Trump acts require persistent questions
On Sept. 30, 2025, the president of the United States gathered the nation’s highest-ranking military officers and told them troops should use “dangerous” American cities as “training grounds” and that he had signed an order to create a military quick reaction force to “quell civil disturbances.” The rest of his speech could be dismissed as typical Trump — a meandering performance laced with grievances and perceived slights. But the heart of his message was clear and chilling — he believes that Americans who merely disagree with him are enemies.
A president who treats disagreement as treason is not leading a democracy; he is threatening to transform it into something else entirely. That threat should frighten every American — Democrat, Republican and independent alike. I do not believe the millions who voted for him wanted civil war or state-sanctioned violence, yet that is exactly what Trump is promising.
It is now more urgent than ever for journalists and media outlets with access to elected officials to demand answers: Do you agree with Donald Trump? Constituents may be ignored, and officials may try to dismiss or downplay Trump’s words. But if the media keeps pressing, officials will have no choice but to provide a clear response.
The stakes could not be higher. Silence only emboldens these erosions of our democracy. Persistent questioning may be the only way to force a reckoning before words turn into actions.
Andrew Stephenson
Hitler didn’t use violence initially
In response to the writer of last Sunday’s letter, “Don’t Trust Those Who Use Hitler”:
What you fail to mention is how Hitler came into power. He said it himself: “If you lie long enough, eventually people will believe it.”
What does it say about propaganda tactics that Trump lied and lied and lied throughout his entire campaign, convincing people he was going to lower grocery prices, illegal immigrants in Ohio were eating people’s pets, and the Lumbee Indians in North Carolina would be helped. He promised the people in Asheville and the surrounding counties destroyed by Helene that he would help them.
Hitler promised Germany he would restore prosperity and create civil order. Sound familiar? Trump claimed Biden weaponized the Justice Department, yet everything Trump was prosecuted for was legitimate. Look at what he is doing now. He uses Hispanics as his scapegoat, just like Hitler used his hatred of Jews. No, he hasn’t committed massive violence yet, but in the beginning, Hitler didn’t either.
Lynn Mitchell
Youngest children must be protected
The TFP article “What vaccines are necessary for kids?” answered by Dr. Nita Shumaker was informative for the new mom who is overwhelmed by the political debate and unsure what vaccines are really necessary for her baby. The response discussed the decades of medical research and practical experience that goes into protecting children from serious illnesses such as measles, whooping cough, meningitis, polio and more. She noted what is required by Tennessee for entry into child care and school, and suggested the pediatrician can provide the certificates needed. She also noted that the pediatrician is always the best starting point.
I am left with only one question. Who will look after the infant who is too young to be able to receive the vaccine for whooping cough or the one for measles? These are two highly contagious diseases that can have numerous, sometimes even life-altering or deadly results, especially among the youngest. As more parents stopped understanding the dangers to others caused by their self-interest in reducing vaccines, we have seen the measles returning to numerous states in large outbreaks.
Many new parents have never seen someone with polio, so they don’t know how sad it is to see mangled legs on a dear friend who must use crutches for every step. I have. My mother and older brother acquired Hepatitis B and were tired, had muscle aches and were jaundiced for months. Thank God they recovered.
Trust this older American who has seen a lot and doesn’t want to see these remote but serious illnesses.
Sandy Bayles
Signal Mountain
Proper response to Kirk’s killing
In the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, there needs to be a strong response that will not allow for the perpetuation of liberal woke ideology threatening our nation and our liberties. Make no mistake, that assassination was domestic terrorism. The proper response must be firm and unyielding.
› Corporate sponsors: Since big media does not respect we the people, we must take down the names of the sponsors of television programs which demean or belittle things like the Charles Kirk assassination. After getting the names of advertising sponsors, just call them and tell them that you will not buy their product or service as long as they sponsor such programs.
› Antifa: Just as the FBI dropped the full weight of federal power on the KKK back in the 1960s, the same must be done to all violent left-wing organizations which threaten the peace and well-being of our nation.
› Comey/Brennan/Clapper: Those three and their underlings must feel the full weight of federal prosecution like Antifa. Lying under oath, obstruction and official misconduct can never be tolerated.
If we falter in corrective action, what occurred the last four years will happen again with a new generation of leftists.
Ronald Williams
Pass bill sanctioning forced organ removal
Recently, a hot mic captured a disturbing conversation between Chairman Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. They were chatting about longevity that could be achieved through repeated organ transplants and expressed hope in living to be 150 years old. This called to mind the findings of the China Tribunal in 2019, which was chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice, saying “Falun Gong [is] … probably the principal source of organs for forced organ harvesting.” This finding came five years after the Chinese government pledged to end the practice of using the organs of executed prisoners for transplant. However, statistics show that the amount of transplants has only gone up since then, despite having record lows of organ donors.
United Nations human rights experts issued a news release in June 2021 stating, “Forced organ harvesting in China appears to be targeting specific ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities held in detention … based on their ethnicity and religion or belief.” Along with Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans are also persecuted.
As a Tennessean who has practiced Falun Gong for several years, I am hopeful that the Falun Gong Protection Act, Senate Bill 817, which passed in the House in May, will be passed by the Senate. This bill would sanction those involved in forced organ harvesting and limit what these individuals can do in the U.S.
I hope Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty will be part of this effort and co-sponsor the Falun Gong Protection Act.
Jocelyn Spresser
Decatur, Tennessee
On shutdown, thanks to Dems for trying
Last week, our secretary of defense and president stood before an audience of senior military leadership called to attendance for their speeches. After our secretary of defense rambled in Rambo idiom about disregarding rules of engagement and international law, our president presented a highly partisan speech to the apolitical audience identifying half of the American electorate as an “enemy within,” requiring military intervention. That audience itself was made up of men and women of a variety of political affiliations. They put all of that aside as they don their uniforms and swear allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. But not their commander in chief. How absolutely un-American.
Meanwhile, the Congress of the United States failed to vote in the Senate for a continuing resolution for government funding. This resulted in a shutdown. While Republicans blatantly lied with statements that Democrats wanted to provide funding for Medicaid and ACA subsidies for undocumented persons (both illegal in our country), Democrats were forcing an issue to try to protect Republican voters from themselves.
So the pain has started for everybody. Yet it is Republican voters who must experience the pain, and then vote out the Republicans who are causing their pain. Democrats are working to try to avoid them ever experiencing the pain. I doubt the Democrats will be successful. God bless them for trying, though.
Robert Landry
Remember those of us in Hixson, too
As a tax-paying community, Hixson deserves proper street repair and appropriate turn signals on a perpetually congested Highway 153.
Highway 153 is always challenging, and commutes are treacherous. (BTW, yellow traffic lights are an indication to slow down and anticipate stopping, not to speed up.)
BJ’s and Culver’s are welcome additions, but how will the additional traffic these businesses generate be managed?
As a neighborhood that parallels Highway 153, we are used as a cut-through to the highway from Hamill Road. Without regard to residents, cars detour with excessive speed. Cutting five minutes off of drive time is not worth the risk to the families that live here.
As usual, this area’s greed to bring in more revenue comes at a cost of safety and livability for residents. Has anyone seen the new paving job recently completed on Market Street? As welcome as tourism may be, it is grossly unfair that we put on a pretty face for visitors, while those of us who live here 365 days a year are left with unresolved, unsafe issues.
Sarah Schmidt