“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Eighty to 90 percent of humans have failed God, have failed to do the right thing. We have failed in what we think of others, in what we do to others and the environment. We have failed in what we see happening to people in their lives and in turning a blind eye and closed ears to employers’ actions that hurt others.
God gave us free will, the will to know right and wrong. To know what’s good and evil. And the knowledge to understand the difference.
The devil made a bet with God – that mankind would choose evil more times than right. And guess what? The devil is winning.
God has lost to the devil in the past. He is losing now. And he will lose in the future.
I would normally say, “God help us because we know not what we do.” But, I must change that to say that God will not help us because we do know what to do.
Joel Terrell
Eye mental health on gun problem
The mere notion of arming teachers is frightening and questionable. I was an educator for 28 years. I followed my passion and calling, which was to pass on knowledge, form young minds, and instruct in the art of critical thinking and questioning.
I was a teacher, not a soldier, security guard or a first responder. It seems, to me, that the notion of arming teachers is a knee-jerk reaction to the sad epidemic of school shootings. Let’s look at the cause of these tragedies – mental health.
Let us, American society, examine the mental health issues that are plaguing the youth of today. Why is it so easy for an individual with mental health issues to obtain a firearm?
I have seen the only way to stop a “bad guy” with a gun is a “good guy” with a gun. That is a wild West mentality, in my eyes. I was gladly born into a Quaker family. Quakers do not handle guns. That is a sign of good character, I am glad to say. In my eyes, fewer guns – not more – is one of the answers.
Mark Grantham
Our legislators have no clothes
History will show that in the face of mounting deaths from semi-automatics, Tennessee’s state and national legislators did nothing. We ask for reasonable gun control; they accuse us of wanting to repeal the Second Amendment. They take money from the gun lobby and claim to not be influenced. Yet they mouth NRA phrases like “banning assault rifles is unconstitutional” and “gun legislation won’t work.” In the aftermath of massacres, they feign helplessness to do anything to protect our school children and communities.
Our elected leaders are working hard to create the illusion they care for the people. But we see through it. With each mass shooting, their corruption becomes more and more indefensible and plain to see. As the brave students in Parkland, Fla., have shown, NRA-backed legislators pretend to wear the mantle of the people’s champion, while in fact they have no clothes. They stand naked in their fraudulence, exposed as shameful cowards unwilling to stand up to the NRA or give up the cash it pays them to do their bidding. As Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, so have our legislators betrayed us. Their crime is immense. They must go.
Tom May
Ooltewah
Trump not at fault for school killings
Why is everyone blaming Trump for this (Parkland, Fla.) killing? It’s not his fault. Most school killings are from kids who can get guns from home or buy off the streets. Also, where do they get the money? I think everyone should lay off of the Trumps for all the wrongs. Parents need to watch their kids better. If they have a mental disorder, get them help.
The Obamas took us taxpayers with their vacations and the clothes Mrs. Obama bought. They had no money when they came to office but lived high on the hog through us. The Trumps go to their summer place in Florida. Trump donates his pay. Mrs. Trump pays for her own clothes, so stop condemning her. She’s a refined, educated woman and speaks several languages, so I think people should stop picking on her. She’s learning to be in the public eye.
Let Trump do his job, and you Democrats have to respect what the FBI is finding out about the Clintons and Obama trying to interfere with the voting. We all need a better government. I am not political, but I would like the truth to be known.
Mrs. David Newhard
Harrison
Please stop trying to divide by race
Until Feb. 18, I thought columnist David Cook was harmless, but then he proved himself to be a race-baiting, progressive liberal. He moans and groans about the type of businesses and jobs we’re creating.
I have never made more than $25,000 a year. That is due to my life choices regarding education, not to a problem with the jobs Chattanooga is creating.
Would we be better off creating nothing but minimum-wage jobs? Cook makes it sound like people of color can’t understand what is being advertised and that they are not qualified or accepted as applicants for these high-tech jobs. Any company with jobs requiring high skills or education can’t hire on skin color instead of skill. Those days are long gone.
The total purpose of his column was to divide based on race, not on other criteria. The sooner progressives stop trying to divide based on race, religion and position in life, the better. They always seem to blame those who have done what is required to have a high standard of living; it’s somehow their fault that others haven’t done the same.
Paul Black
Soddy-Daisy
Trained teachers would raise odds
As an educator for 42 years, I would agree that most teachers should not be armed. Some teachers I know shouldn’t be allowed to own a can of pepper spray, let alone a gun.
There are exceptions, however. I’ve been a competitive shooter for 30 years with handguns and long guns. The teacher and competitive shooter who introduced me to guns has won numerous national championships and is a leading authority on several Civil War firearms. The science teacher who taught me to hunt was a combat veteran who served multiple tours and then was a paramilitary operative for the CIA for nearly a decade. Another fellow competitive shooter and teacher is a sworn law enforcement officer (LEO) and certified firearms instructor. There are others I could list.
I would much prefer to grade stacks of essay tests and endure disinterested students than have to deal with school security. I would, however, gladly undergo LEO tactical firearms training and continuing in-service. I pray to God I never have to confront a school shooter. But, if that situation should ever arise, I know that qualified and properly trained armed educators would increase the odds for survival.
Jeff Fisher
Our cars are surely weapons, so
Oh dear! The writer of a letter says, ” arming anyone is a bad idea .” If you agree, I have a suggestion that will save tens of thousands of lives each year, billions of dollars and guarantee a cleaner environment, plus many more benefits; it will not inconvenience you, nor interfere in your freedom.
Giving anyone a device capable of killing dozens without warning is a bad idea. So let’s pass a law limiting the power of automobile engines to 35 horsepower and the body weight to 800 pounds.
Gather those whose loved ones have just been hurt or killed by speeding, drunken, insane or distracted drivers. Ask them, “Do you think anyone needs a 400-horsepower, racing-type car capable of 200 miles per hour ?”
Bill Laudeman
Red Bank