Retraction needed for ‘Tomb’ cartoon
I find the Dec. 4 cartoon by Clay Bennett very offensive. Not only to those who are buried in the “Tomb of the Unknown,” but to the soldiers who guard the tomb and to every active duty and veteran. You should print a retraction.
DAVID BELL
Cleveland, Tenn.
Cartoon mars image of city
Chattanooga has called itself the “most patriotic city in the U.S.A.” Bennett’s cartoon (Dec. 1) is in direct conflict of that assertion. It depicted the military as either being “gays” or being total “bigots.” The “bigots” character — disheveled, snagged toothed, and unkempt — was a complete distortion of our fine military.
Changing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has broad ramifications which have not been thought through. What are “acceptable homosexual behaviors” under the UCMJ?
If a heterosexual makes a slur against a homosexual, can he be disciplined? Will gays get promotion advantage because of “prior” discrimination? Will the military recognize gay marriage?
These are only a few questions. They don’t address the fact the great majority of combat forces reject this idea of gays “openly serving.”
I applaud the chiefs of staff of the Army and the Air Force and the commandant of the Marine Corps for saying that change in policy will be disruptive to our military and degrade our combat effectiveness in a time of war.
This cartoon begs the question as to whether the Times Free Press sincerely supports our military upon whose shoulders rest our cherished liberties, including the freedom of the press.
NOAH H. LONG
Signal Mountain
Here are ideas to cut spending
Now that civil servants get no pay raise for two years, let’s see if members of Congress are really interested in cutting spending. I suggest the following as a start:
1. All members of Congress take a 10 percent pay cut effective immediately.
2. Cut your staff by at least 10 percent.
3. Abolish automatic pay raises for yourself, and don’t vote yourself another raise until a balanced budget.
4. Cut social and corporate welfare by the same percentage.
There is much more they can do, but if they do any of this then we will know that they do have some interest in cutting spending.
JOE ELLIS
Estill Springs, Tenn.