Residents thankful for act of kindness
On Jan. 15, we took 12 Manorhouse Assisted Living residents (several in wheelchairs and walkers) to lunch at Rib & Loin Restaurant on Highway 153.
After the waitress had taken our orders, a tall gentleman in a baseball cap approached our table and said that, while he was having lunch, God had spoken to him "that I should pay for your meals."
We were all flabbergasted. That had never happened to us in all the times we had taken residents to lunch.
After profusely thanking him, I asked his name. He refused to give it to me and said to just take care of the waitress, which we certainly did.
It is my hope that he will read this letter and realize how deeply touched we were by his act of kindness. The world needs these kinds of angels.
Sally L. Reeve
Activities director
'Manly' culture main problem
I find it odd there are still parents, alumni and area residents with Neanderthal minds.
They come out of their caves at every event that requires thought and lash out blindly to "git" someone fired. They overlook a major component of the problem - a pervasive culture that worships manliness and winning at all cost.
It permeates sports in most of our schools. It seems to be tolerated and even encouraged by many authority figures who teach and influence our children - coaches, teachers, principals as well as many parents.
Such is the case at Ooltewah High School. So-called supporters want to "git" the school superintendent fired rather than direct their anger toward the real source of the problem. A more logical solution would be to demand anti-bullying in all our schools at every grade level.
This is called solving the problem, not throwing the baby out with the wash.
Chuck Mehan
East Ridge
Haley best pick for GOP ticket?
I was surprised the Jan. 13 article "Haley Warns the 'Angriest Voices'" did not mention Nikki Haley's appeal to the millennial generation. As a liberal millennial, I found myself agreeing with her on multiple points and was impressed by her spirit of bipartisanship. Many millennials have been alienated by the "angriest voices." It's possible Haley could win them back. Pairing her with a front-runner (other than Donald Trump) as a vice presidential candidate would be a good start. With her more moderate stances on issues like LGBT rights, as well as being a minority woman, she could hold a lot of appeal for my conservative fellows and possibly swing some of the embattled millennial votes back to the GOP.
Sarah Hunt
Collegedale, Tenn.
Guarantee our health care
The Tennessee legislature provides a glaring example of why we ought to support Bernie Sanders for president. The legislature once again is ignoring hundreds of thousands of uninsured Tennesseans, refusing to even vote on Insure Tennessee.
Across our great nation, uninsured Americans die every year for lack of health care. The biggest flaw in Obamacare: States decide whether to take the federal funding for Medicaid. In Tennessee, this flaw may be insurmountable, leading to needless suffering, deaths.
No candidate except Bernie offers a solution to insure the uninsured and also lower costs. Many other developed countries in the world guarantee health care to all citizens. As the richest country, a decent and spiritual country, how can we do less?
Why don't Clinton and others support a plan to make sure every American has health insurance at a lower cost? One needs only look at who is funding their campaigns. Unlike other candidates, Bernie's campaign is funded by average people like you and me, the average donation under $30.
Anna Grabowski
Ten Mile, Tenn.
Beware! Citizens' day is coming
No wonder illegals don't apply for citizenship. Citizens are taxed heavily, licensed, fined, watched, penalized, sued, their property confiscated (to help out the Earth), forced to buy government insurance and subjected to the most inane and cruel mandates from their recycled income tax via regulatory agencies. If they try to resist, they are put in jail or otherwise ostracized as some right-wing nut.
Who would want to join this number when you can be treated like royalty? Who would want to be a citizen? But remember, these citizens have a Bill of Rights given them by their savior, Jesus, at the hand of Henry and Madison, and he is waiting just for the right time to bring down his attorney general, the son of righteousness. There will be prosecution backed by fire power. Many will be fired and their insurance canceled. The citizens can't wait.
June Griffin
Dayton, Tenn.
Drug prohibition wrong way to go
Well, we may finally be awakened to the age-old facts about drugs and human addiction.
Human consumption of mind-altering drugs (and being addicted) is older than dirt.
Prohibition, a relatively recent endeavor, has never worked - not the 13 years against alcohol nor the 100 years against the other drugs.
Prohibition always benefits and enriches two groups: 1) "the mob," gangsters and cartels who take over distribution and corrupt governments, and 2) the ever growing criminal justice bureaucracy/prisons. The "war" is the biggest money-making bonanza ever known.
Prohibition results in prisons instead of treatment, overdose deaths and dehumanization of all users.
Prohibition results in billions cruelly spent on the "war" instead of on recognized tried and true, successful solutions.
Prohibition promoters, including well-intentioned church folks, prohibit discussion of known solutions. That makes for strange bedfellows: "temperance unionists," government bureaucrats and the likes of El Chapo.
So, as we awaken, we will do well to shake off the nightmare of El Chapo, our drug czar and Nancy Reagan admonishing: "Just say no."
Now ain't that a fine kettle of fish?
Blake Moore
Mural calls for change in city
Last Monday, I and hundreds of other Chattanoogans, black and white, attended the dedication of the M.L. King Mural - a stunning 42,179-square-foot masterpiece now adorning the AT&T building. It re-imagines present-day Chattanooga as it looks toward the future, reclaiming Dr. King's vision of an economically and socially integrated society.
This spectacular mural exhorts us as a city to reclaim the area - M.L. King Boulevard, the Big Nine of our lively history - to become an attractive, viable and thriving district with businesses, music and affordable housing. The soaring mural invites us to complete Dr. King's words, "We will not be satisfied until ." Let's respond with zest and creativity and work together to accomplish change!
Barbara P. Seals
Abortion evils call for action
It is time to remember the unborn. Our nation's conscience is seared. Abortion is convenient and legal. It is not moral.
Evil is always based on a lie. Women were told the embroyo was just a blob. Ultrasound disproved that. Then we were told a woman should have control over her own body. Science proves a baby is a separate life growing in the womb. Next, we watch as a little one being aborted throws back his/her head in a silent scream, disproving that abortion causes no suffering to the baby.
Even the horrific videos of doctors harvesting baby parts does not call us to action.
You know something is evil by its end. Look where abortion has taken us.
Helen Fussell
Rossville