9/11 needs to be remembrance day
Recently, I found myself wondering what it was like at elementary schools on the day of the 9/11 attacks. I was a high school senior that day and therefore able to understand the massive blow that was being dealt to our country. But what about those 5-year-old kids?
I work as a substitute teacher for Hamilton County, and as luck would have it, I subbed for a class of ninth-graders last Friday, Sept. 10. While there, I asked the students if their kindergarten teachers had discussed the 9/11 attacks. The majority of the students said their teachers had addressed the tragedy. However, some admitted they honestly couldn’t remember much of anything about September of 2001.
It’s probably surprising for most of you to think that there are now high-schoolers who don’t remember 9/11. That means that in five years, there will be parents who don’t remember 9/11.
The anniversary of the attacks has so far been one of somber reflection, but more and more, it needs to become a day of remembrance. We must tell those too young to recall about the weeks when our country became the best it could be to deal with the worst that could happen.
May we never forget.
MATT MORRIS
Ooltewah
City shines for active living
As a guest in your beautiful city this week for the ProWalk/ProBike conference, I am impressed.
Chattanooga obviously takes (pride) in its downtown area. It is a pleasure to walk down your clean and well-maintained sidewalks and enjoy the variety of green-spaces and captivating public art.
Your historic walk/bike bridge and connecting trail system show you get it when it comes to competing for 21st century industry and commerce, where authenticity and active living are key economic development tools.
I am glad to add Chattanooga to my list of quality communities in the South.
CHARLIE GANDY
Long Beach, Calif.
Space station not answer to survival
In a recent article in the Times Free Press a scientist stated that if people are to survive the natural and human-caused disasters, they must leave this planet ASAP. He didn’t say how or where they would go. There is a better solution.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Our churches have become “social halls,” and politics is their “gospel.” People have become slaves to self-indulgence, and money is their God.
I see no signs that they will change, so we’d better start building spaceships, but I don’t think that space station is big enough for everyone.
EDNA TAYLOR
Politicians hide behind state laws
Mayor recall … I find it very interesting that cities will write laws, institute them, enforce them and prosecute people who do not abide by them but, yet, when the tables get turned on them and it is found to be “out of bounds,” cities revert to “state laws ‘trump’ city laws.” In other words, politicians “hide” behind state laws when necessary to push an agenda. So, the big question is, “Why write a law and enforce it if it is not valid”?
Politicians have made it all but impossible for themselves to get “fired” for not doing the job they ran for. And when you find a law that they have not enforced, the answer is, “state law ‘trumps’ city laws.” And whenever a governmental body writes a law that is not equal to or superior of another body, that, to me, is illegal.
And the reason we keep electing such folks to office is beyond common sense. Why do people not exercise their right to vote? Seems quite simple to me. The proof is in the pudding. Look at the low turnout in the last city election. They should remember whom they actually work for.
TOM HAWKS
Soddy-Daisy
Solutions offered to fix the deficit
Recipe for fixing deficit:
I am offering the following resolutions for Congress to regain the trust and will of the people they represent.
1. There are 6,000-plus federal agencies. Cut what you can, and combine others.
2. Return Congress’ salary to 1995 level and freeze yearly income, remove cards used for discretionary spending by Congress and the president.
3. Repeal ObamaCare.
4. No more stimulus funds, bailouts of companies or federal grants.
5. Do away with agriculture subsidies.
6. No more taxpayer funds going overseas except to support our military.
7. USA should not bear the burden of expense for U.N. members.
8. Return all unspent campaign funds to the federal coffers.
9. Get rid of czars. The Constitution says no title of nobility shall be used.
10. Stop “robbing” Social Security funds, or any other funds paid into for security of seniors.
11. Some restrictions should be placed on Air Force 1, 2 and 3. How is the president going to “cap and trade” all the carbons used in “daily” takeoffs and landings.
12. Allow mosques to be built here when Protestant, Catholic, Jewish churches, temples and synagogues are built in Saudi Arabia, all the Middle East and Afghanistan.
CHARLOTTE TURNER
Teens shouldn’t be in cemetery
Re: Sale Creek Cemetery story. I am appalled at the fact that the teacher was arrested instead of the teenagers, who were trespassing. I, for one, would not confront a group of trespassers without protection, in this day and time. Mr. (Stacy)Swallows was not running away, but holding people who had no business being there for the police.
This kind of action is why some kids can get by with murder and teachers have to bend over backward to keep from being persecuted.
Some of the things they found in the cemetery were illegal. The rest, beer bottles, condoms, panties, should not have been. The kids were “using” the cemetery, and I think the police should be investigating each and all as to why they were there. I can promise you, it wasn’t to hunt ghosts.
Maybe you should do a follow up story on this. It is a shame a teacher has to lose a job or defend himself because of a bunch of kids who should have been home doing healthier activities.
Parents, where were you? I am a grandparent of five, and, trust me, they all find better things to do, like study, play ball and have their friends in their home. Their parents know where they are.
The police were off on this one, so what else is new?
BETTY J. BARR
Soddy-Daisy