Ranter uninformed about YMCA values
I believe the view of the recent Ranter about the YMCA as a part of a problem and not part of a solution comes from an uninformed perspective.
When I attend my exercise classes, I see a picture of what America is, and what America can become. The studio is filled with males and females, younger than “silver” and older than “golden.” Every race, ethnicity and religious preference are represented. The classes include members who arrive in a Mercedes and members who arrive in a CARTA care-a-van. There are members who pay for their membership and those who attend free of charge. Those very different people from different places in society all get along, enjoy each other’s company and respect each other. This is what America can become.
The “C” in YMCA is for Christian principles that are common in most belief systems. Those principles include feeding the hungry, supporting (and hiring) the mentally and physically challenged, offering intervention programs for at-risk youth, providing health coaching to manage and prevent chronic diseases and giving families a place to enjoy together.
No, you don’t have to be young, male and Christian to be a member. The Y is a judgment-free environment everyone can enjoy.
Susan M. Dailey
Stop the illegals: Build the Wall
To build or not to build the wall, that is the dilemma that has divided our “indivisible nation.” Our president is determined to fulfill his campaign promise to keep the illegal immigrants out of the country which bring drugs, criminals and human trafficking. It must be stopped by building a wall on the South border of the country.
The House Speaker and other Democratic leaders say, “We are willing to compromise as long as the Republicans do what we want.” The president says he is willing to reopen government only if Democrats will agree to appropriate funds for the wall. Neither side will budge from their position.
Have you noticed the illegals are daring to cross over along the border and throwing rocks at border security? Maybe the illegals are testing this “kinder and gentler” American nation!
How can we keep our nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all? Liberty can be maintained with law and order. Justice can prevail only to punish the criminals. Whenever liberty and justice are ignored, there will be anarchy.
Let’s stop the illegals; build the wall.
Amos Taj
Corker, Blackburn, Trump: Expedient
Okay, let’s look at three folks of whom we are all are familiar.
Former Sen. Bob Corker was against Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy and was for responsible reaction against growth of our deficit and debt as being detrimental to our country. A perk for real estate developers was added, and Corker capitulated. So much for fiscal responsibility and standing on principle.
Now-Sen. Marsha Blackburn proclaimed loud and often how the opioid crisis was crippling our country and said how she was at the forefront of helping eradicate this scourge. We learned later she took a $300,000 campaign contribution from the opioid drug industry, then sponsored a House bill that, on passage, according to law enforcement, ham-handed it in enforcing laws that would have helped curtail the opioid crisis.
As typical Republicans, tempted with dollars, they are like kittens under the influence of catnip.
Then Trump, who is the Supreme Court definition of pornography (“content with no redeeming social value”).
Yet so-called Christians fall at his feet, worshiping him, justifying and rationalizing his ungodly positions. Remember, we’re given free will – do it detrimentally at your detriment.
Please, don’t trade eternity for expediency.
Allan Baggett
Trion, Ga.