Visitor pleased with city, game
As one of the Appalachian State fans who attended Saturday’s game against the Mocs, I’d like to say how pleased we were with every aspect of our experience this weekend. The staff at our hotel, the servers at our restaurants, the crowd at the game and everyone else we encountered were friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about the game and UTC’s football team.
You have the right to be proud of your team’s effort, your fans’ support, and your city in general We had a great time and perhaps saw one of the best quarters in FCS football. Your team deserves the respect of all of the teams in the Southern Conference for their performance.
JOE AMOROSO
Blowing Rock, N.C.
Taxpayer money wasted on benefit
Our community owes the Times Free Press a thank you for having reporters that will ask questions and seek answers. If not for you, Billy Long would still be getting illegal retirement payments. Of course, our local county government doesn’t care about wasting some more taxpayer money. I understand this money is not directly from the taxpayers of Hamilton County, but it is through TCRS, a taxpayer-subsidized entity.
Enough of this ineptitude in our government; someone needs to make these people simply do their job.
MIKE PARKER
Harrison
Chattanooga needs to invest in police
Regarding the article “High crime rate”) Aug. 29: Wow! Let’s continue to stop investing in our police department. After all, it’s just another non-vital city department we can just cut back on. Let’s keep threatening our underpaid police every year with taking their cars and, of course, no raises. Next thing you know, we will hear that Arizona is overrun and far outnumbered with lawlessness. Let’s keep ignoring what obviously needs [to be] done. Like them or hate [them]. Chattanooga needs to invest in its police!
MICHAEL BURNS
Ooltewah
Mayor resorts to name calling
Confronted for his extravagant tax increase requests and his inability to effectively control gang violence, Mayor Littlefield has resorted to name calling and personal attacks against the Chattanooga citizens that are demanding more responsible city government.
This is the standard response from those that we elect to do the people’s business but decide to pursue their own agenda instead of effectively representing the people. Actions taken to confront their arrogance are usually answered in a similar manner.
Most Chattanooga residents were outraged with the mayor’s latest request for tax increases. However, only a very small band was courageous enough to stand against him.
In a city of over 170,000, why so few?
Similarly, with our republic in peril, there are those that stand to lose much when our government returns to that which the founders intended. Rather than engage in honest debate, they resort to name calling and personal attacks.
Each of us should reflect on the condition of our government each day and then look into the mirror to face those responsible.
“No government can continue good, but under the control of the people.” Thomas Jefferson.
JERRY HENDERSON
Cleveland
Cordova church sets the standard
The ground zero Mosque protests and the recent attempted arson of a Murfeesboro Islamic Center are ample examples of an America living up to its worst prejudices and fears. Pastor Steve Jones and the 550 congregants of Heartsong Church in Cordova, northeast of Memphis, provide a countertestament.
Jones, like any good Christian, simply asked, “What would Jesus do if he were us?” when he learned of the planned construction of a 4,000-square-foot Memphis Islamic Center nearby. Jones erected a 6-foot sign that said “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
Heartsong Church opened its doors to its Muslim neighbors throughout the monthlong Ramadan observance. The result: bridges were mended, fears allayed and prejudices proved unfounded as nightly, under a giant cross composed of salvaged wood, 200 Muslims would gather to pray.
Good neighbors do not need fences.
With a simple act of love and understanding, God shames the human heart and proves that the only sacred ground is the love He creates in every willing soul. Pastor Jones and his congregation should be commended for their true Christian example.
JONATHAN MOYA
Some Christians follow wrong law
It is truly a shame that so many people call themselves Christians when actually they must not know what the term involves. To be a Christian one must profess their faith in Christ and his teaching and accept him only through faith. So many proclaimed Christians love to judge and look down on people that may have committed a sin or two according to their standards. Their problem is that they are judging others by Moses’ law rather than the teachings and examples of Christ. Moses’ law was more of a bond that says if you do this or you don’t do that then you are punished. Christ showed us love and forgiveness and instructed us to do the same toward our neighbors.
If more people would live by the letter Paul wrote to the Galatians in the New Testament, this world would be a much better place. Too many are too fast to condemn and forget why Christ was a gift to us in love rather than fear.
GARY MOOR
Hixson
Follow Jesus’ admonition
There are few Americans who do not abhor the vicious and sinful attack of 9/11. But that notwithstanding, thinking Christians are anguished that Pastor Terry Jones is leading his flock in the ritual destruction by fire of books according to the teachings of that demon, Adolf Hitler.
I would hope that Pastor Jones and his followers should hearken to Jesus’ admonition: “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
H. FLOYD DENNIS
Hixson
Publish the names of juvenile offenders
I just finished reading another article about a juvenile offender and, as always, the name was withheld because of his age (17).
When and why was this law established?
The “innocent kids” wear their juvenile records like some kind of merit badges, bragging to their friends about beating the system.
It’s beyond time for the parents of these young hoodlums to take some kind of responsibility. Citizens should have the right to know if their neighbors’ kids are breaking into or destroying their private property.
These “juveniles” are old enough and big enough to beat, rob and shoot innocent citizens, but yet our laws protect them from being exposed as the criminals they are.
We should embarrass their parents by printing their names in the local news.
Laws can be changed, but these “kids” will never change as long as our system continues protecting their lifestyles.
Print the names and pictures of these so-called innocent, juveniles and if the parents aren’t motivated, at least the community will be aware. Perhaps the age for protection should be lowered to 12 or 13 since a lot of these young hoods start their criminal careers at the innocent age of 14.
WALT VINEYARD SR.
Charleston, Tenn.