Rush-hour problems need good solutions
There were a couple of great articles recently about the traffic situation on I-24 through Chattanooga. If laws were enforced to keep trucks in the right lane, the traffic would flow and not back up all the way to the I-24/U.S. 27 split every day. Also, the two on-ramps at Belvoir Avenue and Moore Road should be closed between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. This will keep the trucks coming over the Ridge from losing their momentum coming down the Ridge cut on the east side. It would not hurt to try this to see if it helps improve traffic flows.
Sam Poe
Hammond rhetoric simply alarmism
On Aug. 31, Sheriff Jim Hammond spoke to the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club. Using emotional rhetoric, he depicted Islam as a “social order” of which America must beware. Its ultimate goal, he claimed, is to infiltrate and take over our government and convert us to Islam, using any means to achieve this.
Hammond said he plans to confer with other Tennessee sheriffs to alert them to the dangers of Islam. He ignored the fact the United States has for nearly a century been attempting to force, through war, our political system on foreign countries.
Following the 9/11 attack on New York City’s twin towers, the Bush-Cheney administration fueled anti-Muslim sentiments and fears that legitimized our innovation and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, neither of which were involved in the attack.
As a result, at least 200,000 innocent civilians were killed, and more than 5,000 American servicemen died.
According to Hammond, Muslims are building tax-free Islamic cultural centers throughout the U.S., implying these will be used for nefarious purposes.
With twisted logic, alarmism and prejudice, the sheriff’s speech seems designed to inflame the passions of the ignorant and misinformed.
Chuck Mehan, East Ridge
Planned Parenthood bitter eugenics fruit
Sunday Perspective page writer Mark Defrancesco argues that the clinical services of Planned Parenthood (PP) are indispensable, and attorney Jay Sekulow contends the recently released videos are the last straw in the continued funding of PP with taxpayer dollars. While in my view, the first opinion completely misses the point, to some extent the second one does also.
What is so offensive to so many people, I believe, is the utter casualness and even callousness with which these people speak of what they do. Words like “desensitized” and “dehumanized” come to mind, and for those who know something of the eugenics ideology which gave birth to PP under Margaret Sanger’s leadership a century ago, this attitude comes as no surprise. Despite the innocuous name of the organization, the ideas which are its wellspring easily justify the elimination of those lesser humans whose presence only hinders fulfillment of their progressive vision. The bitter fruit of the eugenics movement is well-documented in the 20th century.
By all means, defund PP. Our tax dollars should never support such evil.
Gary Lindley, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Fort Oglethorpe needs Gray as mayor
It’s time for a change at the top in Fort Oglethorpe city government. We need a mayor we can trust to lead us with truthfulness and integrity. Earl Gray is just that man.
He is a man of the people and for the people. Rhonda L. James and Jim Childs are running for two of the vacated City Council seats and will be great assets to the city. Jim is a hard-working businessman who will bring plenty to the city. Rhonda has spent many years in finance and has strong leadership abilities.
I want to encourage everyone to support these great leaders.
David Betty, Rossville