the policy that all children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at the table. If the customer insists on having minor children sit alone, the restaurant should inform the customer that the children will have to order food from the adult menu and that a 20 percent gratuity will be added to the check.
It was Ms. Perkins' responsibility to complain to management about the food fight, the noise, and being attacked by bread. Lucy allowed herself to be the victim of a bad dining experience. The concept is simple. Everyday, America votes! We vote in elections. Americans vote with their pocketbooks, their wallets and their money everyday. By not standing up to the establishment that provided her a terrible dining experience, Lucy gave them a vote of confidence. If management didn't listen to her needs, her column could have been called "Beat The Restaurateurs," even if they were advertisers in Creative Loafing.
Oh, So Now We're All-American
A faith institution in my neighborhood has a marquee out front that reads "Continued Prayer for Our Nation." These words have been prominently displayed ever since the events of September 11. Supplications of this nature may vary in wording, but essentially convey the same message -- "God Bless America" -- and are typical of many houses of worship throughout Charlotte and the United States during these uniquely troubling times. But I must give pause to ask the question: why are the prayers limited to asking God to bless solely the United States? Isn't "Pray for all the inhabitants of the world" and "God bless mankind" more in keeping with God's urgings of universal love and peace for everyone?
Could it be that during times of pain and suffering there is a tendency to look towards those who are also experiencing what you are? To engage in a collective dialogue with others who understand? To proffer a shoulder or lend an ear to others when necessary?
Hated Showdown
I was stunned by the "Showdown at McCrory Corral" article by Tara Servatius (CL, September 26). I don't know what Ms. Servatius was hoping to accomplish, but what she showed me was that she lacks any compassion and humanity for her fellow Charlotteans, and indeed she lacks any caring for other humans at all.
By taking a toy gun into the Government Buildings and parking decks, Ms. Servatius clearly put other people in harm's way to serve her own selfish agenda. What if a security guard had noticed the gun, and in these very stressful times decided to pull a firearm of his own? What if an innocent bystander was injured if the security guard happened to be a little trigger happy? You can try to justify what you did by saying that the citizens of Charlotte need to know, but there are responsible ways to make a point without carrying a provocative toy firearm into government buildings. Your actions were selfish and quite juvenile.
I hope that those who were on duty at the buildings and parking deck didn't lose their jobs over this article. They probably have families to feed, but Ms. Servatius obviously lacks compassion enough for her fellow human beings to care about them. She has marginalized herself with her lack of maturity and selfishness.
Loved Showdown
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the hilarious but sadly accurate article by Tara Servatius on the "beefed up" security at the Government Center. Two good things came out of that story, it seems. The city government's blather about how they were working hard to make everyone safe was a bunch of hot air and wasted money on some junior Barney Fifes, and now everyone knows it. Also, now the powers that be have been forced to make some real changes in the Government Center's security measures. It's sad that it took your article to make it happen, but I hate to say that I'm not surprised. Keep up the good work.
Stand Up To Irresponsible Eateries
Lucy Perkins' commentary "Beat the Parents" (CL, September 26) was short-sighted. It is your responsibility as a patron to voice your complaints to the restaurant manager, and it is the restaurant management's responsibility to ensure you have an enjoyable dining experience. I know
 of a small, independent restaurant that often turns customers away who demanded separate tables for their children. They would rather the customer leave without buying anything than to upset the other patrons who wanted an enjoyable dining experience.
All restaurants that do not serve fast food should have the policy that all children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at the table. If the customer insists on having minor children sit alone, the restaurant should inform the customer that the children will have to order food from the adult menu and that a 20 percent gratuity will be added to the check.
It was Ms. Perkins' responsibility to complain to management about the food fight, the noise, and being attacked by bread. Lucy allowed herself to be the victim of a bad dining experience. The concept is simple. Everyday, America votes! We vote in elections. Americans vote with their pocketbooks, their wallets and their money everyday. By not standing up to the establishment that provided her a terrible dining experience, Lucy gave them a vote of confidence. If management didn't listen to her needs, her column could have been called "Beat The Restaurateurs," even if they were advertisers in Creative Loafing.
Oh, So Now We're All-American
A faith institution in my neighborhood has a marquee out front that reads "Continued Prayer for Our Nation." These words have been prominently displayed ever since the events of September 11. Supplications of this nature may vary in wording, but essentially convey the same message -- "God Bless America" -- and are typical of many houses of worship throughout Charlotte and the United States during these uniquely troubling times. But I must give pause to ask the question: why are the prayers limited to asking God to bless solely the United States? Isn't "Pray for all the inhabitants of the world" and "God bless mankind" more in keeping with God's urgings of universal love and peace for everyone?
Could it be that during times of pain and suffering there is a tendency to look towards those who are also experiencing what you are? To engage in a collective dialogue with others who understand? To proffer a shoulder or lend an ear to others when necessary?