The collective good that defines Chattanooga
My family and I wish we knew and could acknowledge by name each and every person — there were many — who came to the rescue of our 12-year-old granddaughter following a medical emergency at the Chattanooga Market on July 2.
After her sudden collapse, we were surrounded by people, both professional and not, who knew how to help and immediately jumped into action. As one would expect, the initial situation was frightening and uncertain, but the unhesitating calm and competence of Erlanger's Dr. Katye Herring (just there to do her Sunday shopping), the Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County EMTs was immeasurably compassionate and reassuring. Not to be left out is the wonderful vendor who cleared her tent so our granddaughter and those assisting her were at least shaded while waiting on an ambulance.
We are left with a deep sense of gratitude for those who ensured our grandchild's full recovery and an equally strong sense of optimism that, despite so much discouraging if not bad news, Chattanooga is full of remarkably selfless individuals who never hesitate when they see a need.
Marty Robinson
Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Schwartz commended on exposé on bishop
Kudos to TFP reporter Andrew Schwartz for providing the latest article on Bishop Stika. The article was thorough, meticulously covered and comprehensive.
Your interviews were extensive, and a tremendous amount of effort was put forth to bring this story to light.
As a reporter, you are to be commended on the quality of your work.
An excellent piece of investigative journalism.
Patty Campbell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
What are Palestinians to do amid terrorism?
Israel's most recent invasion of the Palestinian town of Jenin that killed 12 Palestinians was horrific.
Here's my question: What are the Palestinian people to do?
Year by year, decade by decade, more and more of their land has been taken by the settlers, land that legally belongs to them. No legal consequences. Settlers burn and cut down century-old olive trees belonging to Palestinians. No legal consequences. Settlers attack, beat and even kill Palestinians. No legal consequences. Innocent people (journalists) are killed by Israeli soldiers. No legal consequences. Houses are demolished. No legal consequences. Businesses are taken or access to them denied. No legal consequences.
I cannot in conscience approve of the violent Palestinian attacks, but I can and do understand them. Palestine is their ancestral homeland. What are the Palestinian people to do? What the settlers want is for them to just pick up and leave, abandon whatever possessions they still have and vanish in the night. Since that is never going to happen, unless under duress and military operations, I repeat my question: What are the Palestinian people supposed to do?
Kerry Lansford
'Balance high court' suggestion dangerous
Last Sunday's letter to the editor, "We must pass a law to balance high court" was not only wrongheaded but quite dangerous.
The recent decisions such as Dobbs, which unfroze a contentious abortion issue and returned it to the states where it belongs; Harvard/UNC, which declared the "equal protection" clause of the U.S. Constitution applies to everyone; and the student loan case, which asserted that the U.S. Congress, not the president, can decide how money is spent are all pro–Constitution.
Folks who want to "pack the court" should realize that our republic depends on a system of checks and balances. A Supreme Court turned into a "Politburo" will be a danger to everyone.
Imagine a U.S. Congress and president who would do anything they wanted. And liberals should remember, that scenario might not be their party.
Ronald Williams
Fight back against religious extremists
I found the recent Page One article on local and nationwide schools blocking plays from being performed very disturbing. This comes on the heels of books being banned at libraries and in schools. Performing arts and literature have historically pushed boundaries and welcomed critical dialogue. It is disturbing because people who have never read the books or seen the plays want them to be banned, or another way of putting it, keeping those of us from seeing them or reading them. The reason? Simply because they "have heard" of questionable subject matter or taken something out of context.
If there is a play or book that you feel contains questionable material, that is an affront to your religious beliefs or taste, don't go, don't read. And if you don't want your child to do the same, then prohibit them from seeing the play or reading the book. Never mind that they can read the book or see the play online.
I would urge school boards, libraries, teachers to stand up to these morality police such as Moms for Liberty who are using intimidation and threats to push their agenda on the larger population. I don't want ill-informed religious extremists making decisions as to what I can see or read.
Rebecca Rochat
Moms for Liberty actions 'tyrannical'
TFP cartoonist Clay Bennett's July 11, 2023, political cartoon will be lost on the members of the political action group Moms for "Liberty."
As obvious as that image is, they will not understand what they are being accused of. Hopefully, however, their supporters might get a new understanding of what the restrictive, tyrannical actions of these moms for "liberty" will mean to our democratic way of life as they force schools and libraries to clear their shelves of books with varying viewpoints and a compendium of knowledge.
Is this really the way to "protect" and "educate" our American children who will be our leading citizens for democracy in just a few years?
Franklin McCallie
Meteorologists: Help expose climate change
Thanks to the TFP for running the recent Associated Press story about meteorologists facing threats for reporting on climate change. As the interpreters and forecasters of local weather, meteorologists are uniquely positioned to help their communities understand how climate change is affecting them.
Though I do not watch the televised weather forecasts, I read the written forecast on my Local 3 weather app nearly every day. Despite frequent record-breaking or near record-breaking weather of various kinds, I don't think I've ever seen one of the meteorologists connect any of these events to climate change.
I greatly value the work of our local meteorologists, particularly during severe weather, and I am aware that it may not be their choice to avoid climate change coverage while on the air. But our community is missing a critical opportunity to understand the particular impacts of global heating on the Tennessee Valley and how we might prepare for more intense impacts in the near future.
L.B. Blackwell
Blackburn's diatribe factless, unhelpful
It was ironic — yet a little sad — that Sen. Marsha Blackburn's diatribe against public education was published on July 4. She trotted out the current GOP talking points that have no basis in fact and, worse, provide no constructive or meaningful alternatives to the real problems facing our schools.
Teachers unions. "Indoctrination" of students. Critical race theory. They are all the boogeymen being employed by the current Republican Party, which has proven to be utterly devoid of sound ideas and thoughtful policies.
The Founding Fathers would be outraged by today's GOP, whose only priority is limiting citizens' rights and freedoms. And, unfortunately for Tennesseans, Blackburn is among those leading the charge. She is an embarrassment and needs to be defeated in 2024.
Frank Maurizio