Use the Internet for foreign students
Regarding Saturday morning’s Free Press editorial page (June 19).
It is really saddening to read about the Harvard University student who is facing deportation because he is an illegal alien. This is one good example of what happens when our government overlooks the existing immigration laws. Real people get hurt!
Second question — Why is Harvard “calling for Eric Baldaras to be allowed to stay … despite his illegal status”? He sounds like he is a good student. If Harvard University is serious and really wants to keep him, maybe they should develop him an “Internet based distance learning” program. This would provide a better solution than asking Congress to enact laws to legalize “tens of thousands of illegal immigrants.” Having such a distance learning program would also enable Harvard to expand its outreach to the many more similar and deserving students outside the U.S. Just a thought.
JOHN RICHARDSON
Hixson
Vice president not part of command
The Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 1, as changed by 25th Amendment, says when the “… Power and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President.”
Only ignorance places the VP in the “Chain of Command.” No deputy or assistant commander in chief exists.
Civilian control of U.S. military leads from president to secretary of defense and to secretaries of branches of U.S. armed forces for administration and from secretary of defense via chairman and joint chiefs to Unified Combatant Commands for military actions. Chain of command does not include secretary of state, U.S. ambassadors or other advisers to the president, such as National Security Advisor Jones or advisers such as Holbrooke or Czar Brennan. Two latter positions are not defined in law.
Apparently there is no problem in the Department of Homeland Security with violation of chain in Coast Guard where relieved commandant continues to function as if he were commandant. Only recently was current Commandant Admiral Papp shown on TV observing Gulf oil spill. Thad Allen retires officially July 1. Papp became Commandant May 25!
JOHN A. LYNCH
Captain, USNR (Ret.)
Whitwell, Tenn.
It’s not our job to be the judges
I totally agree with the recent letter writer and cannot imagine that BP would knowingly create a disaster of that enormity.
I vividly remember when one of our planes cut down a cable car in Italy and many innocent people fell to their death. Could that tragedy have been avoided? Probably so, and maybe it was not as grave as the accident in the Gulf, but anytime only one life is lost, it is disastrous.
My main point in agreeing was the fact that if BP files for bankruptcy, everyone loses more than they have already lost. I, too, will go out of my way (and already have) to patronize BP for everyone’s sake, and I hope many more people will do the same. Let’s not be judges; that’s not our job.
MARIA NIKOLA
GREEN
Buying BP shows we don’t care
I am amazed and appalled when I see motorists buying BP gasoline. Why is anyone giving one red cent to the company that has caused the greatest environmental disaster in the history of this country? I realize that if no one in Chattanooga bought another gallon of BP gasoline it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to BP but buying BP gasoline indicates that we don’t care what BP has done to our country. Wake up, people (and smell the oil in the gulf.)
MIKE SHALETT
East Ridge
Explanation for warming needed
Question of the decade:
With the current June heat wave, how much longer will it be before our editor will write a “lucid” and expansive editorial “explanation” of how the high temperatures prove that global warming is taking place?
For an answer, consult the same editor who was busily “explaining” how the low temperatures and snow last January disproved global warming.
Better, perhaps he could explain this “inconsistency.”
LARRY INGLE
Van Irion puts words into action
The Times Free Press should be contacting Republican voters regarding 3rd Congressional candidate Van Irion’s campaign tactics instead of a political science professor who votes Democratic.
I, for one, was thrilled to see Van Irion’s courage in exercising his Bill of Rights in bearing his sidearm at an interview with the paper. I loved the fact Van wasn’t fearful or intimidated at what people may think about his actions. This act alone was an example of his character and his commitment to our constitutional rights.
In further exhibiting his commitment to the Constitution, Van Irion filed a class-action lawsuit against ObamaCare that currently has over 31,000 plaintiffs. Actions, my friends, do speak louder than words. Van Irion is proving to the 3rd Congressional District that he has what it takes to restore America back to her constitutional government.
Isn’t it time we put a dedicated statesman in office rather than a politician with vested interest other than our constitutional rights?
MRS. STACY M.
GRIFFIN
Evensville, Tenn.
3 ‘choos’ needed to access song
On the front page of the LifeStyle Section June 21, there was an article about a new state song being approved by the state Legislature. The article has the title “The List — What to Know” and states there are seven state songs, mentioning “Tennessee Waltz” and “Rocky Top.” Then third on the list is my “Bicentennial Rap” with my name and that I live on Signal Mountain.
Amazing to be making news 14 years later.
The article says the state song list can be found at www.tennesseeanytime.org/homework/songs.html. A great website that shows all state songs and gives “Bicentennial Rap” extra publicity!
When you access the list of state songs and rap “A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap 1796-1996,” you need to rap Choo Choo Choo. The state employee only typed two but three are needed for the beat.
JOAN HILL HANKS
Signal Mountain
Obama makes disdainful remarks
Gen. Stanley McChrystal and staff made derogatory statements that reflect a lack of respect about the commander in chief’s handling of military matters.
I am surprised at Mr. Obama’s reported anger regarding those comments. A nation reflects both the personality and actions of its president. With nothing positive to say about the U.S.A., Obama has governed as if all is broken and he has arrived to fix us.
President Obama and his staff regularly make derogatory and disdainful remarks about members of various branches of government and about our citizens. He used the State of the Union address to criticize his equals on the U.S. Supreme Court.
He saw fit to deride citizens who attend town hall meetings and has ordered a federal lawsuit against the state of Arizona. His speaker of the House refers to citizens who oppose her as Nazis.
Why should the president be angry about Gen. McChrystal’s serious lack of decorum? President Obama and his staff spew a negative view of the United States with no thought for decorum.
Mr. President, when you read negative comments made about you, you would do well to recall a phrase from the movie “Remember the Titans.”
“Attitude reflects leadership, captain.”
ERIC O. ROGERS
Hixson