Crime problems lie with courts
If we really want to know why we have a daily shooting in Chattanooga, it’s not that hard to figure out.
Wednesday night as I was watching the local news, there was a short excerpt about the sentencing of Nikko Smiley. The man robbed three people at gunpoint and was given a one-year suspended sentence. If we just tell them not to do it again and there is no punishment, what good does it do? He already knew he was not supposed to rob people.
The police are doing a great job arresting people, but if the court system continues to just politely say, you’ve been bad, please don’t do that again, and not punish them, then the police will eventually have no control at all.
PATRICK SMITH
Fort Oglethorpe
Do your part as a Big Brother
“Where can we as a community step in and mentor a child before the gun is in their hand?”
This question was posted recently on the Chattanoogan.com and the answer is at 2015 Bailey Ave. (intersection of Bailey and Willow Street). Drop in, telephone 698-8016 or go to our Web site www.bbbschatt.org to sign up as a Big Brother.
We have waiting “Littles,” ages 6 through 12, ready to be matched. You do not have to be a perfect role model, replace an absent parent or spend a lot of money. You do have to be a friend of a vulnerable child, get together every other week for a couple of hours, and positive outcomes will occur. I have heard others say this, and I believe it to be true … “To be a man, you have to see a man.” Please step forward and do your part.
ANSEL PEAK
Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga
Davis dedicated to Tennesseans
This letter is intended to thank Rep. Lincoln Davis for his hard work on the recent health care reform bill. It is not clear to me at this time exactly how Mr. Davis voted or whether he was for or against the current bill as it now stands. It is however; my belief that Rep. Davis has, as usual, represented the people of Tennessee with the utmost discretion and sound judgment and I for one would like to thank him for his loyalty and dedication to the people of the great state of Tennessee.
This man is always in there with his sleeves rolled up working for us. We must give him credit for this whether we agree with his positions or not. Rep. Davis is a hard worker and not easily controlled or influenced by his party. While he calls himself a Democrat, many view him as more of an independent
Thank you, Rep. Davis, and keep up the good work!
MIKE NICHOLS
Pikeville, Tenn.
It’s time for attacks on the Pope to stop
I write as an Anglican in the Episcopal Church, with a long-impassioned admiration and love for the Roman Catholic Church. In view of the Holy Week attacks (a cartoon Monday, an editorial Tuesday) on Pope Benedict, may I exhort my Roman Catholic friends, brothers and sisters in the faith, to be heedless and move above the scurrilous, adolescent canards of the Times. The two cartoons reprinted from elsewhere represent the frat house humor of the Times editorial board as its supreme level.
The record shows that every possible recompense has been made and overwhelming apologies offered, not least by the Pope himself, during his brief visit to the United States. Enough already! Now, we are approaching the holiest days of the Christian gospel. All Christians unite in their sin, which brought our Savior to crucifixion, and the power of God, which brought us all to Easter. Brothers and sisters in all churches, let us rejoice in these events! Let us cast aside the malice, the deceit, the ambition of worldly enemies. In the Lord Jesus, we live and we rise from death.
CHRISTOPHER MORLEY JR.
Hospital ICU staff are indestructible
When I think of Easter candy, of course I think of the infamous chocolate bunny, and the jellybeans, but what about the Peeps? You know, those little yellow chicks or bunnies made of “who knows what?” I can always count on them making it into my basket on Easter morning.
They are jokingly described as “indestructible.”
In 1999, scientists at Emory University performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see how easily they could be dissolved, burned or otherwise disintegrated, using a variety of substances, with not much luck. They claimed that the eyes of the confectionery “wouldn’t dissolve in anything.”
Well, the staff who work in the Pediatric ICU at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital are indestructible! The PICU staff will always be there for me and most importantly, the children and families of this community! For that I am very grateful.
KIMBERLY SMITH, R.N.
Pediatric ICU Educator
Judas’ thinking like that of Marx
I wish to make the following comment concerning the editorial “The week that was,” published April 1, 2010.
It’s a very readable history of the beginning of the end of the life of Jesus Christ.
Strangely, what most caught my attention was the part about the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary Magdalene and the reaction of Judas to her act.
Apparently, Mary used an entire bottle of extremely expensive perfume to wash Jesus’ feet. Judas, the treasurer of the disciples, was very put out by this extravagance, claiming the money could have been better spent on the poor. Actually, Judas didn’t (care) about the poor.
He wanted the perfume sold and the money put in his treasurer’s purse, so that he would have better control of its dissemination. Some of this dissemination over time evidently found its way into Judas’ pockets.
So what we have here is hypocrisy, thievery and a lust for control. Wow, Judas was the original Marxist.
DAVID WYCHERLEY
Rocky Face, Ga.
More direct action needed for safety
While the recent shootings at Coolidge Park sadden me, I can hardly say that I am surprised. As a young professional, I frequent the North Shore on weekends. Unfortunately, while the park is family-friendly during the day, after dark it can be a very scary place.
The administration must make safety at Coolidge Park a top priority. To do that, the mayor must 1) realize that security cameras cannot replace uniformed and armed patrolmen in our public places. 2) Create and enforce rules to disperse crowds that lead to violence. No matter why large groups of unruly people gather at the park, they should be disbanded long before they turn into violent mobs. 3) Install better lighting to create a safer atmosphere. 4) Most importantly, the mayor must take the violence at Coolidge Park seriously and be willing to put public safety first.
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, and it is only a matter of time before something much worse happens. Unless our leaders take substantive measures to make one of Chattanooga’s most cherished parks safe again, we can count on the violence driving away both families and businesses.
SCOTT RAYMOND MAUCERE
Gun signs work just on honest people
I have been seeing on the local news regarding all of the recent shootings around town and at Coolidge Park. I was thinking to myself, this can’t be! Because I distinctly remember the Chattanooga City Council not too long ago voting to not allow guns in the parks!
There must be some mistake. Does this mean that the “No guns allowed” signs at the city parks are not working? Imagine that! Do you mean to tell me that all of those people doing the shooting in the city parks are not paying any attention to those expensive “no guns allowed signs”?
Why, that’s appalling! A decent self-respecting thug should read those signs, then promptly return his gun to his car!
The only thing that “no guns allowed” signs do is tell the thugs that all the people in the park are unarmed and are easy pickings!
As usual, only the outlaws are allowed to have the guns. When are they going to learn that signs only work on honest people. Maybe if your signs read: “PRETTY PLEASE, No guns allowed in the parks.”
KEVIN GABOR
Hixson
Reform a victory in two ways
Passing health reform is a historic victory for all Americans — for families, seniors, young people, workers, and small businesses alike. All Americans will now have the security of knowing that they don’t risk losing the American dream if they get sick or are in an accident.
Passing this legislation isn’t just a victory for the American people; it’s a victory over special interests who have fought for decades to keep families and businesses from controlling their own health care.
It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.
All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.
GLENN LOCKE
Crossville, Tenn.
Strengthen state by electing Wamp
I believe in freedom, freedom to pursue my own destiny and not destiny dictated by a few now holding power in Washington. Our country needs bold, aggressive and passionate elected officials to defend our Constitution from withering away through extreme liberal ideology. This nation is under attack, and we must fight back by electing individuals who will reserve and strengthen the values that made us great.
I strongly endorse Congressman Zach Wamp for governor of Tennessee. He is fighting in Washington to keep our Constitution from being diluted, and he will continue the fight to strengthen the state Constitution bringing this state to the forefront of leadership and economic success.
I urge all Tennesseans to consider voting for Congressman Zach Wamp for governor.
WALT WARD
Dog story preceded by another ‘chew’
The story about the dog that attacked the police car in your city has gone around the world. But ain’t it a bit late? I can remember 60 years ago when Glenn Miller was playing “Chattanooga chew chew.”
JIM GARNER
Ottawa, Canada
Reform shows GOP to be corporatist
America will now find out that the health care reform bill was not the monster under the bed that Republicans said it would be. America will now know that they are fearmongers on every bill they approach.
The Republicans have known for years that they cannot get the support they need if the public understands the Republican philosophy, so they attack. The health care bill can help expose them for what they are — corporatist.
AMOS NANCE
Jasper, Tenn.