Grief after tragedy sparks introspection
Another day? I wish. As a parent, I am forever changed. Thoughts of fear race through my head in the all-too-familiar routine of getting my daughter ready for school. It is just not the same anymore. I ask myself questions about the shooter. What brought him to this place within, where he thought his only way to deal with what he was "dealing with" was to hack a plan of killing? Thoughts come to me as I know all too well, this is an emotional intelligence issue.
You see, this plan to kill began way before last Tuesday. It began in his thinking. It began in his relating. It began in the foundation of guidance that he did or did not receive. It began in the society that makes all things available because we don't want to step on any toes. Thoughts turn into beliefs and beliefs turn into our actions.
What is it to be emotionally intelligent? It is framework of beliefs, thought processes, ways to support and love yourself and ways to deal with life.
This morning I ponder a world that is hurting. I ask myself: How can I help? My wisdom speaks to "begin with me!"
Marlee Elaine
Cleveland , Tenn.
Remaining alert to Trump at Lent
David Cook calls on "the most mature, most responsible citizens" to retreat from politics during Lent. Perhaps at other times and with other presidents it was possible to do that, but not in 2018. Donald Trump isn't going to retreat, nor will his aiders and abettors in Congress. Nor will Faux News, Breitbart, Red State and the rest of the right-wing media. And neither will Vladimir Putin and his fellow Russian oligarchs.
During Lent, we must do as all concerned, intelligent Americans must always do: In Cook's words, "we need to be like mountains. Disciplined and unmovable, responding from the inside out." Steadfast in our opposition, constant in our attention, unyielding in our determination to defeat the Trump agenda.
David Cofield
LaFayette, Ga.
Democrats want clean environment
To say Democrats have no agenda is absurd. President Obama and the Democrats pulled our country from the brink of depression, courtesy of Bush and friends. Obama and Democrats have pushed hard to start cleaning up our polluted environment.
Obama and Democrats provided insurance for everyone, helping nearly 14 million citizens get badly needed health care, cutting back on bankruptcies and indigent care.
The Republican Party voted 60 times during Obama's presidency to repeal the ACA and targeted him as a one-term president, creating the definition of obstruction.
Yet, after winning the presidency and both Houses, Republicans still could not repeal Obamacare. This year, Obamacare enrollment is nearly 9 million, despite obstructions by Trump and company.
We all know the tax cuts will help us now, with the exception of Trump's disregard for our environment. What Democrats and many Republicans are asking is why now and how will it be paid for? After nine years, the deduction on the individual taxpayer will expire, but big business will keep its cuts. The tax cuts will add more than $1 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Unfortunately, Trump can't file for bankruptcy on this one.
Roger Shipley
Ringgold, Ga.
Proud to share Chenault name
I read with interest the recent article in the Times Free Press highlighting the career of Kenneth Chenault, businessman, CEO of American Express, and one of the first African-American leaders of a Fortune 500 company. It was reported that, under his watch, the value of stock in his company more than doubled. Warren Buffett, the largest stockholder of American Express, stated that his record is hard to match in corporate America.
Once aimed toward well-to-do corporate customers, American Express now markets to mainstream customers. Mr. Chenault, as CEO of American Express for the past 17 years, became known for his caring management style, and while speaking at the AMEX Leadership Academy, he was quoted as saying that leadership is a "responsibility and a privilege that must be cultivated."
I think that all would agree Mr. Chenault is an effective, inspirational leader, and I'm proud to share his name.
Carol Chenault Lewallen
Enduring Trump's banana republic
I have to give Trump and his supporters credit. I would have never believed one person, along with so many like-minded folks, could have set our country back, not 65 years, but 150 years. Somehow, maybe childlike, I felt we had progressed beyond that evil mindset. I now understand we have not progressed racially at all but have regressed under current leadership.
We're back to George Wallace and Lester Maddox times, and Trump has given license to racial hatred like we haven't seen since the 1950s-1960s. I truly believe he would turn the fire hoses and attack dogs loose on anyone who challenges his authoritative rule. Evil.
But listen, we ain't seen nothing yet. Wait til his iron-fisted rule is challenged. I firmly believe he will start a war, then declare martial law. Then we're stuck with him.
He is so jealous of his idols, Kim Jong-il & Kim Jong-un. Maybe we should call him Kim Jong Trump.
America, the United States of America may never recover from Trump's banana republic, but I strongly hope some of us have the intestinal fortitude to withstand this immoral onslaught.
I know I will.
Allan Baggett
Trion, Ga.
Journalists just propagandists
It's time we tell the truth about "journalists." Journalism is not the most difficult college major. It's basically something people with below average IQ and an "idiot savant"-type writing talent do when they can't do anything else. Basically, it enables the student to party all the time, study less and give a pick-up line in a bar.
Today, the majority of "journalists" are just blatant propagandists for liberal causes. It has been shown that "journalists" are over 90 percent liberal, and all but one major "news" organization had less than 90 percent negative Trump news stories. Simply, these "journalists" hate Trump. Why? Trump is a smart, successful businessman who is their polar opposite and who beats them at every turn. They are just a bunch of Woodward/Bernstein wannabes. The truth is if Nixon had been a Democrat, there would have been no Watergate.
Are these the people we want to affect our politics?
The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ." Now the press' constitutional status has been subverted to a propaganda machine rivaling Pravda.
A biased press is worse than no press at all.
Tim Price
Beware 'enemy from within'
"America will fall as a rotten piece of fruit falls from a tree." Karl Marx
The goals of this enemy within are to spoil our loyalties to God, to country, to parents, to law and order, and the other pillars of our society. They are rotting our country of everything it stands for. This process has been labeled "brainwashing."
"Communist sympathizers" are those who further these Communist goals, often without even realizing it. I include in their ranks the "Resist" policy in politics that paralyzes government and insinuates to the world that our constitutional system is unworkable; the politicians and the media who assassinate our president's competence and character at every opportunity; and our government which has outlawed even displaying the Ten Commandments in all public places, even in our schools.
Dr. Tom Herzog