Protect pastors; declare a ‘sanctuary’
Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick is trying to decide how to best protect ministers who refuse to perform same-sex marriages based on their religious convictions in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision legalizing gay marriage. Perhaps he should consider the approach of other government entities:
San Francisco released a repeat felon who already had been deported five times in spite of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment order, resulting in the shooting death of Kate Steinle. The city defends its action by saying that “it’s not their policy” to comply with ICE orders based on the declaration that San Francisco is a “Sanctuary City.”
My suggestion to McCormick is to provide protection to ministers who refuse to perform same-sex marriages against their religious convictions by following San Francisco’s lead. Simply declare Tennessee as a “Sanctuary State” and ignore federal demands that “are not our policy.”
Such a declaration would give Tennessee carte blanche to deter the excessive overreach of the federal government.
Robert W. Reagan, Ooltewah
Help the poor regain their footing
When Jesus said, “the poor you will have with you always,” he wasn’t shrugging his shoulders, implying the problem of poverty is beyond resolution. But our government leaders – both parties – seem resolved to guarantee the poor remain poor.
Liberals propose well-meaning programs that might provide momentary aid, they but mainly succeed in keeping the poor perpetually dependent. Conservatives tend to take the attitude the poor are lazy and unmotivated. Both perspectives are wrong for many reasons. Their “solutions” are failing and have been since the ’60s.
It’s time we – and our elected leaders – started heeding the advice of people in the trenches, those having personal experience in how to truly help the poor and equip them to become productive, self-sustaining individuals and families. One of them is Randy Nabors, pastor emeritus of New City Fellowship in Chattanooga, who endured poverty himself as a boy. His book, “Merciful,” tells his story and the strategy the congregation has used for decades in the inner city, helping not only to meet material needs but also to restore dignity and meaning the disenfranchised so desperately need and deserve.
Bob Tamasy, Hixson
Confederate flag a part of history
I hated the Confederate flag all my life until 10 years ago when I became friends with a Civil War buff.
I always thought the war was essentially two mobs of insane men fighting over slavery. Grant was the big honcho for the North and Robert E. Lee, for whom my father named me, for the South.
That’s all I knew about the war and all I wanted to know. As I studied, I came to Gen. Braxton Bragg and how his army skedaddled off Missionary Ridge when the “blue-coats” overran the ridge in November 1863.
I have lived on this ridge for 75 years and never knew what happened here during those magnificent but tragic years.
It breaks my heart to see people angry at the Confederate flag as I was. I thought only rednecks loved the flag until I read who flew it and why.
The South cared more about invasion than slavery, I promise you. I don’t have the flag on my car anymore. I am afraid, but my Christmas present is to have it tattooed over my heart. Everything about our history is lovable.
Robert Lee Brown