The move to rename the Nashville Airport for what Governor Bill Lee termed “Tennessee’s favorite daughter,” humanitarian and entertainer Dolly Parton, is the right thing to do, and, for the right reasons. I can’t think of anyone who was more universally adored, kind, generous, or talented than the phenomenal Ms. Parton. She was in a league of her own.
Before we get too far gone, however, I’d like to offer some fodder for conversation. As a native Tennessean, I’m proud of our state’s beauty, hospitality, diversity, and friendly folks, but some days it seems we’re talking out of both sides of the mountains with no tolerance for valleys.
Yes, we embrace this gifted businesswoman, her generosity, wit, fame, and fortune, and it looks like we’re celebrating her beautiful heart too, but then we remember our legislators ignored the voice of the people and created a nearly undecipherable-district map intentionally designed to tip the power. Further, instead of making laws to support all Tennesseans, they exclude/disenfranchise/define transgendered people and erect barriers to public restrooms, restrict rules for immigrants, women and their bodies, support lethal injections and the death penalty, loosen gun laws—or, as former gubernatorial candidate John Rose proudly puts it, “keep Tennessee Tennessee.”…