All faith leaders urged to denounce ISIS
Holocaust deniers have existed since Jews were exterminated by Nazis. Today an "Islamic Holocaust" rages against Christians and Jews across the Middle East, Europe and the world. Again deniers exist. Government officials have instructed spokespeople not to utter the words Islamic or Muslim when describing the evil beheadings, rapes, enslavement and crucifixions of Christians and Jews in the name of Islam. Officials deny radical Islamists are the perpetrators of these evils and deny that Christians and Jews are their primary targets.
More disturbing than political deniers is the shameful silence of Christian and Jewish leaders. We question why Muslim clerics refuse to denounce these atrocities, yet our own churches and synagogues are largely ignoring the dying cries of brethren martyred because they refuse to deny the God of the Bible and convert to Islam. Perhaps our religious leaders nationally and locally will find courage to declare the truth of this genocide against God's children. Opportunity abounds in Chattanooga's houses of worship for God's children to openly speak for persecuted brethren worldwide, aid those fleeing for their lives and help free the enslaved.
Eric Rogers, Hixson
Consider risk-reward in pipeline project
So, cartoonist Bennett offers that the risks of the proposed Keystone pipeline greatly outweigh any possible rewards on the day after dozens of oil cars go up in flames after carrying their North Dakota oil to West Virginia? Such timing!
Your cartoonist and our president both ignore economic and environmental realities. Regardless of the pipeline's construction, North Dakota oil and Canadian tar sands will be extracted at some point because suppliers are motivated by profit to meet consumer demand. The president's vague concern about the impact of Canadian oil on future climate change will be trumped by the economic reality which he pretty consistently ignores.
Our country is criscrossed by thousands of miles of pipelines. Is there some risk? Of course. Are we glad that oil and natural gas are directly available to us? The question answers itself. In the aftermath of the West Virginia disaster, is it really safer to transport thousands of barrels of crude oil above ground on rails? The oil will be extracted. It will be transported. The only question is how.
Gary Lindley, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Civil unions are not the same as marriage
Am I the only one bothered by the actions of our federal, state and local governments as well as the Supreme Court who have changed the meaning of marriage which has existed since the "beginning"? Did Jesus not tell the Pharisees as recorded in Matthew 19:4-6, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh." "What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
Is marriage not between a male and female joined together by God? Yet civil governments today are joining together males and joining together females and calling it marriage. Let civil governments call these unions what they are: civil unions.
Jimmy Bailey, Signal Mountain
Commissioners give themselves more vote-buying power
Who needs the Koch brothers? According to TFP reporter Louie Brogdon, Hamilton County commissioners have found their own way to buy votes - award themselves proceeds from the sale of public property (East Brainerd Elementary School) to spend on schools in their respective districts. Why not have the Board of Education determine how to disperse public money to improve the quality of students' learning?
Dennis Westmeier, Red Bank