Gun laws won’t prevent violence
If you write hate mail to dead soldiers’ families, plot the murder of your wife and sexually assault at least one young woman, you have no problem getting a shotgun in Australia. At least, the self-styled Sheikh Haron (Man Haron Monis) didn’t, unlike law-abiding Australians. How is it again that restrictive gun laws prevent “gun violence?”
HENRY SMALLWOOD
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Race relations are no better
Because of his previous associations with known terrorists, communists and racists, I, like many others knowledgeable of these relationships, did not vote for Obama. We resigned ourselves to reality and consoled ourselves with the hope he would fairly govern for all citizens of the United States and his election would be good for race relations. Obama himself stated, “There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.” We hoped and waited. Like many other hopes that we have had for Obama, we have been greatly disappointed. Ferguson, Mo., is just one episode of several where Obama, Eric Holder, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and other associated race baiters have inserted themselves into local affairs for their own political or monetary gain. They didn’t investigate or care what the facts were; they sided against the police and for a thug, Michael Brown. By their actions, they inflamed the situation and are responsible for the subsequent unrest, looting and destruction of local businesses, many of which were owned by local minorities. So much for better race relations.
JERRY HENDERSON
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Turn over torturers to World Court
I visited the Pol Pot torture museum in Cambodia in 2005. I was struck by the fact the techniques used by Pol Pot were identical to those used by the Bush administration in Iraq, as if Pol were their model. The American Psychological Association and Psychiatric Association prohibit members from participating in coercive interrogation. Courts of law do not admit testimony submitted under torture, which is euphemistically called “enhanced interrogation.” This can more honestly be called unlawful, sadistic brutality — all of this in the good name of the United States. This is more than a matter of politics, ethics or law. It is a violation of civilization itself. No other subspecies has ever engaged in behavior as heinous. The only way that we can begin to rehabilitate our image is to turn over the perpetrators to the International World Court for trial. Beginning at the top.
FRED H. WRIGHT, Ph.D
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Webb reason cited in bonuses vote
Gerald Webb is the only member of the Erlanger board of trustees who recognized how ill-conceived, disingenuous and secretive the move was to give bonuses and raises to the top management team. He voted against the move. He should be commended! I guess most of us know someone who has faithfully and competently worked and exceeded job expectations for many years at Erlanger, only to see benefits cut, vacations cut and no raises for years so that Erlanger can pull itself out of a hole. Now this insult to the employees by the board and upper management. Thank you, Gerald Webb, for being a voice of reason and thoughtfulness on the Erlanger board.
MARIAN STEFFNER, Chattanooga