Letters to the Editors

Encourage Corker to back Uganda bill

In a letter to the editor last April, I asked Sen. Bob Corker to use his political influence to help rescue abducted child soldiers in Central Africa. Since that time, legislation has been introduced to address this situation. The bill is the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (S. 1067).

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which Sen. Corker is a member, will be considering this bill Tuesday. In correspondence with the senator, he has acknowledged that it is a tragic situation, but he has yet to take a stance on the legislation.

If you, his constituents, agree that we should help end Africa’s longest-running war and rescue these children, I would ask that you contact his office and urge him to co-sponsor the bill and help it move forward. Sen. Corker’s office number is (202) 224-3344.

In addition, if you would like President Obama to publicly address the issue, there is an online petition at www.invisiblechildren.com/obama. When I look at my fellow Tennesseans, I see people who care about human rights issues. I desire that our elected officials represent us well.

JOHN PARKHURST

Normal Park thrives on diversity

I believe it is wrong to spread rumors. So today when I read the letter that stated Normal Park racially and economically discriminates, I felt the need to correct the author. When you state that a school racially and economically discriminates, you are insulting the principal and teachers.

You want to know the secret of why Normal Park has A’s on the Tennessee Report Card? It is because we have a principal and teachers who wake up every day and decide to provide an inspiring and nurturing atmosphere for children to learn, no matter what their background is. Not to mention the tremendous parental involvement.

Every school could have this kind of success, but it takes work.

Normal Park thrives on diversity. It celebrates all cultures. The school consists of black, white, yellow, red, poor, wealthy, Christian, Jew, Muslim and atheist, yet we come together as one and leave our differences at the door so we can just be a peaceful community.

Even as an adult, Normal Park has taught me how to be a better person by learning to work with those who are different, and that is the beauty of Normal Park.

TIFFANIE NOLAN

Implement tax freeze for seniors

It’s past time for seniors to contact your county commissioners. On Nov. 7, 2006, Constitutional Amendment II was voted on to freeze property taxes for people 65 or older. It passed by 83 percent in February 2008.

County Mayor Claude Ramsey said the commission would make a decision before the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2008. Nine counties, including Bradley and Knox, implemented the freeze. But our commissioners in Hamilton County have not done so in over three years.

In Monday’s paper, Curtis Adams was letting you know what the problem is. Demand your commissioner to implement a fair and just plan or vote them out of office.

If seniors unite, they will listen. If not, vote them out of office.

They will help the failed school systems in a heartbeat because they are powerful.

Don’t think your voice doesn’t carry clout; it does. For a number of years I contacted Nashville and Rep. JoAnne Favors, who worked really hard to get Amendment II passed. She understands how hard it is for seniors. Like Washington, state and local politicians, show them seniors do count. Call, write, e-mail, etc. your commissioners. If you don’t, stop complaining.

FRANK LALA

Palin in the ranks of GOP losers

What is it with these Republicans and the vice presidency? They seem to have a problem.

Richard Nixon, Eisenhower’s vice president, went on to become our first president ever to resign to avoid impeachment, and after his own vice president, Spiro Agnew, had already resigned in disgrace. Probably the less said about poor Dan Quayle, the better. And Dick Cheney may go down as the worst ever. But what about Sarah Palin?

Considering his questionable health record, John McCain should have exercised extreme care in selecting a running mate. But in trying to inject some pizazz into a failing campaign, he chose a candidate probably less qualified and with less experience than any in history.

Superficially educated, narcissistic, hyper-loquacious, often in error but never in doubt, Sarah Palin’s main asset is her ideological purity on right-wing political issues.

Palin walked out on her commitment as Alaska’s governor after 21⁄2 years, reportedly frustrated by a recalcitrant legislature. And McCain thought she could deal with Congress?

If McCain had won, Sarah Palin would have been one heartbeat away from the Oval Office. I shudder even to think of that possibility. And so should we all.

GEORGE B. REED JR.

Rossville

Death panels pad their profits

I had to check out the Free Press editorial “‘Dead on arrival’? We hope!” in Tuesday’s (Nov. 11) paper. This surely had to pertain to the passage of the health care reform bill, and Sen. Lindsay Graham’s quote, than to the 45,000 in our nation who die annually from being uninsured or underinsured. The latter would be cruel and heartless even by a conservative’s standards.

Lord knows their standards don’t preclude them from lying about fictional government death panels, while actual corporate death panels pad their profits for the tens of millions in health insurance CEO bonuses and the buying of senators and congressmen in hopes of defeating the public option.

The denying and canceling of coverage for these bonuses at the expense of good, hardworking Americans losing their homes or lives is a moral outrage.

This year my family joined the 4 million who have lost both their jobs and health insurance due to George Bush’s recession, which officially started in December ’07. If a heart attack were to happen I would have to decide between losing my life or my house and everything I’ve worked my whole life for. This isn’t what I would call the greatest health care system in the world.

JOHN MARK DAVIS

Ringgold, Ga.

Dunn was one who referred to Mao

The Associated Press article, “Communications chief at White House quitting,” on page A5, Politics section, of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Nov. 11, was very disturbing to me.

Nowhere in this article is a reason given for Anita Dunn’s quitting her job as communications director.

What The Associated Press forgot to tell everyone is that Anita Dunn had made some very conversational comments about Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong being one of her “favorite political philosophers.” Mao’s policies are believed to have caused the deaths of 50 million to 70 million people.

Since I have been reading the propaganda published by the Communist Party U.S.A. for about 10 years, my personal beliefs are that that Communist China has been far more active in our political system than most people realize. The reason I say this is because the Communist Party U.S.A. is a worldwide organization that holds yearly meetings in all countries, and they are very active in our political system.

BYRON J. HENDRIX

Cleveland, Tenn.