Hanson commentary incites anger, hate
Victor Davis Hanson's commentary in the June 19 Times Free Press left me saddened and angry. He resorts to inane political whataboutism to exacerbate emotion-charged prejudices.
Mr. Hanson uses many words to present a totally empty argument. He uses his politicized opinions as response to his questions about indictments of recently investigated individuals.
Mr. Hanson asks why not indict other people investigated by the DOJ? He politicized this question by stating that prosecutor Jack Smith indicted Donald Trump and Walt Nauta. The answer to his politicized questioning is simple. They were not indicted by Smith; they were indicted by a grand jury composed of American citizens.
Andrew McCabe was not indicted by the grand jury that heard the evidence presented by Trump administration prosecutors. The wisdom of that grand jury was subsequently verified by further evidence that he had done nothing wrong. This was born out when the DOJ settled the lawsuit brought by Mr. McCabe by reinstating his status in the FBI and fully restoring his retirement benefits.
It is disheartening to see people like Mr. Hanson inciting anger and hate by presenting ridiculous yet credentialed opinion in newspapers. In this process, Mr. Hanson attacks our system of justice as nothing more than a tool for political strong-arming.
Robert Landry
Alternatives to the name 'The Bend' suggested
I saw the recent article reporting that developers of the southward extension of Chattanooga's Westside have named the project The Bend. I suggest this is a very bad idea.
"The Bend" is Moccasin Bend on the other side of the Tennessee River, one of the most important national parks in America and ultimately, permanently, the most important economic and tourism resource of Chattanooga. It has been the center of human life in Chattanooga for more than 10,000 years. Confusing the residents and visitors by applying the name to commercial and residential development on the other side of the river is no good.
Surely, there is a more original and relevant way to describe it: "Across From The Bend," "The Other Bend," "South Bend," "Near The Bend," "Wish It Were The Bend," or more constructively, "The Gateway," "The East Shore," "The Left Bank," "The Foundry District" or "The Heritage Corridor."
But not The Bend, please.
Major McCollough
Lookout Mountain
Boost immigration; pass Lift the Bar Act
To celebrate our nation's independence, we should remember our nation's history and honor our patriotic symbols for what they are, such as the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty stands as a beacon of hope and welcome to those who seek refuge and safety. Unfortunately, many have forgotten what Lady Liberty and our nation stand for today.
Some leaders look only to create divisions across the country and in our communities by subjecting immigrant families and children to inappropriate, undeserved barriers. These measures hurt our communities, our economy and our country.
Our elected officials should look to the example of Lady Liberty to protect immigrants with legislation like the registry bill and the Lift the Bar Act, which could help boost immigrant families and create a better future for all of our children.
This is an opportunity for bipartisanship in Congress. This is long overdue and is critical to our community and country.
Stephany Slay-Butler
Religious opinion voices should vary
It's hard to know how broad an objection to make to the CrossPoint column in the Sunday, July 2, paper. Week after week, we observe that only conservative viewpoints are expressed by various religious columns. Yet what caught our attention this week was from a mental health perspective: the conclusion that unless a person is grounded in the writers' view of God, any form of therapy was not just futile, but actually harmful.
As retired clinical social workers, we were trained to view any religious beliefs a client held as a strength to bring to our work together, not a prerequisite to making improvements, unless such beliefs actually hindered their ability to make changes. What could be more harmful to someone than thinking that a certain religious viewpoint is necessary. This is not a caring, compassionate reflection of a God who loves all of God's creation.
Just as we appreciate that the Times Free Press is careful to offer varied views on your opinion pages, we recommend that you offer the same for religious voices.
Lynn Hodge and Barbara Seals
Signal Mountain
We must pass a law to balance high court
The Supreme Court is running amok, and it's past time we got it under control.
In the year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, abortion has been effectively banned (with extremely limited exceptions) in 14 states. Nearly one in three Americans has lost access to abortion care.
This year, the Court overturned access to clean water, affirmative action in college admissions, and student debt relief for millions of middle- and low-income borrowers.
On top of that, the ethical crises keep piling up. We've seen Republican mega donors footing the bill for Clarence Thomas's vacations, mortgage payments and tuition; Samuel Alito taking dinners with conservative anti-abortion activists and accepting a lavish vacation from someone with business before the court; and Neil Gorsuch selling property to an executive that has business before the court just days after his lifetime appointment was finalized.
Congress must stop the right-wing majority on the Supreme Court. The only way to do that is to restore ideological balance to the court by adding four more seats.
I'm urging our legislators to stand up as a governmental body and rein in this illegitimate Court by passing the Judiciary Act.
Delfina Rose
TFP, look closer at photo details
I'm sure all the fun-loving hate-triots enjoyed seeing a picture of the Confederate flag disguised as a doo rag on a horse's head in the June 29 edition of the TFP on page B4.
I thought TFP had better values than that. How disappointing. Can you explain why you decided to go with that photo? I want to make sure I'm not supporting a racist enterprise.
Ken Taber
Ensure our future; end book removals
I'm a plain old guy with most of my years behind me. I grew up as the child of immigrants and was educated in a public school system encouraged by a family that valued education. Books were treated as key assets. My parents came from czarist Russia, which obviously formed their appreciation for freedom. If my parents saw what we are currently experiencing, they would not understand. They would be angry and frustrated with their inability to get their feelings heard.
I am here to make sure their message is heard loudly and clearly: Education is our collective future. Books are a key element of the process we know as learning. Tomorrow cannot be served by removing books from schools and libraries.
I do not, and I am certain our parents would not, understand the goal of attacking our teachers and libraries by some in our community. My parents had a saying in Yiddish that roughly translates to "all kind of deranged people." To be more diplomatic, I would characterize those folks as grossly and illogically misdirected.
Teachers and libraries need to be encouraged and promoted. They are the reason I consider myself to have become a successful member of our community. Join me in making sure this is being heard.
Irv Ginsburg