Robin SmithOn July 16, our great community was viciously attacked in a targeted act of terrorism. How do we know it was terrorism? Simply look at the definition of the term: “the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear.”
Just as a rape victim is assailed and fractured by violence, then left with a lifetime of scars, Chattanooga won’t be the same. Yet our beauty may intensify from these changes.
The Japanese art of Kintsugi takes broken pottery and repairs the cracks and breaks with a lacquer dusted with gold, silver or platinum. Translated as “golden joinery,” the attention these precious metals bring to the imperfections makes no attempt to hide or camouflage the damage, but rather shows the “flaws” as part of the piece’s overall story.
Such is the new reality of Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee. And our value will increase with the refinement of our greatness.
On a quiet Thursday, with the lunch hour approaching in a city whose growth and national renown unarguably is on the upswing, a 24-year-old man made an evil, despicable choice. And, despite reports, this man is neither martyr nor victim.