Tell whole story on Michael Brown
I have always loved the editorial page and have written many letters, but I was rather offended when I read the editorial on “tough love for police means seeing respect as a two-way street.”
The writer did just as the lawyers for Michael Brown’s parents have done — forgot to mention that Michael Brown only moments before being shot had committed a felony at the tobacco store by robbing and assaulting a very small clerk who was trying to stop him from stealing cigars without paying for them.
Why not also mention the fact that was verified by several black witnesses — that Mr. goody, goody two shoes, Michael Brown, also attacked the officer by reaching into his squad car and punching him several times? Also the fact the officer was trying to do his job and now may not ever work at it again.
It’s nice that you print the stories, but please write the whole story.
Terrill Newton, Jasper, Tenn.
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Respect is earned, not presumed
I’m not so sure that the blurry line between respect and propriety is really so blurry.
Without specifics, the David Cook piece, “Respect is Always the Most Important Value,” makes clear that the priest in question erred in his remarks and was called out for it by a plucky young girl.
When one stands before a group, a class or any gathering to present information as this priest did there is an inherent responsibility to be factually solid, truthful and honest.
Respect for proper authority is a cornerstone of civil society but at the same time we are not a nation of robots led blindly by demigods of misinformation and prejudice. The parents’ admonitions to show respect no matter what was the wrong message.
Sometimes we have to stroke the dog from the tail forward in order to make a point. The young girl was right at the time and, now as a senior citizen today, wrong to walk-back her earlier and outspoken assertiveness.
Respect is earned not assumed. Standing up for what is right even in defiance of authority is the responsibility of every educated citizen.
Denny Pistoll, Rising Fawn, Ga.
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Don’t be duped by Republicans
Who pays for most of the medical care in federal and state prisons and local jails? Who pays all the health care costs for inmates at Gitmo? We do.
So it’s not really as if we have socialized medicine, but rather who doesn’t? We know that tax-paid health care works for our military, active or retired as well as VA.
The Republican governor of Tennessee had proposed a program for Medicaid in the state, but other forces won out. How long will this dead horse be kicked? How long can you be duped?
If it were up to the party you keep voting for, there would be no Social Security. Many opposed it when it was first enacted. They still want to privatize it today.
I guess when that campaign starts up again the ads will run calling it “Obama Security.” Give me a break!
George Duncan, Rossville
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Where is the real children’s concern?
In response to a recent letter writer on guns and the detrimental effect they have on the lives of children, with 28,000 reported killed between 2002 and 2012: I would say if children are really our concern, then let’s address the two biggest threats to their existence.
Already this year, nearly 250,000 have been lost to abortion and an average of 1,200 per year — 120,000 in 10 years — are killed by alcohol abusers. Why don’t the letter writer and others fight for more regulations in these areas?
Is it really the lives of children that matter or is it some political agenda that divisively pits the left against the right?
The letter writer clearly has gun control in her sights but, if children are the real concern, when will she and others quit ignoring the more serious threats?
Joey Kelly, Ringgold, Ga.