Cook ruined reader’s taste for new Lee novel
I just wanted to thank columnist David Cook for ruining my anticipated reading of Harper Lee’s new novel.
He could have given us a chance to form our own opinions. But no, he just had to help us Southern people, and I quote, “lower our expectations.”
I guess he felt he needed to enlighten us on this not being a sequel or even a prequel, all the while covering it up as “just a suggestion” on how to read the book. He must really believe the myth that we Southerners really are just ignorant.
If he had just stopped there and gone on to another topic, it wouldn’t have set my teeth on edge and killed any pleasure I might have had in reading this book. Here’s a suggestion, David Cook, hit “Your Open Road, Jack.”
Michele Brown, Ooltewah
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Walker County, Heiskell coverage challenged
Sniff, sniff, I smell a rat. Why would the Times Free Press run a story about Walker County and Bebe Heiskell on the front page of a recent Sunday’s paper? With all that’s going on in the world, why is Walker County the most important story that the paper could come up with?
Sniff, sniff, I smell a rat. Why would this story also mention that Bebe comes up for re-election next year and that her opponent could use this against her? Who in Walker County could have this kind of influence?
Sniff, sniff, the smell gets stronger.
Jim Griffin, Chickamauga, Ga.
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Corker misinformed about gun law
Thursday evening, just after the massacre of five military men in Chattanooga, I spoke with Sen. Bob Corker in the Atlanta airport.
I urged him to go back to Washington and fight to have the gun ban on military bases lifted. During the flight home, he must have been talking with an aide because, upon landing, he approached me and said that it was a military policy passed down, and I quote, “through the chain of command” that restricts firearms on base.
He then told me that I did not want Congress involved in setting military policy. At the time, I did not try to argue with him but later researched this and learned Sen. Corker was wrong. It is federal law, not military policy, and can be traced back as far as 1992 under President George H.W. Bush.
The law became effective two months after Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Federal gun law also bans guns on all federal properties in the country, including recruitment stations.
I strongly encourage Sen. Corker to review this law and make the appropriate changes to remove the vulnerabilities of our military personnel at their places of business.
Roger Bartmess, Ooltewah