Sister Cities provides benefits for all involved
In 2016, my husband and I were in Germany visiting our friend, Dominik. On the last day, we were concerned about changing trains in a nearby city. Dominik offered to ride with us there to help us meet our connection. He’s from our original sister city, Hamm. I play Words with Friends with his aunt, another Hamm resident. These are Sister City ties.
A recent article said that Eisenhower created citizen diplomacy. He was partying in Germany after WWII and had an epiphany: “We were dropping bombs on these people recently. If only other Americans could see Germans this way; they’re just people!” Thus, exchanges in culinary arts, education, the environment, visual art, music and more were born.
Maybe the Chinese are taking our ideas; buy American and pay more. Some of China’s recent political maneuvers are not right, but we need people-to-people connections to promote peace, understanding and friendship. Sister Cities does not operate on government funds.
Please visit Sister City meetings. When COVID-19 is gone, travel to a partner city. Hamm’s residents are most hospitable.
Betsy Chesney
Former president, Chattanooga Sister Cities Association
With ‘Great Divider’ soon gone, let’s work together
I happened to look at a print of a Revolutionary War battle that I have on my wall, “Turning Point at Guilford” by Dale Gallon, and was taken by how blue the Maryland troops’ uniforms were and how red those were of the British. During 28 years in the Army on active duty and in the Reserves, I participated in many “war games.” The friendlies were always the Blue Army, and the enemy was always the Red Army.
For many years, I considered the Republican Party the opposition since I trend more liberal than conservative. During the reign of Benedict Donald, I have come to look at many in that party as the enemy of democracy.
It’s time for Trump supporters to put on their big boy pants and admit that Trump is a loser and for members of Congress to address the needs of so many of our citizens who are suffering from Trump’s incompetence and Republican intransigence. This is the U.S., not BelarUS.
The Great Divider will soon be gone. Let’s work together to shore up the divisions he created and those that Republicans have perpetuated since Newt Gingrich pushed the party to be what it is now.
James M. Hemsley
Sex at firehall of no import
There is not a single newsworthy note in your “reporting” of what happened at the Signal Mountain firehouse last month. You only further the notion of the mainstream media being biased and lame; in this case, you’re catering to the basest and most salacious components of our natures. Stop chasing the white Bronco. We’re evolving, and there’s too many important issues. Sex at the firehall just isn’t valuable information to us. Nothing of substance was learned. It is a shame to use a news platform to further this person’s humiliation, and most certainly calls into question the judgment of your news editors.
Jamie Gaines
Signal Mountain