Lady Liberty’s light needed now more than ever
Dear America,
It’s my 63rd birthday this month. Since it’s my birthday and since I love you, I think I should tell you honestly that I’m not very pleased by what’s happening in my country these days. My fellow citizens – my brothers and sisters – are hurting. There’s so much hatred and selfishness within the land.
Citizens should be cared for when they’re sick without having to worry about financial bankruptcy. They should be able to walk down the street without fear of being struck by gunfire. When our sisters have been mistreated, they should know that we believe them and that our hearts are broken by their pain and that we will stand with them no matter what. When our poor brothers and sisters from other lands come to us fleeing violence or starvation, they should know that we will care for them.
America, you were to be Lady Liberty holding up a torch to light the way for all who were weary and sad and oppressed. All of us need that light, that hope, to see our way forward. Beautiful Lady, please shine brightly on us now.
Rick G. Woodlee, Chickamauga, Ga.
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On Kavanaugh, recall Craft case
People can’t let go of the Kavanaugh issue. Now it seems he just got too mad in defending himself against being accused of gang rape to be a good judge.
Let’s consider: Does anyone remember Tonya Craft, the kindergarten teacher? Her children were taken away, she wound up divorced, lost her job, was ruined financially, and her life was forever altered because three busybody women who didn’t like her accused her of feeling up their little girls during a sleepover.
Ms. Craft was acquitted of all charges, but the damage was done. Her life would never be the same. How mad would you be in her shoes?
Imagine child services knocked on your door and said someone had reported you abusing your children and they were being removed from your home. How angry would you be? How hard would you fight? Would you stand up in the face of those making accusations and defend yourself vigorously, to say the least?
Of course you would, and, of course Judge Kavanaugh did. If he hadn’t, you would say he’s guilty because he didn’t get mad.
Let it go, please. We’re tired of reading your biased opinions.
Taylor E. Cavin, Hixson
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Republicans, choose Bredesen this time
I would urge any Tennessean who might vote for Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate on Nov. 6, to consider these facts:
First, Blackburn in 2016 sponsored legislation that limited the ability of the Drug Enforcement Administration to control the amount of opioid drugs sold to pharmacies. There is a terrible epidemic in the U.S. of opioid addiction, and Tennessee and our region are a major center of this crisis. Many of these addictive pills are sold in small-town pharmacies that don’t sell much else.
Second, Blackburn also has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the nation’s largest drug manufacturers and related political action committees.
In the Oct. 10 TV debate between Blackburn and Phil Bredesen, a former Democratic governor, Bredesen called for bipartisan action on key issues like immigration and gun control. Blackburn repeatedly attacked Bredesen over issues that weren’t his fault, as she failed to answer the questions posed by the debate moderators.
Even if you usually vote Republican, I urge you not to choose Blackburn. If you want to fight the opioid crisis, please cast your Senate vote for Phil Bredesen, who is a respected moderate.
Allen Chesney
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Can’t vote for this Democratic Party
I was raised in a moderate Democratic Party household but have since concluded that if I vote Democratic I am accepting, if not agreeing with, what the party has come to stand for:
» Sanctuary cities, no borders, no wall, eliminating ICE; in essence, free immigration.
» Harassment of administration officials: at restaurants, offices, homes and on the streets, even physical violence.
» Wanting “free everything.” School tuition, medical care, guaranteed minimum “salary” for all, whether working or not. This is socialism, which has failed elsewhere, and is not what has given the USA a great economy.
» Reducing our military in the face of growing threats from Russia and China.
» Treating the Constitution as a document that can be twisted or ignored by liberal judges.
» Reversing the recent tax cuts and raising taxes.
» Accepting the illegal acts of high level FBI and DOJ officials determined to “get” Trump and elect Hillary Clinton while protecting her from her own highly questionable acts.
» Calling anyone who disagrees with their agenda a “racist.”
Actions by today’s Democratic Party are far left, and my departed father would be aghast. I hope today’s moderate Democrats will see it the same way.
Gene Rogers
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Don’t elect, re-elect more Trump trolls
If you don’t like Trump and would like to see his self-centered instincts tempered by Congress, vote for Danielle Mitchell for Congress and Phil Bredesen for Senate Nov. 6.
Republicans like Chuck Fleischmann (Danielle’s opponent) and Marsha Blackburn (Phil’s opponent) are nothing but Trump trolls – part of a new Republican cult that doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Trump … on anything. And, Ms. Blackburn has adopted Trump’s manner of being mean and nasty, insulting her opponents instead of engaging in thoughtful debate on the issues.
Trump is simply unfit to be president.
Examples abound: He simply denies numerous affairs with women and then pays off his accusers. He insulted Dr. Ford when she dared to accuse Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court of sexual assault. He doesn’t read, has a twisted impression of history, lies constantly, etc. And this is the man who Blackburn and Fleischmann carry water for without question.
We need people in Congress to question Trump and oppose him when he’s acting in his own interest and not in the interest of the country. Vote for Bredesen for senator and Mitchell for Congress; oh, and Karl Dean for governor.
Roger Davis, Signal Mountain
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Zagorski’s time up: Execute him now
I’m sorry, Judge Sotomayor, I do not agree with you.
Back in 1984, Tennessee death row inmate Edmund Zagorski did not give his two victims a humane death – he slit their throats after he shot them.
He’s been on death row for 34 years … with, as a friend once said, “three hots and a cot!”
Execute him, already!
Debbie Pataky, Lookout Mountain, Ga.