The YMCA is a facility our population can use to improve and keep healthy, but it is far more than that. It is a place where Chattanoogans meet and mingle together. There are activities for all ages - babies to seniors, people with different stages of disabilities, preschool children, and men and women participating together.
I've seen families in the pool, the daddy teaching his child to love the water. I've seen team sports being played and those children making friends with all colors and shapes. There are activities like lunches to let Y members visit with each other. I hear constant encouragement between friends and strangers. I only stress the mixture of ethnic members because when I moved to Chattanooga with four children in 1962, the Y was segregated.
Chattanooga is lucky to have such a place to both keep our bodies exercised and healthy in an affordable and beautiful facility. One is surrounded there by warmth and welcoming friendships. It is available to all.
M. Skip Stevens
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You might think it's OK, or ...
You might think it's OK for the Tennessee legislature to prevent local governments from banning certain plastics.
You might think it's OK for the Tennessee legislature to make it difficult for felons who've served their time to get their voting rights back.
You might think it's OK for the Tennessee legislature to push the use of vouchers that leave struggling public schools behind.
You might think it's OK for the Tennessee legislature to try to fine groups that help people register to vote (HB 1079 and SB 971).
You may think all of this is OK.
But I don't think it's OK.
Move forward, not backward, Tennessee legislature.
Kerry Lansford
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Most cyclists obey traffic laws
The editorial on April 1, titled "People Who Like Bikes," which seemed to advocate road rage toward cyclists was, to my dismay, not an April Fool's joke. In it was written, "If you've ever become furious over Chattanooga's largely bikeless bike lanes or wanted to punch a bicyclist for not obeying traffic laws, Australia might be the place for you."
The editorial goes on to mention how 55 percent of Australians, according to a study, consider cyclists to be "not completely human." Then a list is given of ways motorists have harassed cyclists there, including but not limited to throwing things at them.
Yes, some cyclists disobey traffic laws; so do some motorists, truckers, and motorcycle riders. Should we punch them as well? Force them off the road? Sadly, this generalized attitude towards all cyclists can lead to serious injury or even death. Most cyclists I know obey traffic laws and simply want to have a good time exercising. Yet, I and my friends have been harassed on numerous occasions, simply for legally riding on the road. So ask yourself: Who then is less than human?
Jean Paul Vaudreuil, Ooltewah
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Ignore abortion; look to gun crime
If you lived next door to a family that chose to have an abortion, you would never even know about it unless they told you. Yet, if a bullet goes through your front door and kills someone in your home, you face an immediate crisis in your home and beyond. Politicians seem to be more focused and exerting more energy to create stricter laws to make it even harder to get a legal and safe medical procedure while ignoring opportunities to create laws to help lessen the acts of gun violence and save precious lives.
In the U.S. in 2018, according to the Gun Violence Archive, the number of people shot was 61,910. Of that number, about 37,660 died, nearly two-thirds from suicide. That's about 103 people a day, every day for a whole year. Politicians, please stop trying to defeat Roe v. Wade and start paying attention to what is right in front of you. Leave the private reproductive health choices that families make alone and start creating a safer environment for all.
Linda Andrews, Signal Mountain
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John McCain not the pillar he seemed
To the recent column writer who is a veteran, thank you for your service. As a veteran myself, I am honored you served in combat.
About your Saturday commentary on John McCain ("Not my kind of guy"), the only reason you now recognize his hero status is because it denigrates Trump who, like Clinton, Obama and Biden also, never served. Did you support McCain in 2008? Doubtful.
A little more research reveals the truth about McCain, who was an arrogant, selfish, RINO jerk.
Parlaying his family legacy, McCain was appointed to Annapolis, graduated in the bottom 1 percent of his class, then went to flight school. He was described as cocky, a "punk," and his judgment as an aviator was highly flawed. McCain had no business in any cockpit, as his record showed.
Sen. John McCain's most despicable act was as a member of the Senate Select Committee on POWs & MIAs, when he defiantly suppressed all efforts to find facts related to the hundreds left behind. Why? Because he had something to hide, although there were many other political reasons.
Because he suffered as a POW, John McCain deserves to rest in peace. God Bless all POWs, especially the men who never returned!
Warren Daniel
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Howard's LeAndrea Ware setting example
LeAndrea Ware is an inspiration to youth. She has worked hard to help them advance to higher education. If more people channeled their interest into black youth as she has done, the culture would be in better shape.
Sadly "Black Lives Matter" wants to make money off racism. The NAACP is stuck in the past, wanting to take down statues. An NFL quarterback took a knee over what he viewed as police brutality. None of the above was helping the culture's youth.
"Black Lives Matter" could go into the schools to encourage youth to stay in school and stay out of gangs. The NAACP should have its focus on the future and not be stuck in life 150 years ago. The quarterback, rather than taking a knee, should respect the flag and country, which gave him the opportunity to earn a big salary, and should be involved with the youth and their sports. If he has a chip on his shoulder against the police, then ride with them and help them out.
LeAndrea Ware, on the other hand, has earned respect from her peers for her hard work and success with her job as principal.
Hazel Steel, Cleveland, Tenn.
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Choose happiness, not hate and anger
I recently witnessed a confrontation between a man and a woman. She raised her voice and warned him to leave her alone. He stormed away, flipping her off. Is this symbol so commonplace we don't realize the blend of hatred, anger, defiance and frustration it represents?
Thoughts become words: The previous incident came on the heels of the televised Tennessee at Ole Miss basketball game. At one point, many irate Ole Miss fans started chanting two swear words. I sat in shock, and my husband muted the volume.
Words become actions: People swear, condemn and judge others daily without considering the effects.
What we think and what we say become our character, and our character becomes our destiny. Life is often filled with sadness, sorrow and heartache, but we must remember it is also filled with joy, peace and love. If we vow to replace each curse with a word of encouragement, of forgiveness, of friendship, how much happier would our world be?
We can choose to be angry, or we can choose happiness. In my opinion, life is too precious to waste our breath on words that belittle and demean others. What's yours?
Sue Barrott, Soddy-Daisy
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Regressive moves; now crowded I-24
City leaders are concerned about I-24 traffic. They should have thought about the traffic before changing McCallie, M.L.King, and Bailey flows.
A lot of the vehicles would not be on I-24 if they had four lanes east and west. M.L. King from Georgia Avenue to Central is one lane each direction.
Parking was added west of Palmetto, but who can park on a meter and go to class? UTC housing would have been built regardless of traffic flow.
Every time they try to be progressive, it always becomes regressive.
Jim Ellis