Strong killing shows corrections needed
The brutal animalistic murder of Pastor David Strong has sickened and revolted much of the community. It seems to be intensely fueling our collective sense of shame.
It has involuntarily triggered a very painful, anguishing shriek, heard in Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga; especially Memphis, because he touched so many lives for the greater good.
He leaves a legacy of preaching, teaching, mentoring and inspiring with his great musical talent.
Aside from any alluded personal issues of this very good man, no human being deserves an unwarranted brutal death at the hands of other humans, especially so young as those accused. With reluctant sadness, I join the pastor’s mother in a forgiving posture.
This tragic loss is a telling commentary on where we are in our corporate living, and what we need to begin correcting. How much of the murder, violence, home invasion, assaults, robberies and criminal activities come from our homes; or from our children.
We owe it to Rev. Strong to take a hard look! Our healing begins within ourselves, in our homes, and ultimately, how responsibly we raise and control our children during their formative years.
REV. ANDREW FRIERSON JR.
Let your voice be heard by voting
The importance of every voter to vote cannot be overemphasized in this turbulent time in our nation’s history. The 2010 general election may be the most important one of our lifetime.
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, a citizen asked Benjamin Franklin, “What have you wrought?” His answer: “A Republic, if you can keep it!”
And keep it we shall, if every qualified voter … votes, Nov. 2! Or vote early. Polling places are open now, weekdays, at specified times and locations, through Oct. 29. Remind family and friends to vote for those candidates who share their convictions. Now is the time for voices of all Americans to be heard. We Americans need to get our country back!
Another reason for voting Nov. 2 is the potential redistricting among Georgia’s 11 congressional districts. Based on population changes reflected in the 2010 Census, the newly elected Georgia governor, the Georgia General Assembly and certain other elected officials will be charged with this responsibility.
Remember, too many U.S servicemen, in time of war, have given their lives for us to have the right to vote. We honor their memory when we do.
CHRIS CATES, M.D.
Former Georgia 9th District Congressional Candidate
Sexual accusation not good reporting
When did Times Free Press opt for tabloid status?
On Sunday, the day with color comics for the children, for a family newspaper to lead the front page with a headline and story that seek, not to inform, but to shock and outrage, is itself outrageous. Did that accusation of sexual impropriety really merit its featured position? Serious reporting it was not. I felt very ashamed and saddened for my local newspaper.
MARTHA M. AKIN
Hixson
Sex trafficking must be stopped
Sex trafficking is the recruitment and control of persons, by threat or use of force or deception, for purpose of sexual exploitation.
It is estimated that trafficking generates around $32 billion annually. There are more than 27 million people enslaved, and every minute two children are being sold into sex trafficking. That is 1.2 million children annually sold into this industry alone.
Women and children are literally taken away from their own home and sometimes sold by their own family to be abused day after day. Some of the victims are very young, not even reached their puberty. Their beautiful smiles are stolen, hearts broken, and their dreams filled with nightmares.
How can we do nothing after knowing these facts? Why do we let the cases increase year after year? They have no voice, no independence and no knowledge, but we do. We are given the voice to cry out in behalf of these precious souls. We have been given the freedom to speak and stand for the truth. We are educated to rescue and restore the broken ones. It is our responsibility to put an end to this immoral act.
LOVELY MATHAI
Look no further than Floy Pierce
So often, one of our most valuable resources is overlooked. For over 25 years at least monthly, my wife and I have worked with the elderly of the Red Bank community through our congregation. The wisdom, compassion and sensitivity of the elderly have been a blessing to our lives. Far too frequently, their neighbors, their own family members, and their civic leaders ignore that blessing. I can say gratefully that one civic leader repeatedly has championed the cause of the elderly in Red Bank: Floy Pierce.
As a member of the City Council, Ms. Pierce has been unwavering in defending the needs of the Red Bank senior citizens even against opposition by fellow council members.
In her bid for city commissioner, I applaud Ms. Pierce for her resilience and support of those who have given to the Red Bank community all of their lives. The citizens of Red Bank can find no better representation than that of Floy Pierce.
MIKE GOODSON
Hixson
Jobs are needed to create revenue
Politicians of all stripes tell you they will create the world you would like to have without giving specifics of how they will do it.
They may even be against spending, but the things they promise will cost money.
All politicians know we are concerned about the size of the national debt, and they intend to handle that by reducing taxes.
All politicians want to create more jobs, but they also want to reduce the cost of entitlements.
Have you heard anyone face up to the huge negative effect on the economy if all entitlements were discontinued?
Of course, more jobs are needed. The jobs will create more taxes without raising taxes, and they will reduce the burden of unemployment payments, etc., but who has given any specifics as to how they would create more jobs?
The government has started many specific things to create more jobs, and they have been successful in creating some jobs. No one – absolutely no one – knows how much worse the recession would have become without the government spending that everyone now criticizes.
SCOTT PATTON
Jasper, Tenn.
Library supporters aid programming
This week, Oct. 17-23, is National Friends of the Library Week. The executive council of the Friends of the Library here in Chattanooga wants to recognize and congratulate the more than 400 members of our local chapter.
Our group is diverse, with representatives from across the county. Some volunteer frequently, some rarely. Some use the library services frequently, some rarely. But all have shown their support for the Public Library through their membership. Their dues and volunteer time help assure that the Summer Reading Program continues, that authors such as George Ella Lyons continue to come to give talks and visit our schools, that Club Lib, Flicks Café, and the Friends Endowment to the Community Foundation grow and prosper.
I would also like to recognize and thank the members of the executive council for their time, support and encouragement this year. It has been a pleasure serving with them.
Are you a Friend of your Library? Come join in our celebration this week! Check our web page at www.friendsofthechattanoogahamiltoncountybicentenniallibrary or Facebook at friendsofthelibrarychattanooga for events and more information.
KIM FAHS
Chairwoman
Friends of the Library
Shame on paper for ‘tabloid’ story
Disrespect for the deceased and disregard for the person’s family and peers is an unacceptable form of so-called journalism and is more attributable to “tabloid” type sensationalism.
Your front page headliners in Sunday’s edition regarding “Henry: ‘I snapped’ after Strong asked for sex act” was the most offensive insult that you could pay to Reverend Strong, his family, his former church congregation and his peers.
Irrespective of his sexual orientation, you chose to print an interview from a convicted felon to further smear a person who had been an asset to his community with demonstrated efforts in helping to transform lives of others.
There are obviously sanity and lock of civility issues involved in this crime. After all, admitting to beating, multiple stabs, throat slicing, etc., leaves little room for rational behavior.
This is not about how Rev. Strong may have represented his calling; this is about your choice to further smear a man of God with your tabloid style reporting while his family, congregation and peers continue to mourn his passing. In my limited opinion, we need an alternate form of objective and decent reporting. Shame on you.
WARREN E. LOGAN JR.
President
Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
GOP priority not smaller government
Your editorial “Haslam for less government” (Oct. 15) perfectly illustrates the current state of politics.
Nearly all of today’s Republicans want smaller government, except when they don’t. Your editorial pointed out that Bill Haslam wants to spend more money on education, while at the same time promising smaller government. So which is it?
Republicans, especially tea party activists, love the idea of government spending less, unless you’re talking about taking away or scaling back the things that they want, like Medicare or Social Security.
Sen. Bob Corker recently proposed a formula for federal spending that would be linked to a percentage of GDP. Sounds nice, but he’s never said what he would cut specifically to get us to that level.
Republican rhetoric is not so much about smaller government as it is about their spending priorities. Smaller-government rhetoric sure sounds nice, until you have to make some hard decisions.
I won’t believe Republicans are serious about spending until they start talking about cutting the Defense Department. Until then, it’s only an argument about spending priorities, not smaller government.
BRIAN HAMILTON