Jay Greeson
It's been a hard run for our region.
A hard, painful run of events that range from the tragic to the disastrous.
We cried with the parents and the families of Woodmore Elementary School children who were killed or injured in a horrific school bus crash.
Wildfires ravage Southeast
- Two juveniles arrested, charged in deadly Gatlinburg wildfires
- Tennessee takes four area counties off burn ban list to aid tornado cleanup
- Rain helps with area wildfires, but Tennessee burn ban remains [videos, photos]
- Gatlinburg wildfires death toll climbs to 14; officials estimate 1,684 structures damaged or destroyed
- Nonprofits and state agencies step up relief efforts amid tornado, wildfire damage
- Man charged for allegedly intentionally setting a Sequatchie County wildfire
- Rain brings relief for wildfires
- Southern storms should ease drought, but fire threat remains
- At long last, substantial rain is expected throughout Chattanooga area
- Gov. Bill Haslam applauds wildfire fighters' efforts
- Firefighters make progress in Southeast wildfires, but threat remains
- Crews fighting large fire in northeast Alabama
- Gov. Haslam vows to pursue wildfire arsonists 'with everything we have'
- Hamilton County wildfires to cost more than $600,000
- Forestry crews prepared to miss Thanksgiving with families as they battle wildfires
- Wildfires rage on; new one pops up in North Georgia
- Gasp! Wildfires cause hacking and wheezing across the South
- Air quality improves, rain possible this weekend
- Relentless smoke spreads fear at edge of southern wildfires
- Catoosa County issues burn ban
- Many outdoor activities banned as fires burn across south
- Two men charged with arson as crews make progress quelling 3 area blazes
- Chattanooga is on target to break record for driest year in city's history
- Alabama man confesses to starting Sequatchie County fire
- Area wildfires containment increases, Flipper Bend fire 95 percent contained
- Catholic Mass offered for wildfire relief
- Fire crews hope to reach 100 percent containment on 3 area wildfires
- Wildfire smoke engulfs Chattanooga, endangering health of residents
- No rain in forecast as Chattanooga area wildfires continue to burn
- Tennessee Gov. Haslam issues 51-county burning ban
- Firefighters use hand tools to fight Chattanooga-area wildfires with no rain in sight
- Hundreds hospitalized with breathing problems amid Chattanooga-area wildfire outbreak
- Sohn: Might wildfire smoke be harbinger of days to come?
- New fires sprout in Chattanooga area as firefighters work to contain thousands of acres burning across region
- Arson suspected in most Chattanooga area wildfires
- UPDATE: Man arrested after admitting he set three wildfires that consumed 300 acres
- The latest update on the unprecedented fire season in the tri-state area
- Wildfires burning total of 9,680 acres across eastern half of Tennessee; FEMA steps in to offer aid [videos, photo galleries]
- Southern fires rage with 41.6 million now living in drought
- Wildfires continue across region with no rain imminent; some residents evacuated
- Chattanooga area wildfire smoke triggers 'Code Red' air quality alert [videos]
Devastating Gatlinburg fires
- Emergency management officials warn of Sevier County fire recovery scams
- President Obama signs disaster declaration to aid Sevier County
- Gatlinburg firefighting team may head home soon [videos]
- 2016 wildfire season one for the books; officials say it's too soon to say it's over [video]
- Governor seeks quick action on disaster request for Tennessee [photos]
- Did Sevier County's lax building codes help fire spread?
- Chapel of Love lost to fire that ravaged Gatlinburg
- Card games raise cash for fire victims
- Teens charged in fatal Gatlinburg wildfire were playing with matches
- Tourists stream back to Gatlinburg, but rebuilding looms
- Two juveniles arrested, charged in deadly Gatlinburg wildfires
- Businesses that survived the Gatlinburg wildfire are reopening
- Gatlinburg wildfires death toll climbs to 14; officials estimate 1,684 structures damaged or destroyed
- Officials defend controversial timing of evacuation warnings sent after blaze reached Gatlinburg [videos]
- Cars line up to see wildfire-ravaged Tennessee city; 13 dead
- During first look at wildfire rubble, residents in a daze
- Haslam heading to wildfire-ravaged Gatlinburg today
- Death toll from Tennessee wildfires increases to 13
- Search continues for any survivors of wildfires
- Dollywood Foundation to donate $1,000 per month to fire victims
- More than 70 area firefighters helped fight massive fires in Gatlinburg
- University of Tennessee professor predicted Gatlinburg fire for years
- Chattanooga firefighters drive 150 miles to answer Gatlinburg's call for aid as blaze rages
- Dolly Parton heartbroken by wildfires torching her hometown
- Deadly, destructive wildfires ravage Tennessee tourism town
- Tennessee mayor confirms 3 deaths in wildfires
- Wildfires scorch tourist area in Tennessee; thousands flee
- Video: Two men navigate horrifying Gatlinburg mountain fire
- Rhea County students safe after wildfires force evacuation
- Chattanooga firefighters drive 150 miles to answer Gatlinburg's call for aid as blaze rages
- The Latest: Officials say thousands evacuated, 4 injured
- Gatlinburg aquarium workers worried about animals left behind after wildfire forces evacuation
- Gatlinburg, Tenn., hotels, homes destroyed in fires
- Wildfires lead to evacuation of downtown Gatlinburg, Tenn.
View Our Coverage of the Deadly November 2016 StormsWe prayed during the fires in Gatlinburg, Tenn., hoping for rain and help for a man-made act of cowardice that carried some perfectly imperfect gusts of wind and historically dry conditions to a place of national disbelief.
As a side note, here: For all of you folks outraged over the Donald Trump tweet about looking to take away citizenship or a year in jail for burning the flag, well, the tweet was silly and beneath the office of the president. Freedom - and the grants and gifts of the First Amendment - demand that Americans have the right to express themselves in all ways. Period.
And yes, that includes the idiots among us who think it's smart and cool to burn a flag.
So the president-elect comes off looking silly with that one, and we all know it.
But if we are going to find a middle ground where we can accomplish things that seemed like American destiny before this year's political campaign that seemed equal parts Orwellian and Mad magazine, then there has to be some quid pro quo.
In fact, those in local government and those across the social media stratosphere who are faulting the folks of Gatlinburg - and our state in general - by saying these fires are part of some sort of cosmic retribution for voting for Trump should be ashamed for those hateful assertions.
We have long said that solutions will not come until we embrace good ideas, regardless of which side of the aisle they are generated on.
Well, the reverse of that is true. The bridging of the division will not happen until the folks fanning the flames of unrest are confronted from each side.
Yes, some of the tweets can be deleted, but are we going to let a debate about global warming and EPA appointments turn us calloused and cold to fellow Tennesseans who have lost loved ones because Donald Trump carried Sevier County?
If that's the case, then maybe there is no bridging the gap. But I refuse to believe that.
No way. Not when I have seen what our community, our state and our country can do when unified.
Whether you call it NoogaStrong or WoodmoreStrong, or whatever motivates you, embrace the chance to become involved.
Inspiration can drive us to greatness, and it can start on a holiday - traditional like Thanksgiving or new like Giving Tuesday. Inspiration can be felt with your time, your donations or your prayers. All are needed.
And inspiration can motivate the body and refill the soul, moving aside the anger and the hatred that cause social media posts like these in the last 24 hours from random people to famous actors:
From actor Michael Ian Black: "When Trump supporters voted to 'burn it all down,' I bet they didn't think it would start with Tennessee."
From someone known as DreadPirateTony: "@USAToday I bet a still in a dry county started the fire! Tennessee voted for Trump. I hope the fire burns the whole [curse word] state."
Man, we have a lot of fires to put out, friends.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.
