No law broken by sports prayer
Re: prayer at school sporting events, (article, Oct. 21).
Paraphrasing, Superintendent Jim Scales said, because it is part of the culture it has not been addressed by the administration or school board in the past. Now there has been a protest, and we all know what the laws are. We have to do what is right, (i.e. ban the prayers).
What law was broken? There is none. A law is enforced by the local government.
A Supreme Court decision is not a law. It is to settle a dispute and be used in other lawsuits. This brings us to rule by lawsuit. The threat of a lawsuit drives cities and school systems to knuckle under to threats such as those by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Jim Scales had no basis for the ban on the prayer other than an acceptance of the politically correct view of separation of church and state. Educators of all people should understand the First Amendment and who makes the laws. At the federal level, only Congress can make laws.
DAN SCANNELL
SODDY DAISY
Knowles family does great job
Many thanks to Bill Knowles and his family for the awesome jobs that they do for our county.
Bill Knowles is an honest man with great integrity. Bill is a true Christian. He believes in treating people the way he wants to be treated. If Bill tells a person that he will do something, he will do it.
I feel so grateful to have the Bill Knowles family to call my friends.
FAYE SMITH
Ooltewah
Elmore’s legacy continues to live
A shining light went out in Chattanooga two years ago when Bettye Elmore died. Now, with the loss of Bob Elmore, a Chattanooga spotlight has gone dark.
Without Bob, Herbert Fry and a few others with their vision, the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau might never have been established, at least not for many years, and the Fall Color Cruise never developed.
However, tourism is only part of Bob’s legacy. It includes his lively support of Mocs athletics (especially softball), the Half Century Club, SCORE, Senior Games and many other public and charitable institutions to which Bob’s leadership was invaluable. Most important was his love of Man in the Mirror Ministries, which will now administer the Bob Elmore Scholarship Fund.
Volumes could be written about the accomplishments of Bob Elmore: his devotion to his wife, their daughters, family, friends and our community is legendary.
Though the Elmore lights have gone out, memories of this couple will shine on. And now, suffice to say, they’re together again.
TERRIE EDWARDS
FREDERICK
Praise our youth for stand on prayer
Thank you so much for keeping Chattanooga posted on the updates of prayer in schools. It is a shining example to see the young people of our community stand up for God and the rights that were paId for with the blood of our servicemen of every generation.
Your article (Oct. 28) has given me hope and with that hope possibly this stand for prayer in public places will spread across the nation.
God bless the young people who stood up and took a stand for God, our nation, and God bless you in getting the word out about this wonderful and positive event.
I will keep our leaders in my prayers to make the changes needed to draw our nation back to God. It says in the Bible “Turn your eyes to Me and I will heal your nation.”
DAN CRANE
HIXSON
It’s OK to say silent prayers
Scores of fans and students in the Tennessee Valley are apparently operating under the assumption that their God has a hearing problem.
When I was in school, if I wanted to say a silent prayer, I had that right, and I’m fairly sure I would have that right today. There is nothing the ACLU or any other organization can do about this, so I honestly fail to see what the problem is supposed to be.
Although it might possibly be connected to Matthew 6:5, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Use it wisely.
LARRY MATTINGLY
RISING FAWN, GA
Newspapers are essential
The times of today are changing our future. We’re moving from the age of technology to the age of the Internet. In the process of rapid modification we are forgetting a concept that started this country altogether – newspapers.
“If present readership trends continue indefinitely,” says a University of North Carolina professor, “the last daily newspaper reader will check out in 2044.”
Newspapers are essential. It’s necessary for newspapers to stay in business so that the local public can stay informed, petition, speak, and write when dissatisfied; can vote with adequate knowledge about the candidates and issues; and can understand their civic duties and responsibilities as individuals and as a nation.
In order to keep our right of the freedom of press, we need to stand up for this intrinsic media outlet. Newspapers should focus on local news reporting and gain local recognition. The decline in readership of younger individuals is destroying the newspaper industry altogether. By instituting unpaid internships with high school students the newspaper can increase readership within the younger audience.
Newspapers were the first press to make a stand. We cannot let them diminish. There will be a void in the media without newspapers, leaving local reporting and our voices obscure.
TIA KALMON
Graduated driver licenses are good
I think that the graduated license laws are a good thing to have for 16- to 17-year-old students who are driving.
I remember a few years ago being a teenager and thinking how ridiculous it was to have to be home at 11 p.m., but looking back I think that it was a positive thing for me in the long run.
It’s good to hear that the death rate for teens is declining and that it is partly the result of the new license laws. A majority of the more serious accidents do happen late at night so it is a definite positive thing to not have young people out on the roads. They can’t get hurt or killed, and they also can’t pose as much of a threat to other drivers due to their lack of experience. They have their whole lives ahead of them to drive after 11 p.m., so I think they can give up a year or two.
ERICA HANEY
CLEVELAND, TN
Where else but in East Ridge?
Who lets a 14-year employee, who just received an award for service, go, and keeps the son of the supervisor of councilman Tom Card at the Chattanooga sewage treatment plant, with less than one year’s service. The city of East Ridge does.
Who sneaks a provision in the severance agreement that prohibits the employee from suing? The city of East Ridge does!
And who seeks to stop an employee from withdrawing his retirement out, due to hardship because of being jobless? You guessed it, the city of East Ridge.
With such a sparkling reputation, that’s hard to believe, isn’t it.
WILLIAM MCKEEL
EAST RIDGE