Tumor Clinic thanks Days Inn for housing cancer patients
This is a letter of gratitude from the Chattanooga Tumor Clinic to Days lnn Rivergate for its service to cancer patients in our community.
Our clinic provides care to patients who often live a great distance away. Daily visits put a tremendous financial and psychosocial burden on them and their families in an already stressful situation.
Through a discounted rate, we have been able to provide housing for these families at Rivergate since 2010.
Employees go out of their way to meet the needs of our patients with a wonderful and safe place to stay. A special thanks to Robert Cohen, director of sales, Steve Suggs at the front desk, and Nancy Everett, in billing and reception – an exceptional group of people. I thank all of you at Days Inn Rivergate for giving back to our community.
Dr. Frank Kimsey, Chattanooga Tumor Clinic
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Photos don’t lie; space unused
What is a veteran? The dictionary defines it as a former member of the armed services. It doesn’t tell much, nothing about having your legs or arms blown off, being burned or years of rehab and hospital stays, nothing about the oath you swear to – that you will defend and give even your life for your country.
The veterans of Chattanooga and the surrounding area are asking for one-tenth of an acre to build the Charles H. Coolidge Heritage Center in Coolidge Park. We are asking for 4,000 square feet out of a total of 566,280 square feet of the park. The site is across from the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, a small site no one uses. How do I know? A camera was set up for 17 hours, and only one person passed in that amount of time. Each weekend, I snapped pictures of the site and sent them to the City Council; no one used it or was in the picture.
I don’t think any of the “don’t give up the green space” people has ever had the privilege of defending that small amount of land.
Vincent J. Patterson, Signal Mountain
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Will Trump enable rich to get richer?
On Aug. 22, the newspaper noted Gov. Haslam, “the richest elected official in America,” has stacked the deck on the Underground Storage Tank and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board. Consumer advocates have been replaced by industry advocates, who have eliminated industry involvement in paying for toxic spills at gas stations and truck stops.
We, sales and property taxpayers of this state, now will cover it. However, we do not have quality control over these tanks. Our only involvement is paying for the industries’ mishaps that industries now have no financial incentive to prevent.
The Hall Tax enacted in 1929 is being phased out by our Republican monopoly on power, as state taxes have been on large estates. Thus, the Haslam, Corker and Alexander families are basking in increased wealth. Why do we, the average working people in this state, give them the power to do this?
Trump has promised to lower taxes, too. So does this man who has never known a day of shortage (that couldn’t be solved by bankruptcy) offer taxpayers a better deal than the one Haslam has already dealt Tennessee?
Lucy W. Taylor
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Trump gets the nature of Muslims
Some Muslims say terrorist groups have hijacked Islam. They show disgust at those they say are bringing Islam to disrepute. How can a Muslim hijack his own religion? Mohammad himself said, “Islam alone has been granted the truth. It is the sacred duty of all Muslims to bring Islam to all humanity. Muslims must strive, fight and kill in the name of Allah.”
Islamic radicals are the truest believers in the faith of Islam since they are the only followers of what the Quran itself commands them to do – force infidels into conversion, terrorize and kill those who do not believe.
Muslims hate Western societies because they are disbelievers. Radical Islamists by and large have come to power when no one is willing to oppose them at home and abroad.
Donald Trump understands the true nature of Islam. He does not want to remain silent to demand total loyalty of all Muslims and refugees from the Middle East. He demands rightfully and lawfully the difference between those who value freedom and those who do not.
Amos Taj, Ooltewah
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Harwell dogged on campaign trail
Recently in Nashville, House Speaker Beth Harwell, uninvited, goes into a private yard, up the steps and knocks on the door. The family dog, aroused from its slumber, instinctively protects the home against the threats of intruders and political busybodies.
Speaker Harwell throws up her hands, as she did on repeated notices of Jeremy Durham’s unwanted philandering. The dog, recognizing the threats, bites Harwell several times in protection of home and family pocketbook.
There’s no word whether Harwell has apologized to the dog and its family. The dog has not yet decided to sue for physical and emotional distress caused by Harwell’s actions.
Three things I hope result:
1. The dog doesn’t get rabies. Authorities are seeking confirmation that Harwell’s shots are current.
2. The dog gets extra treats, hugs and sofa privileges. It should get recognition in the state legislature as “Defender of the Family” and lifetime benefits, just like legislators.
3. It’s not necessary to put down Harwell, but she should be placed on the “dangerous politicians” list with the warning if it happens again, it’s euthanasia for her.
To the canine defending its home and family, I can only say, “Good dog!”
Stephen Greenfield, Cleveland, Tenn.
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Given the choice, Trump easy pick
To those who plan not to vote for Donald Trump, but for a third- or fourth-party candidate: It is my opinion this is a cop-out.
Realistically, we will have either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton – clearly not the best of choices to some – as our next president.
I (one of the “Basket of Deplorables”) personally have an easy choice between these two, and it is Trump. I think he will do a much better job of protecting our nation and restoring some stature for America in the world.
Looking back over Hillary Clinton’s past and current performance, I believe it would be disastrous for this nation to have her as a president!
Grady B. Nichols, Signal Mountain
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Choose ‘flawed but prepared’
This presidential election is without precedent. We have two candidates. One is flawed and prepared; the other is flawed and unprepared to be commander in chief.
Trump says Vladimir Putin “has done an amazing job as a great leader!” Granted, it’s amazing Putin would “saber rattle” using Russian planes to buzz U.S. ships in international waters and invade Ukraine and Georgia to impose his will. This does not make a great leader.
Trump insults U.S. media on Russian television, uses profanity unequaled in public forums, lied about charitable donations and would go to war by “blowing Iran’s boats out of the water” if they came close to ours.
The Wall Street Journal, not The New York Times, editorialized that “Donald Trump is a psychopath.” His plans to defeat ISIS sounds like Nixon’s “secret plan” to end the Vietnam War. Humphrey pleaded with Nixon, to no avail, to release it to the Pentagon to save American lives.
It’s sad, but I am reminded of what Robert La Follette said about one of his opponents, “He is like the Platte River – two miles wide at the mouth and three inches deep.”
Wilbourne C. Markham Sr., Signal Mountain