Tennessee officials betray democracy
What happened to Sen. Alex Padilla on June 12 and to mayoral candidate Brad Lander on June 16 was not a misunderstanding. It was not miscommunication. It was force used to silence public servants in broad daylight – and the shameful silence from Tennessee’s own Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty, Rep. Fleischmann, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump reveals more about them than any political campaign ever could.
Not one of these officials has condemned the arrest of a sitting U.S. senator for asking a question, or the handcuffing of a mayoral candidate standing beside a constituent. Not one has stood up for our democratic institutions. Their silence is not just morally bankrupt; it is deeply and dangerously unpatriotic.
We entrust power to these individuals not to shield themselves from consequences, but to defend the Constitution and the rights of all Americans. They have abdicated that duty.
To defend democracy now is not partisan. It is patriotic. I hope the people of Tennessee will remember who stood on the sidelines when the Constitution was tackled to the ground.
Carter Clements
Take it from a former SEAL
“Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage, and worst of all, divided us as a nation.” So said former U.S. Navy SEAL and retired four-star Admiral William McRaven about President Donald Trump.
Joel Blake
TFP faulted for flawed coverage
Times Free Press reporters need to go back to journalism school or be tutored by [Editor] Alison Gerber. An article about the No Kings Protest last Sunday was not an article about the protest. The reporter obviously wrote it before double-checking the crowd estimates, which have ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 people, not hundreds. Then, he gives the most ink in the article to Brandon Lewis, a conservative consultant and fundraiser who founded a conservative online outlet. The reporter did not really report on the demonstration; he used the article to give Lewis a stage.
In contrast, Gerber’s article on the Dalton, Georgia, rally focused on the rally while giving some space, not the majority of the quotes, to differing opinions.
On another note, teach your headline writers the difference between weary and wary.
I usually praise the Times Free Press, but not Sunday’s edition.
Robin Wright
Ark is a metaphor, not a museum
Last Sunday’s Life section article “RemARKable” is remarkably fitting for our world today. As higher education, scientific research and medical labs are under attack, it follows that we can find answers in a prescientific world.
Ancient stories, biblical stories, are simply explanations of what at the time was unknown, to include the creation of the world in just six days; a worldwide flood to punish misbehavior followed by a rainbow as a symbol of God’s forgiveness; a prophet stopping the sun suggests the sun revolves around the earth – and a flat earth at that; and many other explanations and miracles.
The Bible is not a science book. The Old Testament is a history, and the New reveals the Christ. Use the Bible as you relate to God and others. It is a book for belief, for ethics, for behavior, for empathy, for comfort.
The Ark Encounter is a theme park. That oversized Ark is impressive, but it doesn’t make the story any truer, but only as garish as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s old Heritage USA.
Rather than a story of punishment and promise, perhaps the Ark could be seen as God putting the animals of the world in man’s care. If that were the case, perhaps we would be more environmentally conscious and encourage our politicians to promote conservation.
Grady S. Burgner
From music revelry to moral ruin
What goes on at these music festivals? They are tent cities where anything goes: sex, drugs, alcohol, fornication, sodomy, adultery and revelry are the recipe for the wrath of the Lord to be kindled against the people. (Numbers 11:33)
“Thousands trapped at Burning Man Music Festival” – 2023. “Tornado Blows away Tents at Music Festival in Germany” – 2018. “The Heaven become Black as Storm destroys Belgian Pukkel Music Festival killing five” – 2011.
I have preached salvation through Jesus at every Bonnaroo since it began. I know exactly what goes on in these music festivals. Jude 7 says: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to Fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Michael Siemer
Trump has stench of cruel authoritarian
First, I am not Catholic, but I love the new Pope. He’s against sin, and he’ll find more in the White House than has Cal Thomas.
Trump terminated USAID funds. Millions of African children will starve. That’s sinful!
He’s trying to tell Harvard who to hire and what to teach. He’s cut millions from their research programs, thereby jeopardizing the future health of Americans. That too is sinful.
He disregards the emoluments clause of the Constitution. There is nothing he won’t do to make a dollar – from selling Bibles to personal “mug shots.” He and his family made billions during his first term. Using his influence in the Middle East, they could make even more in the second term.
Sending many innocent people to prison in El Salvador without due process is illegal and un-American. Trump said he would like to send American citizens there as well. Disgusting.
Both Al Capone and Donald Trump received due process before their convictions.
Trump is acting like an authoritarian dictator. He has alienated friends enabled enemies, other than Russia (they bailed him out after six bankruptcies).
Something smells.
Wilbourne C. Markham Sr.
Look to Founding Fathers to solve bipartisan fiscal mess
Let’s be honest with ourselves. The government’s financial crisis stems from decades of overspending and fraud by both Democrats and Republicans on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and other programs, both domestic and foreign, all motivated to curry political and social favor.
Factor in such overspending and fraud as pertain to criminals, illegal immigrants and the like, and we have an exponential quagmire that nobody will or can address satisfactorily.
I regret playing the Founding Fathers card on the need for thriftiness, but a fact is a fact and the truth is the truth.
Claudos Spears
Young Harris, Georgia