Privacy question is out of whack
Let me get this straight. We are all up in arms because the NSA is collecting data on the phone numbers we call, but if I try to buy a pair of shoes on the Internet, every website I look at after that for weeks is advertising the same shoes I just looked at. We don't seem to be worried about that privacy. We are really crazy people.
Lee Heidel, Signal Mountain
Caitlyn's essence is pure vanity
Rather than shoulder Bruce Jenner on a victory lap - for waving vice in the face of virtue on the cover of Vanity Fair - we should remember that Vanity Fair was originally a town on the road to the character Christian's salvation in John Bunyan's allegory "Pilgrim's Progress:" "And the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair. At this fair are all such merchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones and what not. And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves and rogues, and that of every kind." Examining the fair "Caitlyn" in a pose reminiscent of sexy cover models, straight people might gain momentary insight from Jenner's personification of sexual confusion into transsexuality's hopeful attraction, but the delusion of satin and makeup withers and reveals its wretched essence: vanity, body and soul.
Dr. Brian Hale, Red Bank
Where does God's word fit in on sin?
Most columnists who write articles on gays, lesbians and same-sex marriage never mention what God's word says. They expound their opinions, about being politically correct and making everyone happy, not offending anyone and yet we don't mind offending God. We are to have compassion on sinners for whom Christ died, and we are to keep ourselves "from being polluted by the world." How exactly does that work? We hate sin by recognizing it, refusing to take part in it and condemning it as contrary to God's nature. Sin is not to be taken lightly. We love sinners by showing them respect (1 Peter 2:17), praying for them (1 Timothy 2:1) and witnessing to them of Christ. It is a true act of love to treat someone with respect and kindness when you do not approve of their sinful choices. The Supreme Court is to rule on this soon, I pray God's word will be taken into consideration. Another thing: Hebrews 4:13 - "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Lewis Gross
Spare premium rise on those 65+
If BlueCross has to raise premiums, don't do it on BlueCross 65 policyholders. With limited financial resources, we are already having difficulty making ends meet. Some of us are having to take daily meds every other day to reduce refills. Have some compassion.
Jim Ellis, Brainerd
Rethink tearing down school
My brother and I went through all six years at Falling Water Elementary School. When I heard about its closing and future destruction, I cried. The school is a historic site and has been a fully functional school since 1912 - that's 103 years of service. About half the school population were students who could walk to school. Consider students being transferred. If their school is further away, it will definitely put more stress on parents trying to get their kids to school on time. Please reconsider your options. Why not refurbish it into a better school or even turn it into a community center with a park?
Aubry Campbell, Soddy-Daisy
Make decisions only for yourself
Why on earth don't people want to give everyone civil rights? This issue is personal. I have two gay cousins, two gay friends and a transgender friend. I loved them before I knew about their sexual identities, and I don't know why I should care now. My mother was a year old when a law was passed to allow women to vote in 1919. I was 4 when the Supreme Court overturned "separate but equal." In 1967, interracial marriage became legal. Shouldn't everyone be allowed the same 14th Amendment rights? Other countries have voted to permit gay marriage. Why are we throwing away taxpayers' money for appeal after appeal on this issue? What if there was a national ballot? Is 2016 OK for everyone? If you have religious objections about what other consenting adults do, don't do the same thing. If you object to abortions, don't have one. The buck stops there. You make decisions only for yourself. For now, we all wait on the Supreme Court and hope that in its collective wisdom it does the right thing. A unanimous vote would be spectacular.
Robbie Moore, Hixson
Government can't fix inequality
A recent Sunday TFP had a New York Times piece stating "Inequality troubles Americans." A poll found that "wealth should be more evenly divided," that it is "a problem that should be addressed urgently." The poll found government should do more to reduce the gap between rich and poor. This is typical liberal thinking and flies in the face of fact. Starting in the 1960s with Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society," this country has spent between $18 trillion and $22 trillion on various programs to help the poor, yet about the same percentage of the population is still below the poverty line, even though many have large-screen TVs and iPhones. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution do not provide for equal outcome. It allows citizens to pursue happiness in whatever legal manner they choose. But universities overflowing with liberals continue to indoctrinate our young to believe the government should take care of any perceived ills.
Gene L. Rogers
Republicans want people in poverty
I've worked more than 44 years, and I thank God the last 23 were at a union shop. Under Tennessee law, unless you can prove discrimination, you can be fired at any time, no reason given. When a company and a union sign a contract, you are given representation whether you pay dues or not. You can't be fired because someone's brother-in-law needs a job. At nonunion shops, you are constantly training new employees due to high turnover. Very few quit a union shop. Unions didn't kill Detroit. Corporate greed did. The UAW made several concessions, while the CEO and upper management - who made decisions that bankrupted GM and Chrysler - walked out with hundreds of millions. In a Republican world, it's necessary that CEOs and management make hundreds of millions, but working people should make poverty wages and be glad they have a job.
Tony Borders, Hixson
Parents, there's a baby on board
Most parents are great with their children. Some need to place a big sign on their dash saying "Baby on Board." How you can forget your child is beyond me. This week an 18-month-old was left in a hot car all day and died. So parents, wake up. You know who I'm talking to.
Elizabeth Henderson