Liberties sacrificed are a tragedy
Your editorial about "9/11's legacy of lost liberty" (Sept. 11) was right on target. The liberties sacrificed, lives lost and money wasted are a tragedy. I think Ben Franklin had it about right: "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little security deserve neither."
I would remind you it was a Republican administration that subjected us to this mess. To be fair, it wasn't the whole Republican Party but the neoconservative faction pushing this agenda.
I hear certain people rant and rave about President Obama being a threat to our liberties. Well, he is a piker compared to George Bush and the neoconservatives. I still shudder remembering their claim that the president can do just about anything he wants during wartime, in effect putting him above the rule of law. Talk about a threat to liberty!
Don't forget these people had this country practicing and trying to justify torture. These neocons have been spinning their spin and beating their war drums, for quite some time now, about Iran. Iran is no threat to us. Remember, those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.
RALPH JONES
Soddy-Daisy
Why is Obama silent on Chicago?
In the Sept. 13 issue there was an editorial about the teachers protesting in Chicago ("Chicago teachers fail"). I would just like to thank the author for connecting the point that though they get paid the most, they have the poorest results.
I would also like to point out that President Obama is closely associated with this same city and receives plenty of financial backing from teacher unions. How can the rest of the country continue trusting this man with our children's education? Why won't he say anything about it? I am amazed that he won't take two minutes out of his day to simply demand better from Chicago. Why the silence?
If the teachers unions have bought him off, will teachers begin protesting in other cities until they, too, drain the state and federal revenue? Scary thought.
AVERY McKINNEY
Collegedale
Just another step backward
The UTC chancellor's decision to stop praying publicly and more importantly not to use Jesus' name at football games is one more step backward for the majority. We know this isn't about prayer but about the name, Jesus. If the New Testament is a true and accurate account, not only of history but spiritual things as well, Chancellor Brown will very possibly have some explaining to do in the eternal state. Jesus said, "Whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father." (Matthew 10:33).
This "moment of silence" will deny thousands of people to hear the name of the One God highly exalted, and bestowed on Him the "name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Philippians 2:9-11).
Mr. Chancellor, do what the County Commissioners did. Have people of all faiths pray before the football games. The person can end the prayer in the name of their god. I'm not advocating "Jesus only prayer" because we do have diversity in our community. I'm simply saying we should never leave out the name, when the public forum gives us opportunity.
BOBBY RAY
Freedom is lost without security
The Free press editorial on Sept. 11 titled "9/11's legacy of lost liberty" should be required reading for anyone who treasures freedom. We have allowed the federal government to take away some of our freedom without a commensurate increase in security. The accounting of the money spent to do this only adds insult to injury.
I must point out that the machinery that allows the government to diminish our freedom and invade our privacy at great expense to the taxpayers was installed when the Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Apparently, the only time the Republicans believe in small, limited government is when they are out of power.
JIM OLSON
View from right is refreshing
Let me extend a hand of fellowship to the new editor of the right (as opposed to the wrong) side of the Times Free Press. I really liked your editorial (Sept. 12) in support of the openly gay man running for City Council in my district. That was chutzpah, dude.
I may vote for him or Mr. Rico, don't know yet. I enjoy your overall view of the world, though I hope you'll be friendly to mass transit, which I support and rely on. It's refreshing to see that intelligence does exist west of Interstate 95 and wish you all the best. Mazel tov!
JOHN MULRY
Editorial's aside belittles deed
Since Monday was Constitution Day, I was pleased to see your article titled "225 years ago today," but as I continued to read, I came across your "aside" of Pennsylvania's Gouverneur Morris and was appalled that you would choose to detract from the nobility of his deed with a description added purely to sensationalize the article. True, if we probed into each man's private life we would find all sorts of things, but to purposely place it in such a significant editorial piece took away from the honor he should be given for adding the Preamble.
An article about any man in public office today could carry a lot of weight if his deeds are recounted in a city newspaper, but if you decided to add an aside such as "and he picks his nose while sitting in his car," what do you think the majority of readers are going to zero in on?
The Constitution Day article deserved better than what you gave it, and because of your addition, it becomes unsuitable to place in the classrooms of the younger grades. DAR members in Chattanooga would say you missed a golden opportunity.
PAT PELFREY
Flintstone, Ga.
Help preserve wild places
This fall, millions like me will take advantage of the season by spending time in wild places. Often referred to as vacations or getaways, Edward Abbey saw these escapes differently when he wrote, "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." If he was right, then as our population grows and our demands on resources increase, we must find the will to preserve more wild places.
Sen. Lamar Alexander introduced the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2011 which, if passed, will do just that, re-designating almost 20,000 acres of National Forest in East Tennessee as Wilderness. It won't cost us any tax dollars, it won't even change the way the forests are currently managed. What it will do is ensure that we always have necessary wild places for the human spirit to be regenerated.
We are fortunate to live in a place as rich and biodiverse as this. Let's work to keep it that way so that generations to come will have these small wild havens for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, hunting, and just being. Please join me in asking our representatives in Washington to support this important legislation.
JIM PFITZER
Flintstone, Ga.
Federal bribes are not new
The paper reported that some Roman Catholic agencies are suing Health and Human Services because of the mandate regarding the so-called "Affordable Health Care Act."
Why get upset now? This kind of federal bribe is the modus operandi for these government agencies. For example, under 42 USC 666, in 1996, under the guise of "Dead Beat Dads," every Department of Safety in the United States was enticed to force Social Security numbers on all license applications, under the threat of losing their road funds. Why did Congress grant that kind of power? How?
With reckless abandon, the ABC agencies surrounding the Office of the President, EPA, OSHA, HUD, HHS, DEPT. OF EDUCATION, BATF, et al. have filled our nation with the stench of treason while states beg for a crumb of bread to regain income tax dollars back into their district.
JUNE GRIFFIN
Dayton, Tenn.