World marching to nuclear disaster
The volcanic ash over Europe, the conversations about nuclear terror in Washington and nuclear war in Hiroshima form a confluence of images. What about foreseeing history?
What would happen if during this week of Remembrance of the Holocaust, Israel had participated in the conversation in Washington? Would the word “holocaust” shape the urgency to understand the new efficiency of murder by nuclear bomb rather than gas chamber?
If former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami had been allowed to participate in the dialogue at Hiroshima, would the fallout of that conversation affect nuclear disarmament in the Middle East?
We owe it to all who have made the death march from Buchenwald to Auschwitz or fried at Hiroshima and Nagasaki to solve this brewing horror that looms in this century. We owe it to the living to secure all nuclear weapons.
Nuclear war is a suicide scenario punctuated by real ordinance.
Will the summit in Korea in 2012 include all the nations?
If we are unable to count down nukes to zero, we are marching toward a nuclear disaster.
KEMMER ANDERSON
Signal Mountain
Road closure costly to all
Close Noah Reid Road — big mistake:
The turnaround on both sides will become a dumping ground (as it has previously).
It will cost $$ to clean up the garbage. Crime will increase — now that it is an isolated area (on both sides) that will cost $$ for the police to respond to the many complaints that will result from this.
My property should decrease in value as all the others. Is the city going to depreciate my property value and lower my taxes? I doubt it.
It will cost me an extra $40/week and several hours more of time just to bring my children to school. Chattanooga City Council members and government are money-hungry. Since we have bowed down to VW, lost many local jobs (just look at the license plates of the workers), why can’t we procure the money to raise the track from VW, a federal or state grant, the railroad or just spend the money that the city and county have taken from their citizens in the form of inflated property -taxes.
Raise the track. Cars can freely travel underneath. Problem solved. People happy.
WILLIAM MCPHERSON
Harrison
Seniors program alive and kicking
“Seniors on the Go,” started in Red Bank several months ago, continues to improve with time.
The facility is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Thursday. The day starts with low-impact aerobics with a certified instructor followed by guest speakers or other activities.
Lunch is always hot and delicious. Activities include guests (public, medical, safety, legal assistance, law enforcement, personal protection, etc.) speakers, guest singers, guest line dancers, beginning smocking, bingo, cards, dominos, checkers, chess, crafts, knitting instruction, horse shoes, blood pressure checks, health screenings, fellowship, professional foot care, cake decorating instruction.
Erlanger Hospital is very active in the senior program. They schedule many of the speakers, health screenings and daily blood pressure checks.
McDonald’s of Red Bank contributes to the program. Other donors are welcome. Anyone 40 years of age or above is welcome.
City Mayor Joe Glasscock and his wife, Billie, are like members of the family here. City Commissioner Ruth Jeno, assisted by Charlotte Thompson, run the program for the city and are loved by everybody.
The community center located behind Erlanger Hospital is a perfect facility for the seniors.
NORMAN LOWE
Will firms that got aid now offer help?
The previous administration saw fit to bail out financial institutions that caused our most recent financial meltdown and the current administration followed suit. But the common man, who got caught in the middle through no fault of his own, was left to suffer the consequences.
I would like to ask where the Tea Partiers and Republican lawmakers were when all of this was going on. They had control for eight long years. Surely they knew what was going on.
They are screaming about the cost of fixing their mess while doing nothing to help repair the damage.
Too many of us are out of work, losing our homes, our life savings, our retirement and the majority of us had nothing to do with causing the problems.
Unemployed workers cannot contribute to the state sales tax because they have nothing to spend. The unemployed are not paying federal withholding taxes, Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare taxes, and these programs are suffering. Are the financial institutions going to make up the shortfall with all that money they received?
If American households had received the bailout money, we would already be seeing a turnaround in the economy. It was our tax money they were given.
BRENDA RESH
Alcohol laws out of sync
If you can allow guns in bars, what is wrong with selling wine in grocery stores? “Duh” to those enacting our laws!
JOHNNY JONES
Hixson
Worst, best days linked by gangs
One of the worst days of my life took place about two years ago when I paid my respects to a 22-year-old African-American man who was a victim of a gang violence.
I was broken-hearted at the funeral home when I viewed his body. He was dressed in blue, including a blue bandana as if he was being buried in full military honors, buried in his gang’s colors.
This young man’s family informed me that they allowed him to be buried in this manner because his gang helped pay most of his funeral expenses.
On the other hand, one of the best days of my life took place one year ago when I taped a video of two former gang leaders, who challenged young people to renounce their gang affiliations and elaborate on dangers of life in a gang. These gang leaders had a powerful impact for good on a lot of gang members in jail for 18 months.
This tape can be seen at www.thecriminalcorner.com, which is a site dedicated to addressing all the issues that lead to gang affiliations, drug addictions, and becoming a career criminal. I also elaborate on my early retirement as the chaplain of the Hamilton County Jail.
REV. BILL W. SMITH
Square dancing active in area
You recently published an article picked up from the Star Tribune in Minneapolis regarding square dancing. We want everyone to know that there are numerous square dance clubs in the tri-state area as well as all 50 states.
It is true that participation in square dancing has greatly diminished. However, for anyone who has ever square danced there is not greater fun, fellowship or exercise.
We have danced for the last seven years with the Grandview Twirlers in Spring City, Tenn., and have made many friends throughout the country. Our club, as well as all area clubs, offers lessons beginning in September of each year; the first lesson is always free.
Anyone wanting information on clubs in their area can go online to dosado.com for a complete listing in all 50 states.
FRANK AND BARBARA SMITH