Heritage High band outperforms competitors
I recently took a busload of Heritage High School students to a band contest in Murfreesboro. Before they even put on their uniforms, they were impressive and well-mannered. They went to eat and then came back to the bus to get ready to perform.
When they suited up you could see a change in them. They were ready to take care of business. They won seven trophies. Each time they were given a new trophy, the applause got louder. To me, that said other students agreed that this band was awesome.
Today, all we hear about is what is wrong with our schools and students. If the news media would report more on the accomplishments of schools and students, maybe more would try to make the news in a good way.
The students and faculty of Heritage High School should be recognized for their accomplishments. They deserve it.
Ron Hodges, Rossville
Kudzu-like left winds around U.S.
Uncle Sam is sick – to the point he may not recover. He’s infected with a terrible disease called liberalism. Liberalism is like kudzu. It’s progressive and tenacious, spreading over its victims and eventually smothering them.
Barack Obama is the kudzu prince, a progressive liar with no regard for others or Uncle Sam. He lies to get a foot in the door, then chokes the life out of everything decent and American.
Hillary Clinton is mistress kudzu. Once she puts down roots, you can’t get rid of her. She clings to the fabric of American society, strangling capitalism and religious freedoms.
Nancy Pelosi does the same thing. Remember when she said you don’t need God anymore? You have us Democrats.
Harry Reid is kudzu personified.
George Soros is the kudzu king. He keeps his kudzu offspring and their scribes well-heeled with money and politically correct propaganda. He orchestrates street demonstrations, delights in dividing our nation and attacks the Constitution, Christianity and Israel while controlling the media and Congress, including the RNC.
Who can save Uncle Sam? Are you willing to try – 2016 is just around the corner.
Larry Henry, Louisville, Tenn.
Make incumbents know electorate
First, I want to remind voters that congressional representatives are voted in every two years and senators every six years. This was put into our Constitution so we can change often when things are not going well. The current approval rating on Congress is 7 percent. Which should mean only 7 percent of Congress should get re-elected. Right? So let me put out this question. What is worse: a person who complains about our problems and does not vote or a person who knows Congress has a 7 percent rating yet re-elects the very person that perpetuates the problem? My answer is, don’t re-elect incumbents until they learn who they represent. May take a couple of elections, but they will get the point!
Jack Pine, Dunlap, Tenn.
Put Falling Water name on school
It is truly a shame that one of the highest ranking elementary schools in the county is closing, especially since Falling Water Elementary School was just designated a 2015 Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education. Only six schools in Tennessee made the list, and Falling Water was one.
The school must be doing everything right, yet is being closed. Thank you, Rhonda Thurman, for speaking up. Randy Fairbanks, where are you? Fred Skillern, we miss you up here.
I do think when the schools are merged as planned, Falling Water, being the oldest (1912), should have its name incorporated into the name of the new school.
Beverly Bowman, Hixson
Palestinians need help from boycott
People of conscience throughout the world are increasingly heeding the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against the apartheid system installed by Israel’s extreme right-wing government. The aim is that, given the failure of U.S. brokered peace negotiations, the world community will be able to pressure Israel to abide by international law and give the Palestinian citizens their basic rights. The boycott movement worked to dismantle apartheid in South Africa. It will work again in Palestine.
Rather than endorse Gov. Haslam’s shameful efforts to cultivate new business ventures with Israel, Tennesseans should become better acquainted with the BDS Movement and begin to take a moral and courageous stand on the issues.
Dr. Fouad Moughrabi
Obama’s gun ideas not ‘common sense’
Christians! Arm yourselves!
That is the advice of Ron Ramsey, lieutenant governor of Tennessee. Obama uses every bully pulpit he has to infringe on citizens bearing arms, but what about the Constitution Obama swore to uphold? It states: “The right to bear arms shall not be infringed upon.” So Obama often breaks his oath to uphold the Constitution. Also, the president’s “common sense” is directly opposed to the lieutenant governor’s “common sense.” Gun free zones: Churches, schools, Army recruiting stations and officers clubs all have become shooting galleries for nuts until the police show up, at best minutes later.
Dr. Tom Herzog
Free parking could solve issues
All of the controversy about the bike lanes downtown would quickly disappear if the city would make all downtown parking – including Republic lots – free. An extra bonus would be increased downtown visits by suburbanites who avoid downtown because of the parking fees. Why go downtown when parking is free at restaurants closer to home?
Bill Hayes, Hixson
VW urged to go all-electric
With hundreds of millions of dollars of local and state money invested in VW, much is at stake. The economic vibrancy of Chattanooga is on the line. But VW has to repair its reputation and show that it will make amends for emissions cheating. To do this they should offer to convert the corrupted vehicles to plug-in electric hybrids.
This solution would vastly decrease emissions, improve performance and increase resale value. Possibly the least expensive and invasive conversion would include in-wheel electric motors. Since this is a technology in its infancy, VW could become a leader in this type of conversion. Doing so would advance this technology to become more widely adopted.
With the help of Chattanooga and Tennessee, VW can repair its cars, image and our environment.
Don McAdam, Sandy Springs, Ga.
Let private funds build new jail
We need a new Hamilton County jail to replace the 40-year-old one. Hamilton County citizens do not want a tax increase for a new jail. Why should we have our taxes increased so dishonest citizens will have a newer and better place to live after they break a law.
I suggest the money come from private funds.
And what about the wall Donald Trump is proposing at the Mexican-American border? It would take a huge amount of concrete and steel to make that proposed wall.
Trump has an obligation to reveal all the details. He should explain how high it is going to be, where the natural resources for it are going to come from and where the money is going to come from.
Don Clark, Valley Head, Ala.