Remember pets, no-kill shelters
I write with a plea to your readers to support no-kill animal shelters. They do all they can to help "man's best friend" on limited funds unless citizens budget what they can on a regular basis. "Man's best friend" is helpless unless humans, often at financial sacrifices to themselves, support their daily needs.
Since forever, they have been eyes for the blind, arms and legs for the paralyzed, and aid and comfort for those alone or in grief. Many today are thought of, not as animals, but as four-legged children. Sometimes family members neglect other family members, but that four-legged child will never cause you to have anything but pure love.
This old vet's widow writes on behalf of these wonderful beings who are totally helpless but for human help. Please don't forget how much they need our love and daily care. I pray the recent McKamey rewards of $500 in an animal cruelty case got results. In your will, please remember those who do all they can to help these helpless creatures who have been beyond a blessing to us.
Dorothy Roberts
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Hate, manipulation are tearing us apart
Thanks to Donald Trump, government corruption is the new growth industry. The presidency no longer stands for integrity, decency or honesty. We have a presidency of lies and fabrication and a Congress of cowards so concerned with getting re-elected that democracy no longer matters.
We have a government with no concern that the president cages children and in the same breath blames Democrats, even as we watched him sign his presidential order enacting his heartless policy.
I always wonder how the German people fell in line with Hitler. No one could be that stupid. Trump attacks minorities, people of different religions, everyone that does not fit into his little white box. His goal is to rule by chaos and hate.
He keeps his base riled up and uses the same old strategy that autocratic rulers have throughout history. We are being torn apart by his hate and manipulation.
The saddest effect is the complete blind eye and silence by Christians. I thought lies and hate used to be a sin. I didn't know we get to choose the commandments we live by.
I am a Republican, but it's time for a change of party.
Larry Trame, Ooltewah
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Heeding 'America the Beautiful' today
At an enthusiastic sing-along of patriotic songs on July 4th, I was reminded of the second verse refrain of "America the Beautiful," which was composed more than 100 years ago.
"America! America; God mend thy every flaw; Confirm thy soul in self-control; Thy liberty in law."
What remarkable prescience for today's America!
Linda T. Collins Signal Mountain
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Trump haters are putting us in peril
People should stop and think about what they are saying about our president. I read letters to the editor regularly, putting down, accusing without proof or even due process the supposed crimes Donald Trump has done. False witnessing is a sin. This man has not been indicted on anything.
Some people base their guilt from a testimony from a known adulteress. Such integrity does not exist, not especially in the minds of the accusers.
Whether we are being fed falsehoods from the Democrats or the deep state, Americans are being brainwashed into being a hateful, spiteful people. This can cause much harm to our society, even inciting a civil war. Our people are allowing this government to war against itself, and the people don't even know why.
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, every city or house divided will not stand" (Matthew 12:25). What we are allowing the Trump haters to do will put us in peril.
Robert Henry
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What would we tell legal immigrants?
In 2015, just one poorly vetted immigrant radicalized her U.S. born husband, then they slaughtered and maimed more than 30 people in San Bernardino, California. The liberal response? Gun control.
MS13 gangs whose motto is "Kill, Rape, Control" are rabid murderers - and their victims' families are now permanently separated. The liberal response? Sanctuary cities.
Recalling the 2014 Obama-era photos showing kids in detention cages - where was the outrage then?
Democrats and their mainstream media counterparts do not hide their desire for open borders. Trump has not made any new or broken existing immigration laws, only enforced them.
About 25 years ago, a colleague of mine came to the U.S. from India with his significant other, both on student visas. They earned advanced science degrees, have good jobs in their fields of chemistry and IT, and are now raising two children.
Finally, after 14 years and thousands of dollars, they became naturalized U.S. citizens. Our office threw his family a party! So if illegal immigrants are allowed in with no consequences, what does that say to the legal immigrants who came in the right way?
Warren Daniel
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Civil? This is no time to be civil
No, Chuck Schumer, I won't be "civil."
Don't we love being lectured on civility by the racists, homophobes and misogynists in the Republican Party? These are the same people who whine about "political correctness," preventing them from expressing their disgusting bigotry openly.
Our country is being wrecked by this un-American cabal, and now is no time for civility. If African-Americans had been "civil" in the face of white oppression, they would still be sitting in the back of the bus and getting food from the kitchen of restaurants in paper bags.
Democrats have been too "civil." When faced with the more than 3,200 Trump lies, they have been too "civil" to call him a pathological liar. When his grandiosity has expanded, they are too "civil" to identify him as a malignant narcissist.
When his legion of liars makes up pure fantasies to cover up Trump's incompetence and malfeasance, they are too "civil" to contradict the misinformation.
When these Republican thieves steal two presidential elections and a Supreme Court seat, Democrats were too "civil" to protest. So, Chuck, as long as American children are hungry and immigrant children are held hostage, I won't be "civil."
Roy Roos, Ooltewah
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Cartoonist needs some new ideas
Three Stooges folders for the president's potential Supreme Court nominees? Really, Mr. Bennett? That's not just stupid and insulting, it's boring.
Can't someone at your paper with imagination give your cartoonist some ideas?
Jeff Epperson
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Proud of America, not of government
Many Americans see our country and government synonymously; they are not.
Mark Twain said, "I love my country all the time and my government some of the time." Many Americans feel this way today.
Brit Hume said, "Democrats don't love America." What a nut! The poll indicated 85 percent of Democrats said "they were extremely proud of America." They didn't mean our government! Only extremists could be "extremely proud" of our government.
We are proud of our past. We showed the way toward modern Democratic societies. We're proud of being a beacon of freedom in the world. We're proud that the less fortunate want to come here. I'm not proud Trump called Mexicans rapists and killers. I'm not proud our country's separating children from mothers.
I'm not proud Trump insulted the prime minister of Canada. I'm not proud our government has gutted environmental regulations; children will suffer. I'm not proud Trump kisses the boots of Putin and Kim Jong Un, yet insults great Americans John McCain and George H.W. Bush. I am proud to be an American, but not proud of the government. Patriotism yes; blind patriotism leads to evil deeds!
Wilbourne C. Markham, Sr. Signal Mountain