Thank a veteran for our holidays and more letters to the editors

Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor

Thank a veteran for our holidays

On Monday, Memorial Day, the country will take time to honor our military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country.

This year will mark the 100th anniversary of when we entered World War I, also known as "the Great War" and "the war to end all wars." We lost 116,516 to death during that war. Here in Tennessee, we had 3,836 die on the battlefield. And in my county of Sequatchie, we lost seven.

The American Legion originated shortly after World War I from veterans of that war. Our Veterans Day also originated from that war's armistice, the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and is always honored on 11/11.

Have a great Memorial Day, and remember the veterans being honored who made our holidays possible.

Jack Pine

Dunlap, Tenn.

Revisit Bredesen on health care

Regarding the health care fight, we have the classic "bad news/good news" situation.

The bad news. Both sides are using the "insurance model" as the means of financing health care. This starting point limits coverage as it leaves out millions. It ignores the opportunity to improve quality and control costs.

The good news: The opportunity to develop a health care delivery system that is universal, fair, high quality, reasonable in cost, honestly paid and uniquely American.

More good news: Ex-Gov. Phil Bredesen, a person with extraordinary expertise in every aspect of creating sustainable plans, has done our homework. It's laid out in his book "Fresh Medicine 2012." Bredesen's work is fact-based and completely nonpartisan.

The limited length of this letter prohibits sorting out details. Nevertheless we can spread this good news. We can demand our representatives hone up on Bredesen. He has given us a great gift: a wonderful, workable approach to health care.

Blake Moore

Two-way streets will hurt elderly

I am an elderly lifelong citizen of Chattanooga supporting Taylor Watson's complaint of changing our streets to two-way. It is almost impossible for the elderly to shop unless we can park very close. Being able to park right outside a business is very important to us. When you need a cane or walker to get around, you cannot park blocks away. Going to a mall is almost out of the question. Parking downtown is bad enough now, but taking away the spaces we do have will have a big effect on the elderly.

I live on the North Shore, and we have lost all our views of the river and mountains with all the over-bicycling here. Please consider the older citizens of our city. We still count.

Estes Stephens

North Chattanooga

Columnist's grace thoughts lauded

I have read again and again with tears in my eyes David Cook's beautiful article on grace. I have read all his articles in the newspaper. I saw him searching in each article. You have found it, David. It is a place we should all be in. A place of grace, and grace keeps on growing. The fog lifts, and we see everything new, brighter and better for all. Grace is a gift, but a gift is not a gift until we accept it.

Thanks again for an enlightened article.

Zella Dixon

Hixson

Removal of Lee statue 'travesty'

I saw on TV citizens of New Orleans cheering as the statue of our beloved southern Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed from display in a vain effort to rewrite history. Shame on those responsible for this travesty!

You must realize the only difference between Lee and George Washington was that the rebels of Washington's day won, and Lee's rebels did not. So the Founding Fathers were able to found a slave-owning nation - the United States of America - that was to last for some 91 years under the Stars and Stripes.

The Confederacy lasted four short years. Why the hatred for those icons of the South and the Stars and Bars? Had Lee won, he would have been elected president of the Confederacy at the end of President Davis' six-year term and would today be remembered as warmly as is Washington.

Where does this all end? Please don't suggest the desecration of Stone Mountain's Confederate monument in Georgia. That would be akin to ISIS destroying ancient monuments in Iraq, as they have done. We cannot allow that to happen in this country!

Ronald E. Cumbie

Smear by media, Democrats failing

I see Hate Trumpers as enemies of our nation. Their character assassination robs Trump of dignity needed to foster good relations here and abroad. Fortunately, the smear campaigns of the media and Democrats don't seem to be succeeding. The people elected Trump president. This week, 50 Muslim nations treated him enthusiastically when he spoke in Saudi Arabia and in Israel.

Dr. Tom Herzog

'Who will part our dark clouds?

Welcome to Washington, Mr. Trump! The "dealmaker" hasn't repealed Obamacare, as promised. His arrogance and ignorance have been exposed. People who believe he can keep all his ridiculous promises are naive.

Republicans voted 60 times in seven years to repeal the ACA but couldn't write an acceptable bill. The bill would have devastated Americans' health care while enriching the rich and insurance companies. It was corporate welfare.

Trump has no government experience, and it shows. He has already cost the taxpayers $51 million for his trips to Florida. Giving his daughter and son-in-law access to top secrets and appointing cabinet members committed to destroying the departments they head is frightening.

Attacking the press as "America's enemy" and accusing Obama of wiretapping are not signs of a rational person.

There are dark clouds over the White House with the criminal investigation regarding Russia, and Trump's threatening China and North Korea is dangerous. God help us if he's not controlled by responsible people!

Wilbourne C. Markham Sr.

Signal Mountain

Blessing on Israel will bless the U.S.

As a Christian, it thrills me our president, Donald Trump, loves the nation of Israel.

Our nation needs the blessing by God that is promised Abram in Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and thou shalt be a blessing. I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the Earth be blessed."

President Trump rightly reckons that Israel is our one true friend in the near East. My own family has been greatly blessed as I've followed the Bible -"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee." - Psalm 122:6

Rachel Decosimo

Signal Mountain

Grieving family offers thanks

The LaPoint/Schafer family recently suffered a tragic loss when a 15-year-old son/brother/grandson fell to his death while running on a Cumberland Trail.

More than 100 volunteers from Sale Creek, Rhea County, Dallas Bay and Waldens Ridge spent eight-plus hours through the night on his recovery.

Lowered more than 300 feet, they hoisted his body back to the top of the bluff then transported it more than a mile. They kept the family informed on their progress. Our deepest gratitude to these men and women who risk their lives to help others.

We also would like to thank the staff of Sen. Bob Corker and the State Department for their efforts to arrange the return of two sisters who were out of country on a cruise.

In less than 24 hours, they arranged to have these two young women fly out of a foreign country and enter the United States without passports.

John T. LaPoint

Hixson

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