‘Promises to keep’ at Moccasin Bend
“Whose woods are these I think I know.”
Robert Frost’s poem speaks to the current situation Chattanoogans are facing with plans for rebuilding the mental health hospital on Moccasin Bend.
The woods I know as Moccasin Bend have belonged to various peoples during 12,000 years of habitation.
“We have promises to keep.” The U.S. Congress and the National Park Service agreed that as outdated existing facilities moved off Moccasin Bend, the land would be added to the federally protected preserve, opening the entire lower peninsula as a national park within Chattanooga city limits.
It is ironic that on land where DeSoto’s men carried guns into villages, where Civil War artillery bombarded soldiers, and where slaves and Indians were rounded up by armed men, that we continue to have a violent presence heard from the police firing range.
It is ironic that COVID money is being used as an excuse to build on this land where the tribes experienced loss of life due to white men bringing germs and viruses they had never been exposed to. This funding exempts the state from the usual permitting requirements, reeking of treaties with the people once again being disregarded.
“We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.”
Suzanna M. Alexander
Wildwood, Ga.
Reader appreciates newspaper’s contributors
Times Free Press photographer Robin Rudd, sports writer David Paschall, food writer Andre James and staff writer Andrew Schwartz make opening the TFP each morning a pleasurable and informative experience. Keep up the good work.
Richard Gossett
Vendettas behind arrest of Murphy
Today, I really miss leaders like Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker, Hamilton County Executive Dalton Roberts and the Rev. Dr. Paul McDaniel.
If you saw former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp on the street, he’d stop and greet you. I miss U.S. District Judge R Allen Edgar, the Honorable Curtis Collier and working with former Sheriff Jim Hammond to come up with solutions that would best serve the community.
I want to address an unfortunate aspect surrounding the [indictment] of Police Chief Murphy. It is disheartening to witness how the earlier actions of some individuals have transcended political affiliations and race and led to the destruction of her career in Chattanooga.
Hatred and animosity are sins that have no party affiliation; they reside within the hearts of individuals.
The situation Chief Murphy finds herself in is a stark reminder of the damaging impact hatred can have on someone’s life.
Regardless of political beliefs, regardless of ethnicity, it is important to condemn any actions that seek to destroy the careers and lives of individuals based on personal vendettas.
While it is natural for political disagreements to exist, it is essential to maintain a sense of respect and decency toward one another.
Van Hinton
Murphy protest misguided
What exactly are Black “faith leaders” objecting to in regards to Celeste Murphy’s indictments? Did I miss the part where they are challenging any of the specifics? If the Times Free Press article was indeed accurate and thorough, their entire objection failed to address any of the TBI’s findings as being wrong or unfounded. The article omits if Chief Murphy challenged any of the TBI findings, as is her right.
These faith leaders expect “special treatment” based solely on the color of Murphy’s skin. In doing so, they betray their faith and the law.
In response, District Attorney Coty Wamp exercised tremendous courage with her remarks. All of us would be far better off if more individuals in this country acted with objectivity and spoke with facts instead of emotion. Our country is being torn apart by unnecessary division and rhetoric such as this.
The real question is how did Mayor Tim Kelly miss all of this in his selection process of Murphy? Appears the mayor was checking boxes instead of checking backgrounds.
Robert Holmes
Debate aside, Biden still getting my vote
In response to President Biden’s poor debate performance, we need to go back and make a decision based on accomplishments on the job. In that respect, Biden has delivered measurable and significant results.
The Biden administration has seen offshore jobs return, employment rise substantially and significant improvements in responding to the needs of our military veterans and their families. Working across the aisle, Biden now has a way forward on fixing our highways and much more through the implementation of the wide-ranging infrastructure legislation.
While the debate was less than great, we can take some value from what we saw. The personalities came through loud and clear. President Biden came across as a caring person who has addressed our times effectively and with humanity. His Cabinet has been well staffed, and its support has been key.
While in office Trump, now a convicted felon, delivered constant chaos. His staffing was marked with numerous resignations and firings. His lack of respect for the military is common knowledge. His reaction to international affairs was disastrous. He has assumed the mantra of personal responsibility for taking down Roe v Wade. He did deliver significant tax cuts for his friends — the wealthy.
I will vote for President Joe Biden.
Irv Ginsburg
‘Doddering old man’ will do less harm
President Biden’s disastrous performance in Thursday’s debate demonstrates the stark choice before us in November. We must choose between a doddering old man incapable of fulfilling the duties of the presidency for another four years, and a man of unparalleled corruption bent on subverting our democratic institutions to serve his own ends.
A democratic vote for either will harm our democracy. Biden would probably need to be shepherded through a second term by a shadow government. We would have elected one man, but our true leaders, however well-intentioned, would be unelected and unknown to most of us. But Trump would mount a direct assault on our democracy, with a sycophantic Republican Party serving as his accomplices.
It is a horrible choice, one that every poll shows that most Americans do not desire, yet one we clearly voted for during the primaries.
We must drink the cup we have poured for ourselves. The doddering old man will do the least harm. I will still vote for Biden.
Herbert K. Lea
Not happy about new battery ‘charge’
Our tag renewal notification just arrived. Because we have a hybrid, our fee went up $100.
Our car runs on battery when I back out of my garage and maybe in a parking lot. If I am on the highway, I am gas powered. So, I am now being charged $100 to back out of my garage.
Thanks, Tennessee legislators.
Keith Wilkinson
Red Bank