Veteran deserved salute at funeral
Let this be a salute to a great man who passed away this week. He was a WWII soldier. Clarence King was more than a veteran who had served his time and forgot why he fought; oh, no, he remembered freedom that he and his buddies purchased with their own blood and sacrifice. His soul was grieved every day with the oppressions, tyrannies and stupid regulations put upon the common citizens, just so the elected can drag in a grant, all to “help out,” of course.
I spoke with Clarence often of the hideous tyrannies and burdensome controls of which he was totally unable to find a redress of grievances. He saw the freedom he fought for ignored and trampled on, and his heart was grieved. Too old to start a tea party, though he thought it was a good idea, he hoped someone would listen to him and roll back these nuisances. But none did.
He died of a broken heart for freedom; he grew up where freedom was, where none was harassed, taxed unreasonably, permitted, licensed, certified, even to taxing his little dog, which was his only companion.
Clarence was a patriot and justly deserved the military salute at his funeral.
JUNE GRIFFIN
Dayton, Tenn.
Sodomy was sin of Sodom
There have been two letters on sodomy recently in the editorial section. I have never seen anything so blatantly dishonest as it was. The point they were trying to make was, the sin of Sodom was not sodomy, but not taking care of the poor.
The Scripture they were using certainly added this charge to them as well as others. Look into your English dictionary and see the meaning of sodomy, and notice where it came from.
Then read Jude 1:7, “… having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
They were guilty of many sins, but the one the Bible says is an example is sodomy, and they will suffer God’s vengeance of eternal fire. Read the story in Genesis 18 and 19 and then see what you think their sin was. Then read Romans 1:20-32 and see what God thinks of homosexuality.
ALFRED THOMAS
Chickamauga, Ga.
Balloon landing adds excitement
Saturday’s landing (Oct. 2) of a hot-air balloon brought great excitement to our mobile home park on the Georgia/Tennessee border. First we raw a red, white and blue one floating over. Then a gorgeous multicolored one landed in our park about eight miles from its Coolidge Park launch site. Everyone loved it – particularly the children.
Our residents have had lots of other fun and excitements – from Easter egg hunts to home and lot beautification contests, to weddings and receptions in our Village Center to “Senior Moments,” and weekly bingo games. However, Saturday’s hot-air balloon landing topped them all.
Thank you, RiverRocks and your sponsors, for adding excitement to our otherwise normal Saturday afternoon.
BILL & PAULA TERRY
Managers
Green Acres
Mobile Home Park
Rossville
Re-elect Brown to Legislature
Rep. Tommie F. Brown’s theme “You are my special interest” has been shown to be a proven fact.
She is a very effective legislator with major accomplishments to her credit especially in the field of education, having led the fight to reduce the required grade point average, qualifying literally thousands in Tennessee to be able (to) participate in lottery scholarships. She has brought many dollars to the Hamilton County school system.
These times and changing programs demand experienced educators and seniority as assets at the state level of decision-making as our state system moves to meet the challenge of today in education.
Democrats, independents and Republicans who truly value education should put aside all other considerations for the sake of our children’s future at this time it will pay off.
Join me in voting to re-elect Rep. Dr. Tommie F. Brown to the 28th Legislative District.
JAMES R. MAPP
Patients chose ‘Best’ physician
As the administrator of a medical practice we have very little money to spend on advertisement due to the high operational costs required to run a medical practice and the decrease in reimbursements. We feel the best way to market our practice is through the word of our satisfied patients.
Most of our patients have no idea where their physicians obtained their medical degree or training. In a patient’s eyes a physician who gives them the best care and demonstrated the best interest for their health care choices is the “best” physician for them. This is true in all service businesses. There is nothing unethical in having patients say you are the best physician they have ever seen. In fact many insurance companies now promote patient feedback intended to identify physicians, hospitals, clinics and such based on the service received. This is what the “Best of The Best” is really all about.
Our physician, who was awarded “Best of the Best 2010,” never promoted himself as “the best” and was very humble that his patients would consider him to be so. Congratulations to Dr. Ronald Brooksbank as the recipient of this very special recognition.
LAURA WATKINS
Administrator
Chattanooga
Family Practice
Insurance firms avoid responsibility
As child health advocates for both Tennessee and Georgia, we were disappointed to read the extremely negative comments included in the Sept. 26 editorial “Harsh effect of ObamaCare.”
In referencing the decision among insurance companies to no longer offer child-only insurance policies to families who otherwise don’t have coverage options, the writer overlooks the responsibility of insurance companies and, instead, squarely places blame on the new health bill as the culprit.
In a country with an unacceptably high number of uninsured children, an estimated 7.5 million kids, the new health law offers up a vision for all states, including Tennessee and Georgia. Providing health coverage to children will lead to better health and improved societal well-being overall.
Insurance companies may perceive opting out of child-only insurance policy coverage as economically prudent in the short term, but it represents an avoidance of our societal responsibility to America’s children and also lost investment in the future work force of this country.
In order to take full advantage of the new health law, we need for all players involved in the U.S. health care delivery system – patients, doctors, employers, decision-makers and insurance companies – to stay at the table to make this work. Only when we all work together can we reform our system to reach its maximum potential.
MARK YATES,
Executive Director
Voices for
Memphis’ Children
JOANN YOON,
Associate Policy
Director
For Child Health
Voices for
Georgia’s Children