Hammond’s speech still resonating
Sheriff Hammond in a recent speech referred to the shooting of July 16: “What you saw was a perfect example of what is encouraged in Islam.” His assertion is correct. The Quran created the instrument of jihad, laying down the principle for Muslims: “Fight for right and forbid wrong.”
The Quran praises the virtue of jihad against disbelievers. Those who participate in this holy pursuit “with their property and lives” will be generously rewarded in this life and in the afterlife where they will reside in “shaded and evergreen gardens.” Those killed in the cause of the jihad should not be mourned as dead, as they made their contract with Allah: “Allah has bought from the believers their soul and their possessions against the gift of paradise; they fight in the paths of Allah; they kill and are killed and who fulfills this covenant truer than Allah? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with him; that is the might triumph.”
The community’s response is constrained from not offending the sensitivities of Muslims! Sheriff Hammond’s speech, however, is a warning against dangers Islam presents.
Amos Taj
Signal growth needs more exploration
A few years ago, I was flying over Chattanooga on my way to Atlanta. It was dawn, and I enjoyed picking out Signal Mountain’s location, on Walden’s Ridge, in the morning light. What was amazing was I could not tell a town existed under the tree canopy. I hope the same can be said many years from now.
During last year’s election for Town Council, it was difficult to figure out where the winning candidates stood on future growth. The subject was not adequately explored during the forums. Two of our elected officials have since indicated that landowners ought to be able to gain full economic benefit from their property and that property owners should be able to do what they want with their property.
As a sound-bite that may seem reasonable, but for practical purposes in a primarily residential town, is that what we, the majority of single-family property owners, really want? Or do we feel the subdivision regulations and zoning ordinances (including setback and lot size restrictions) should all come together in a pleasant, cohesive and attractive manner? Did we ask our candidates the right questions? Maybe not.
Melissa Cantrell, Signal Mountain
AP, TFP should be ashamed
According to Wikipedia, the origin of newspapers as we understand them can be traced back to the 17th century. I suspect we can trace the origin of unscrupulous newspaper publishers to the same time.
Your Page 1 headline on Monday, “VW pollution scheme killed dozens,” is at best dishonest, at worst actionable. The Associated Press puts together a “statistical and computer analysis,” and on the basis of results, the AP and TFP saw fit to create an accusatory story and headline. The AP cannot name a person killed, not even one sickened by Volkswagen, but goes ahead and accuses the company of murder. All of you should be ashamed. Perhaps the AP and TFP would care to publish the names of whoever came up with this tripe, so that we readers could evaluate their credentials for ourselves.
Mark Twain was surely right when he said, “If you don’t read the newspapers, you’re uninformed. If you do read them, you’re misinformed.”
Ronald Kohlin, Soddy-Daisy