‘Chattanooga Way’ can be useful again
Thank you for the excellent reporting on Chattanooga’s unprecedented revitalization, those who made it happen and how it has been systematically distorted by those who had nothing to do with it (“The Lost Way”). What’s worse: throwing the baby out with the bathwater or keeping the water and selling it as youth serum?
The “Chattanooga Way” can be a power tool for community problem-solving. The faux engagement practiced by some is no more than cynical attempts to manipulate.
Let’s revive the practice and apply it more broadly to education, health and poverty. As Chattanooga’s purported “engaged metropolitan university,” UTC should take a lead role studying and sharing the “Chattanooga Way.”
We did something amazing. Your reporting helps us remember how we did it. Now, we need to do it again for the future of our community.
Dr. Greg Laudeman
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Relocate NFL teams in South
Perhaps, given the current hostility toward the NFL, the NFL owners should consider relocating the teams that are in the South.
Apparently, Southern fans no longer support these teams. Such a move would also benefit the black players since they would no longer have to endure the intolerance of racial discord in the South.
George Adams, Rossville
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Football protesters made correct point
Protests are intended to make us feel uncomfortable. In those moments of discomfort, we are forced to pause and focus on what is being exemplified.
Taking a knee during the national anthem was not intended to disrespect country or flag but to highlight a reign of racial injustice perceived to have swept our country.
During the 1960s, I hated the protesters who burned flags and paraded the streets in fake bloodied uniforms while speaking out against our involvement in Vietnam. In hindsight, they were right and I was wrong.
Trump’s reaction to anthem protesters was the low road in language and intent. “Fire the son of a —” has the similar crude and inelegant ring of his pre-election mantra “lock her up.” Both are beneath the dignity of the office he sought and now holds. In doing so, he unnecessarily opened a wound that could have been handled in better ways.
Standing up to power is a privilege not enjoyed everywhere around the world. To snuff it out or otherwise silence this descent is to diminish what has made our country great. Like it or hate it, this stand made its point in spades.
Denny Pistoll, Rising Fawn, Ga.
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Trump lacks decency in San Juan response
Mr. President, from the luxurious (and profitable) comfort of your New Jersey golf club, you launched a series of personal attack tweets on the mayor and people of San Juan, Puerto Rico. You accused them of poor management and of wanting everything done for them.
Mr. President, where is your sense of compassion? Where is your human decency? These are American citizens who are suffering from a horrendous natural disaster. Is your inflated ego so fragile that you cannot listen to any criticism, even from those who are suffering without retaliating?
Mr. President, a real leader has and demonstrates both compassion and decency.
The Rev. Hunter Huckabay Jr.