Stetson's exit from Hunter a sad event
After returning from out of town, I was saddened to see Mr. Stetson's imminent departure from the Hunter Museum of American Art.
What a loss for the Hunter Museum. Before he arrived, I had been to several events over the years and felt it was, to be blunt, "stodgy" and a bit boring.
Dan, along with his wife, Kathy, brought zest to the Hunter and to all things of art! His embracing and outreach to artists local and out of town is commendable.
I hope Hunter doesn't fall back to its past, while the rest of Chattanooga races to the future.
Cherie Martinez
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We get to choose racism reaction
Racism is not institutional as it was 50 years ago. My dating caused a great displeasure to the community.
In order to discourage plans to marry, a prominent clergy wrote a letter to my future wife: "The Bible says you must never yoke ox and ass together."
Stories of racial tension serve as an ugly reminder that the goal-post is seemingly unattainable in the current atmosphere of racial strife in pockets of our country.
It's a great privilege to live in a country adherent of equal rights for all human beings rather than carry a chip on our shoulder about its racism. Our lives here are defined by playing the role we enjoy than by racism.
We are not just passive players in how racism plays out. The attitude with which we interact in our society does have an impact.
There is no cure for the irrationality of others. It makes a difference in how we react in racially sensitive situations.
The "prominent clergy" did not deter us or make us bitter. Since then, we had children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and have served several communities in this great country.
We often wonder who really was an ass.
Amos Taj, Ooltewah
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Slaveholding can't ever be defended
I was amazed to find a recent letter to the editor writer offended by the term "stolen" in Anna Farrow's guest editorial on the "enduring scars of slavery" (Dec. 30).
The letter writer defends previous generations of American slaveholders by implying that while capturing and selling human beings was evil, buying them at market and keeping them against their will somehow was not.
That is a ridiculous distinction to make because it simply was immoral to participate in the slavery system at all. He further advises that African-Americans should rest assured they are better off here.
It takes monumental gall to tell someone they should be happy their ancestors were dragged away from their homeland and forced to work to enrich another culture.
There is no moral high ground in this matter. As a nation, we prefer to ignore the darkness in our past.
But, how can we ever move forward together if we cannot publicly admit America's indefensible crimes of slavery and racism? Frankly, there's not enough our society could do to atone.
But acknowledging the truth should be the first step.
Rick G. Woodlee, Chickamauga, Ga.
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Change the effort; change the outcome
As with Al Sharpton's emphasis on racism's being the cause of society's ills, so Professor Chilton's claim that "inequality is the new normal" convinces people they are victims.
Pythagorus said, "Choices are the hinges of destiny."
Not completing homework assignments is the choice these individuals have made. Stop emphasizing perceived victimhood, and start focusing on effort.
If Chattanooga's black high schools cannot produce one student who passes all sections of the ACT, then focus on better teaching skills and culture change in the homes to support effort. Parents need to be saying: "Do your homework before ."
Perhaps it's redundant to state: The reason for "inequality" of outcome is that one group works hard (effort) to achieve goals and is given the tools and support to do so. Inequality of effort (their choice) on the black students' part results in inequality of outcome.
Change the effort; change the outcome.
D.L. Budnick