Response to tragedy affirms reader's faith in community
In my 71 years, I have had several moments to be proud, but the absolute support that the Chattanooga area has demonstrated for the past several weeks has to rank right at the top. The guts of Mayor Andy Berke to disallow any negative activity by those people who find it necessary to insult the funerals of our servicemen to the first responders who risked their lives because it is their job to do so, to the news media locally who either individually or collectively decided not to air any negative material that would mar the funeral proceedings. The outpouring of respect from people here and in North Georgia was very emotional for me to watch. I must say that I am extremely proud to live here. I pray for the families of the servicemen that God will ease their pain and make them stronger for their journey in the coming years. Thank you Chattanooga for restoring my faith in people and for making this Christian thankful for being part of NoogaStrong.
Chub Ensminger
Editorial minimized heroics
In a July 24 Chattanooga Times editorial, the editor stated that "personal weapons were in the military office here to no avail" and "may have served to intensify the shooting or even resulted in friendly fire injuries." This is outrageous and untrue. The serviceman fired at the shooter when he exited his car and started for the building. That serviceman most certainly slowed down the shooter so other servicemen could get out. Shame on page editor Pam Sohn and shame on the Times for this kind of editorial writing. That serviceman had every right to defend himself and his fellow servicemen. God bless him. Had he not fired on the shooter, the people inside the building would not have known the shooter was there until he was in the building killing people. A lot more people would have died.
Steve Allgood, Ringgold, Ga.
Obama owes nation apology
To President Obama: Please tell us why you didn't come to Chattanooga when five U.S. servicemen were shot and died, men who are protectors of our country, who watch over you and me? I can't understand why you stayed in Washington. It's really hard to believe. You owe our nation an apology, something I feel you should do. But you never admit any wrongs. I am glad your term is about over. We can elect someone who will make our country great again, because we will be free of you.
Harry E. Arnold
White was right to carry weapon
I write to you as a USAF veteran regarding reports Lt. Cmdr. Tim White could be subjected to military discipline for being armed on base and firing his weapon at the terrorist who recently killed five unarmed members of our military. As a C-123 navigator in Vietnam, I wore a government-issued sidearm. Many of us also carried a personal weapon because if we were at some remote outpost overrun by the enemy or were shot down, we better have all the firepower we could get. Now we have radical Islamic terrorists sworn to destroy us in our country, and they have focused on the military. Why should our service personnel be expected to work in a virtual gun-free zone? I hope our military will correct this policy and send a message that if a person initiates an attack on a U.S. military installation, he will encounter a deadly response. Thank you, Commander White. You recognized the threat and had the foresight to carry a weapon in spite of a dated regulation. I believe your actions saved many lives. You should be given a commendation, not a reprimand or worse.
Benjamin Dady, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Stealthy Muslims looking to convert
It is time to get this right. Anybody with a brain knows Islam has an agenda to perpetrate and penetrate its beliefs throughout the world. Muslims will blend in peaceably to slowly transform the territory or country they desire to infiltrate. This way, they can convert politics on a governmental scale to change policy, laws and convert our culture to their mold. Ask any of them. If they are honest, they will tell you, "I am Muslim first, American second." Their Quran tells them to do whatever is possible to convert the nonbeliever, even to the point of deception. There is no doubt about it, the Trojan horse is here. But the question is - will we act before it's too late? There are three strategies of the faith's deception. First, Kitman - to not tell the truth. Second, Al-Taqiyya - to lie about mission. Third, Al-Murunah - to say whatever you have to say, then ask Allah to forgive you later. Really look at Southern Michigan and Minnesota, which are becoming very sharia compliant.
Robert D. Henry
Obama did honor slain servicemen
To the naysayers crying foul because President Obama did not come here to memorialize the five servicemen killed July 16, yet did attend the Rev. Clementa Pinckney's funeral in Charleston, S.C.: The five servicemen killed were laid to rest in four states over a period of five days. It would have been almost impossible for President Obama to attend all five services, and if he did attend, which one(s)? On July 22, speaking to a meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nashville, President Obama said these words: "God bless these American heroes. We honor our five service members killed so senselessly in Chattanooga." He then went on to individually name and describe the lives of the five who gave their lives on July 16. President Obama's tribute that day was heartfelt and personal. It may not have received the media attention his presence has at other memorial tributes, but he did honor those heroic servicemen. He attended the Rev. Pinckney's funeral because he was a personal friend of the slain minister.
Rebecca Rochat
Ring the climate change bell louder
Chattanooga may be a thriving city, but it still has its share of conservative nitwits. A recent column from a "conservative activist" tried to make the ludicrous case that "man-made climate change is not supported by scientific evidence." Surveys show 97 percent of scientists agree man-made climate change is a fact. ' For 650,000 years, atmospheric CO2 never went above 300 ppm. It's now at 395. ' The global sea level rose about 6.7 inches in the last century. The rate in the last decade, however, is nearly double that of the last century. ' The 10 hottest years ever recorded have occurred since 1998, with 2012 being the hottest year ever recorded. ' Data from NASA shows Greenland lost 36 to 60 cubic miles of ice per year between 2002 and 2006, while Antarctica lost about 36 cubic miles of ice between 2002 and 2005. ' Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent. ' "Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal." - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The climate change alarm is not loud enough!
Roger Davis
Polarized politics produced Trump phenomenon
The 24-hour news cycle feeds a polarizing frenzy of blathering speculation that masquerades as fact. We have replaced sound discussion with sound bites and reasoned discourse with scurrilous innuendo. We have allowed ourselves to be so degraded that a moderate politician, who is able to see value in the other guy's position and work towards a reasonable compromise, is considered a wimp and a sellout. He has become an endangered species who doesn't stand a chance bucking the tsunami of partisanship. Behold the rise of the Trump phenomenon - the Frankenstein - of the tea party. It has paved the way and parted the sea so that a reckless pitchman with more money than scruples and the demeanor of a junkyard dog can bully his way into being a presidential contender. It is beyond disgusting. It is painfully disheartening and sad.
Denny Pistoll, Rising Fawn, Ga.