Trump's ego trumped by 1st Amendment
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that Americans can petition the government for a redress of grievances. We can peaceably assemble. It allows this newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News and CNN to publish both news and editorial opinion.
It allows Americans to freely worship God - or not. Catholics may worship in cathedrals, Jews in synagogues, Muslims in mosques, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and fundamentalists in churches, or any other individuals or group at any other place they may choose.
It also allows all Americans to stand and sing or kneel in silence to the playing of our national anthem. Our Constitution, in particular the Bill of Rights, is far greater and far more important than Donald Trump's oversized ego and minimal knowledge of the Bill of Rights.
Hank Hill
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Tax cut likened to meat and cake
"What is that?" George Carlin would ask as he peered into the back of the refrigerator pondering the mystery leftovers. "Could be meat, could be cake. Meatcake!"
This is what the politicians in Congress who support the Trump agenda are feeding us with their tax reform bill. In this version, the richest 1 percent get the meat while the rest of us are left with cake.
The French aristocracy voiced its disdain for its peasants 200 years ago with the phrase, "Laissez-les manger du gateau," let them eat cake. This was right before the beheadings.
Our Tennessee congressional French pastry chefs like Diane Black and Marsha Blackburn want to serve prime rib to their billionaire friends and con us into liking the crumbs. They think they can have their cake and eat it too.
Last week, five local citizens went to Congressman Diane Black's office in Gallatin to ask her staff about this bill and to take them a check for $1.5 trillion dollars. The staff told the sheriff's deputy on duty at the Sumner County Administration Building not to let us in. And it's a public building! Now that really takes the cake!
David Clark, Tullahoma
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No intermediaries: Salvation is only by grace, through faith
Regarding the Catholic priest's Nov. 12 letter:
First, I believe biblical Scripture is divinely inspired, infallible and unerring.
Next, I believe Catholics are wrong when they believe, in Matthew 16:18, where Christ told Peter "for thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail," that Christ was conveying his authority onto Peter. Christ was referring to the rock being himself, on which the church would be built. That Catholics believe Peter was their first pope, without fallacy, adds to their heresy.
Next, I hold that no mortal person, including emperor or pope, has the divine authority to absolve sin from any mortal person, no matter how many "Our Fathers" you recite.
And, no mortal man has the authority to declare another without sin, as in an early pope's declaration that Mary, mother of Jesus, was without sin and is to be worshiped. She may have been without sin when she conceived, but we're told in Romans "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" - everyone except Christ, the son of God.
Salvation is only earned by grace, through faith.
Allan Baggett, Trion, Ga.