Writer’s biblical thoughts are fishy
Referring to a June 30 letter, to illustrate some of the writer’s thinking on the Bible: When he was pastor at a Fort Oglethorpe church, one Sunday he brought up the possibility that the feeding of the 5,000 (a story present in all four canonical Gospels) was not just with five barley loaves and two small fish supplied by a boy, but perhaps when the multitude saw the young boy willing to share, they in turn brought out the food they had secretly brought with them and so there was plenty for all.
At the time, I was greatly disappointed someone claiming to be Christian could with good conscience, in a way, suggest the Bible could be in error.
Clinton Grant, Rossville
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Haslam could move on flag redesign
Recently, Gov. Haslam suggested he is in favor of removing the Confederate flag from Tennessee specialty license plates.
Other prominent Republicans joined his call to remove it from plates, most notably Sen. Bob Corker, among others. Democrats in the General Assembly have long shared the governor’s concerns.
In fact, my colleague Sen. Sara Kyle and Rep. Jason Powell have prepared a bill to update our laws and repeal the provision related to the symbol.
Ordinarily, it would take time for this bill to wind through the legislative process. The good news is the governor already possesses authority to order a redesign of the plates; the administration can do it right now.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security retains authority for design of all specialty plates, so let’s issue a redesigned plate that omits the symbol.
In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration already ordered a redesign of a similar plate. He told the media these changes could be completed without any action from lawmakers and that his office would “move in that direction immediately.”
I appreciate the governor and other Republican leaders for being willing to talk about confronting these symbols. That is an important step. Now let’s strike.
Lee Harris, Senate Minority Leader
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Forgiveness unneeded in Charleston tragedy
This is in response to the letter headlined “Survivors show way of forgiveness” in Tuesday’s edition.
I find it interesting that anyone would offer forgiveness so quickly after such a horrible action. This was an atrocious act that culminated in the end of multiple lives carried out by an individual clinging to stupid ideals.
At no point does that individual deserve forgiveness. It is made worse by those of us that point to the surviving family and say, “See, there’s a great example!”
No. No. No. Stop teaching future generations that everything is forgivable; stop pretending like everything is better because “we can forgive.”
It’s absolutely ridiculous. Mourn, be angry, hold a grudge Just be human.
John Landers
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Thin-skinned citizens have lost their way
Robin Smith’s analogy last Sunday was right on the mark. Her commentary, “I’m offended get over it!” was a thought-provoking comparison of Don Henley’s 1994 song and the attitude of too many Americans today.
It may also be important to reflect on another line in that old Eagles’ song: “Old Billy was right; let’s kill all the lawyers, kill them tonight.”
Don Henley’s use of this line was borrowed from William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 2, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
I’m offended by our lack of compassion for our neighbors and our hasty desire to sue someone when the least little thing offends us. What has happened?
We’ve ignored what God has been trying to teach us for thousands of years. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment.
And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
And I think we need to pray more for each other, don’t you?
Ben Burke