Library book sale patrons thanked
We want to thank everyone who supported the recent Friends of the Chattanooga Public Library Book Sale held at Hamilton Place mall.
Because of your support, we raised about $12,000, which will support library needs (staff training and development, for example) and author programs, children, tweens and teens programs as well as library advocacy.
We want to give a special thanks to Bolts and Nuts for its support. Volunteers from that company helped during the sale and also moved many boxes of books from the library to the sale site, as well as moving a much smaller number of boxes back to the library.
We are planning another book sale in March 2016 and are looking for volunteers to help with the entire process. We always are accepting donations to add to our inventory to make our book sales appealing to people with a wide range of interests. Donations are tax deductible.
Florence Ashby, Friends of the Library Council member
Heed sheriff's warnings about radical Islam
I could not believe the article in the Sept. 2 Region section, "Muslim group condemns sheriff's remarks," then the Chattanooga Times editorial, "Sheriff should put prejudice in its holster."
Where have these people been? Where were they when the servicemen were killed in Chattanooga by a young man who chose to follow Islam? Followers of Islam have murdered thousands of Americans, cut off heads of people who refuse to convert to Islam, burned children in cages because their parents would not convert to Islam.
Their slogan is "Death to America." Yes, they want to take America over; they have said so. It is preached in their mosques.
Get a copy of the Koran and you will see what is going on in the world today by followers of Islam.
Better listen to Sheriff Jim Hammond. He has seen it in his years in the Middle East. He is right on target.
T.A. Crews
Read divorce order, then discuss
The article about Chancellor Atherton's dismissal of the divorce claims of a couple has led to noisy outcry.
It is clear that none of the individuals who are insulting the judge have actually read his order explaining the legal reasoning for his decision.
If you think you disagree with the judge, read his order. It's well-written and easy to understand, even for non-lawyers like me.
The couple's claims were dismissed on four grounds. First, the Supreme Court's gay marriage decision had the unintended consequence of confusing and possibly pre-empting state court jurisdiction in matters of marriage and contested divorce. The three other reasons for dismissal were that both parties failed to prove grounds for divorce as required by Tennessee law, that both parties committed fraud upon the court and that neither party complied with legal filing requirements. Even without the Supreme Court's muddying the jurisdictional waters, these people would not have been granted a divorce under Tennessee law.
Again, if you think you disagree with the judge, it would be wise to be sure you know what he said before speaking - or drawing cartoons - on the subject.
Sue Hughbanks, Signal Mountain
Hammond's Islam comments appalling
All people of faith in Hamilton County should be appalled by the thoughtless and abysmally ignorant comments made by our sheriff at a recent Pachyderm Club meeting. One would hope that Sheriff Jim Hammond knows more about the criminal justice system than he knows about Islam and Muslims.
His erroneous, hate-filled and dangerous diatribe does not characterize the people of faith I know who proudly proclaim themselves to be Muslim Americans. As a professor at UTC, I taught a graduate class in cultural studies, which included Islam among a study of the major religions of the world. As part of my preparation, I traveled extensively in the Middle East. I taught, and continue to believe, that we should respect the religious beliefs of others and they, in turn, should respect our beliefs. To refer to Islam as "communism with a God" shows a total lack of knowledge of both Islam and communism. As an elected official, he embarrassed those he purports to represent.
Sheriff Hammond, in the future please keep your distorted beliefs to yourself, therefore avoiding the public embarrassment felt by the residents of this county and state.
Dr. Colbert W. Whitaker, UTC professor emeritus
Lack of values dooms country
A German philosopher (Nietzsche) stated having no value system means learning to kill and extort and corrupt. We seem well down this path.
1. Police officers are being murdered at an alarming rate as a result of the Obama administration's rhetoric over the questionable shootings of black Americans by police. Yet, where is the outcry over 52 times as many black Americans being killed by other blacks?
2. Planned Parenthood sells aborted baby organs. Is there outrage among liberals who oppose the death penalty for murderous criminals? What hypocrites!
3. Illegal immigrant sanctuary cities violate federal law. No action is taken, and a citizen is killed by an illegal deported five times with a record of seven felonies. Crimes by illegals continue, and borders are not secure.
4. A CIA chief is fired for having classified material at home, but there is no liberal outcry to hold Hillary responsible for doing far worse.
5. The Affordable Health Care law (what a misnomer) was passed by a violation of Senate rules, and Obama has violated the law since passage.
6. Obama negotiates with terrorist Iran.
Gene Rogers
Greek philosophers' staying power
Marco Rubio stated while in Chattanooga, "The market for Greek philosophers has narrowed in the last 2,000 years."
Sadly, that's true.
However, should civilization still exist in 500 years, wise and learned people will know the names of Thales, Archimedes, Solon, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Epictetus and their philosophies and contributions to the world of reason, logic, science, government and living a good life.
Ask those same people in 500 years about Marco Rubio. The answer will be, "Mark who?"
I'll take the wisdom of dead Greek philosophers over soon-to-be-forgotten, dull-witted politicians.
Stephen Greenfield, Cleveland, Tenn.
Packin' people no assurance of security
The third time was the "charm" prompting this missive. The first time was one evening a month ago at the Collegedale Regions Bank walk-up ATM: big semi-automatic on the hip of the man who waited behind me. The second was at the Gunbarrel Road Lowe's paint counter: another customer with a big semi-automatic on his hip. The "charm" was just this past week in the Gunbarrel Road Wal-Mart: big bulge on the hip under a man's untucked NRA T-shirt. I suppose carrying a gun in the open makes you feel something. Safer? Superior? Proactive against evil? Call me naive but, please, your open-carry gun does not make me feel more secure. I suppose you hope you're prepared to protect yourself and others by providing counter-fire in some firefight that might erupt. With the senseless shootings around the country that have taken so many innocent lives, I suppose I can understand your motive. But still, your open-carry sadly reflects a suspicion and distrust of the mostly law-abiding people in our community and a lack of confidence in the police to protect our community. This isn't the "Wild West."
Grady S. Burgner