Wind ensemble gig one of many for CSO
I was glad to see the picture of the Chattanooga Symphony Wind Ensemble performing recently at St. Barnabas under your "Good Deeds" feature (Sunday Perspective). That performance was one of about 100 the CSO provides to area schools, hospitals, nursing homes and community centers each year -- at no charge. As a CSO board member, I'm proud of the community services our wonderful orchestra offers annually, and I'm grateful to the CSO's donors who help make such performances happen. Thank you again.
JO COKE
Support unborn by voting yes on 1
As a lifelong resident of Hamilton County, an advocate of Christian conservative principles and values, I encourage my friends and others to support the unborn by voting yes on Amendment 1. The right-to-life issue often evokes passion on both sides of the political aisle that unfortunately focuses more on personal attacks and condemnations rather than what matters most -- the unborn child. I hope this election is different, given how this issue matters to me for a number of reasons. As a father of two wonderful adult sons and the grandfather of two beautiful granddaughters, I fully support the passage of Amendment 1 and urge others to do their part in this by contacting their neighbors, friends and relatives and encouraging them to vote yes on Amendment 1.
MARTY HAYNES, Hixson
Cartoon mixed up military rankings
I do not expect much of a different reaction from our current White House leadership with the recent "latte" salute. The word military is nothing more than a spelling word from President Obama's third-grade list. However, I do expect more from those choosing to editorialize than was demonstrated in the Sept. 27 cartoon. On two of the gravestones, I learned the Marine Corps now has specialists. Oh, wait. That is an Army designation. As a former Marine, I find that designation patently offensive. I was a Marine, not Army. Additionally, on three of the graves, I learned the Navy now has corporals and sergeants. Oh wait. Those are Army designations as well. At least have the respect to ascribe these heroes with their correct rank. I do expect a much higher degree of accuracy from a published cartoon from the conservative side of the paper.
WILLIAM C. EATON, Hixson
Sugar real culprit behind obesity
In Sept. 28's Perspective Section of the Times Free Press, the liberal and conservative opinions of our children's school lunches was given. I found it astounding that neither article mentioned the real culprit that is making our children fat and sick: sugar. In the last 30 years, the amount of sugar dumped into the American diet has increased exponentially. During the same period, childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes among children have increased to the point that these illnesses are approaching epidemic proportions. Why is neither Michelle Obama nor the Heritage Foundation speaking out against this abuse of our children? Could it be that the sugar lobby (now more powerful than the tobacco lobby ever was) has silenced both the liberals and the conservatives in our government? How has corporate money attained this much power in our democracy?
EILEEN JONES, McCaysville, Ga.