ëWannabeí arts town termed
stymied by business interests

Perhaps Asheville is a good place to pursue the argument ó the argument about what humanists or humanism contributes to art.

Does art thrive where humanism flourishes or can art succeed where there is little or no humanism?

Asheville is pretty much a ìwannabeî kind of town, pinning its meager rep on the Biltmore House and Tom Wolfeís home.

The occasional attempt to somehow provide for the art movement ó an effort which has all the appearances of a mouth-to-mouth exercise ó is easily elbowed aside by Ashevilleís rushing, headlong commercialism. Efforts to make Asheville an ìartsyî town seem dwarfed by commercial interests.

Thus, we find that the angel made famous by Tom Wolfe is in Hendersonville.

Meanwhile, back in Asheville, an ugly stone spire dominates Pack Square, left over from a time before Asheville discovered art.

History tells us that during the Rennaissance, art flourished in places like Florence, Italy. Well-fixed people diverted some of their considerable wealth to commissioning all forms of art. There was tremendous appreciation for humanity which often motivated their feelings.

Here in wannabe Asheville, the city owns a piece of art acquired not long ago for some $16K, languishing in the back of the Diana Wortham Center because no one can figure out where to put it.

And when the matter of humanity is raised, we recall that a homeless man was recently murdered by two other homeless for a place to sleep outdoors on Ashevilleís soil. The matter scarcely made the local news. Maybe the expensive piece at the back of the Diana Wortham building could go under the bridge.

Soon we will see the thrust of Ashevilleís art movement manifest when the ìremodelingî of Pack Square is finished. It will be consistent with the lighted sign in front of the Diana Wortham ìartî building and our new racetrack.

ALLEN THOMAS
Asheville

MXD zoning opponents
called perpetrators of myth

EDITORS NOTE: The following letter is in response to last weekís editorial in the Daily Planet, headlined ìHate Staples? Donít repeat its mistakes.î
ï
Staples is about the ugliest building on Merrimon Avenue, but the Merrimon Corridor Study Group did not advocate positioning new construction on the street a la Staples.

Read the proposed MXD ordinance we drafted.† The ordinance allows a row of parking in front of any business in the Merrimon Corridor.

A row of parking in front of the store results in a setback similar to the McDonaldís on Merrimon. McDonaldís is definitely not on the street.

The ìbuild to the streetî is a myth that seems to be perpetuated by the opponents of the MXD zoning ordinance.

Looks like they are meeting with some success in continuing that falsehood.

MICHAEL N. LEWIS
Asheville

Veterinarians urged to use
more humane euthanasia

In 2006, 242,935 cats and dogs were killed in North Carolina animal shelters, or 28.1 animals per 1,000 people.

Animal groups are working hard to get these numbers down by promoting spaying and neutering and the adoption of homeless animals.

Unfortunately, getting the numbers down will take some time and, in the meantime, animals will have to be euthanized.
We have a chance to make sure that it is done humanely.

The Department of Agricultureís proposed changes to rules governing animal shelters include a phase-out of the gas chamber as of January 1, 2012. Killing by gas is stressful for the animals and causes much anxiety.

Oftentimes, gas is not effective and the animals have to go through the procedure a second time.

Thirteen states have already banned the gas chamber.

Lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital is considered the most humane method. It is used by veterinarians in their offices, and is approved by every national humane organization.

Please contact the Dept. of Agriculture by December 31, 2007, and request that the gas chamber be banned now, not in 2012. Contact info: David S. McLeod, 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001, phone 919-733-7125 ext. 238, fax 919-716-0090, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more info go to www.ncche.com.

Terri David
Asheville