Dads can help kids by not smoking
Father's Day is a day to celebrate dads for who they are and all they do.
Dads who smoke can celebrate Father's Day by quitting and by taking actions to protect their kids from becoming one of the tobacco industry's addicted customers and victims. Here are some ways:
If you smoke, quit. Ask your physician for help. Call 1-800-QUITNOW for coaching.
Maintain a totally smoke-free home.
Educate your child about the dangers of smoking (nicotine addiction, the immediate health effects and the effects on physical appearance) and the dangers of secondhand smoke, inside or outside. (Fifty percent of children ages 3-11 had recent exposure to secondhand smoke during one recent study period.)
Listen, and encourage the child when they make good choices.
Make sure your kids' schools have strong and well-enforced (24/7) tobacco-free grounds.
Dads are one of the most important influencers in their children's lives. You can make a big difference in the choices your kids make.
KEVIN LUSK, Chairman, Smokefree Chattanooga
Our nation in a moral crisis
Our most serious crisis is not financial but a moral crisis. Hollywood sits on our shoulders, and pleasure is god.
Women's dresses are indecent and silly, dancing is simulated sex, music is people in weird clothes screaming profanity to a jungle beat while writhing like tortured souls. TV shows are full of profanity and violence, and the results are self-evident.
Mass murders, serial killers, child pornography, domestic violence, gang warfare, adultery, scandals in high places and youth gone wild. Every day a more horrendous headline, even cannibalism.
The drug war is a farce. Alcohol is a drug; the most addictive, moral-altering and dangerous one. It's involved in the majority of accidents, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce and poverty. It destroys brain cells, liver, pancreas and stomach, but if you don't drink you're not with it. It is sold everywhere.
Where are our churches, and how dare we insult God by saying "God bless America?"
EDNA TAYLOR
Praying out loud part of heritage
It is hard to swallow the puffed-up ignorance of the highly educated who know nothing of our history or regard the God of our Fathers. Maybe these are not ignorant, rather, they simply don't like it.
"When Gen. Washington resigned his commission from the army in 1783, he sent a letter to the governors of the thirteen states which concluded with a prayer: 'Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection, and wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.'"
Washington's prayer was not a "moment of silence." Let all non-biblical religions be silent while we pray aloud. Praying out loud is a part of our heritage and religion, the best religion, the founders' religion. No king but Jesus, they said. Those who hate him are cursed, the Apostle Paul said.
JUNE GRIFFIN, Dayton, Tenn.
Area needs more vegetarian meals
After going to multiple restaurants in our area, I have noticed that there is a lack of vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals. In fact, I only know of one restaurant that entirely dedicates its menu to meatless meals. I'm not saying that every restaurant menu has to be fully vegan friendly, but it would be nice if there were more items on the menus that are vegetarian and vegan friendly.
EMMELINE PARHAM, Lookout Mountain
JUNE GRIFFIN,
Actually Washington's prayer was silent. It was written in a letter. And the rest of your letter is insane religious babble.
EDNA TAYLOR, you'll be disappointed to know that people have been making that same recital for years.
It doesn't really persuade that much.
JUNE GRIFFIN, your chauvinism is noted, and the best argument ever presented against this prayer. I hope you know that when you write that kind of thing in, it's going to be considered part of the sentiment of the community, and the judge is going to have yet another reason to rule against it.
EMMELINE PARHAM, there's a local group that actually keeps track of that kind of thing. Veganoogan or some such name.
I will quit smoking when valium is available over the counter. My cigarettes are what helps me calm down and cope with the idiots out on the highways and not go off over the general ignorance, selfishness and rudeness that way too many people demonstrate with their automobiles.
Prayers must be lead because ordinary people don't know how to do it properly. Politicians and televangelists should select the words.
It's all OBUMMERS fault
Mass murders, serial killers, child pornography, domestic violence, gang warfare, adultery, scandals in high places and youth gone wild. Every day a more horrendous headline, even cannibalism.
The only difference between now and before is that we have 24 hour round the world news so that we know about every incident. (indeed, the more sensational the more coverage). These things are not 21st century problems.
SICKofBS, I don't smoke in my vehicle because passengers object to the odor, but after someone right turns on red into my path, I want to pull over and have a smoke.
To June Griffin: No one "hates" Jesus. He was an inspiring teacher. The problem is his teachings are twisted and distorted by religious institutions and "Christians" who are greedy, selfish and promote the hatred of others, including killing them because they don't "believe" the same as you. That was not Jesus' way, but that's what many modern Churches are preaching and condoning.
I smoke mostly in my car. But I do not smoke around non-smokers, which does include children. It is just the polite thing to do. That action says "people come first", which they always do.
With that being said, I will give a crap about what my smoke does to society when society starts giving a crap about all the chemicals being sprayed in our skies for cloud seeding and energy management. The link below is to a private company. They will tell you all about their happy customers. And this is but one of the weather-for-profit companies.
"Let us help you better manage your atmospheric and water resources." http://www.weathermodificationinc.com/
So harping on smoking is rediculous. Those cigarettes are nothing to the chemicals raining down on us almost every day. When the kids start looking at our history, I think they will wonder just what the heck we were thinking. Why would we warn them about a leak in the canoe when the ocean liner is hitting them head on.
So if you don't like smoking, don't smoke. But don't think you can blow smoke up my skirt just because you can't see the big picture.
justonewoman, you go right ahead and smoke and thank you for not smoking around those that don't. I saw the big picture after I had a heart attack. Smoke free 13years and 2 days. That doesn't mean everyone has to quite beacuse I did. To each his own.
What gets me are how some of the people who complain the loudest about the smell of cigarette smoke are usually drowned in whore juice perfume/cologne. Some are so bad that they immediately send me into an allergic attack. BTW, I smoke in my car when I am alone or have other smokers with me, and I don't smoke in my house. I try to be extremely courteous around nonsmokers.
degage, I think that is wonderful! It is hard to quit, some say the hardest thing they have ever done. So my hat is off to you. Me, I want to wake up one day and just not be a smoker anymore. Hey it could happen.
Didn't the printed paper have a lot more letters than the four shown above?
I think Terry S_ (I don't want to misspell his last name) had a letter in the printed paper, urging Christians to show love (the letter itself just oozed love, right?), and saying some self-proclaimed authority said "Jesus is libertarian." Well, I like to say "Jesus is libertarian." I use it as a slogan, but here's an article I wrote about it:
http://voices.yahoo.com/jesus-libertarian-7724306.html?cat=37.
I don't recall calling myself an authority, any more than Mr S_ calls himself one by writing letters to the editor. And since Mr S_ disagrees with me, I suspect he wouldn't admit I was an authority even if I had three earned Ph.D.s, which I haven't. I have, however, earned As in at least one course involving religion from each of: Murree Christian (K-12) School; Chattanooga State, Covenant College (undergrad); Covenant Seminary, UTC, and CSU-DH (graduate level). I have read the Bible (66 books) in at least six different versions; "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah" (>1000 pages) by Edersheim; "On Being a Christian (>500 pages, Hans Kung, liberal); "Jesus and the Victory of God" (N. T. Wright, >500 pages)...If that offers evidence that my views have some knowledge behind them, fine. Of course, our intelligent and learned President shows that booklearning doesn't prevent wrongheadedness; and some people think the same of me.
Prove Jesus was a real person first. Then you can try to prove that he was a libertarian after that.
Show the proof.
Education is still the best when you want to effect change, and that includes educating the young about smoking. Education should start at home, and by making homes smoke-free, this is the best gift to the younger generation. Educating parents about the ill effects of smoking will not only help them but will also help to extend their lives longer to spend with their children. Government authorities should have these promotional activities in their plans to curb smoking and help in making the environment greener.
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