Some better off keeping quiet

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Friday, January 1, 1904

Some better off keeping quiet

One thing I learned very early in life was to never argue politics or religion. Because if you do, you will find out just how stupid some people really are. To prove my point, read some of the letters to the editor and the Rant column. Some of the letters and comments are so idiotic they don't even deserve the ink you use to print them. In fact, some of your editorials come off half cocked as well.

People are going to believe what they want to no matter how much convincing you try or how many facts to the contrary to their beliefs you present them with. You are not going to change their minds once they have set themselves to believe things are or should be a certain way. The statement "It is better to keep your mouth shut and have people wonder if you are stupid, rather than to open it and prove them right" really applies.

RICHARD A. SHANKEN

Rocky Face, Ga.

Genocide hints offensive, horrible

As the organizer of the counter-protest against The Genocide Awareness Project at UTC on Tuesday (Sept. 13), I feel that our views have been misrepresented by Wednesday's front page article.

Yes, many of us who were holding signs are pro-choice; however, this was not the intent of our protest.

The main objection to the signs used by GAP was their use of the word genocide. There is no equivalence between the Holocaust, Rwandan, and Cambodian genocide and the photographs of aborted fetuses. The insinuations are greatly offensive and horrendous.

Did they not consider every woman on UTC's campus who has had an abortion having to see this graphic display directly across from a dining facility? Not only would this be a humiliating and an emotionally destructive process, but then these women are demonized by being compared to Hitler's Third Reich.

Many students who told us they were pro-life signed our petition expressing disgust toward the display's exploitation of history to meet their political agenda.

In all, 544 people signed our petition, including students and faculty. We do not question their right to free speech, nor did we tell them to leave, but we have major problems with the methods used.

BLAKE WOOD

Stop interferring in others' lives

My own wrath was incurred when I read the article headlined "Blue Cross' push for diversity incurs wrath" (Sept. 8).

Does David Fowler think being gay disqualifies one from having insurance? Does every business that does any kind of transaction with someone who is gay need to report immediately to David Fowler?

Jesus continually challenged his society by relating to those folks considered most unacceptable. He told those who brought the woman taken in adultery: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." He went into the homes of those hated and despised. The only time I can recall his getting really angry was when the temple was being misused to sell sacrifices at inflated prices.

It would appear to me that some of those who clamor loudest about big government and getting government out of our lives are the ones who most want to interfere in the lives of others.

KATE STULCE

Ooltewah

'Arboretum' says nothing

What would you think if all of a sudden "Callaway Gardens" became "Pine Mountain Arboretum"? "Reflection Riding" is now "Chattanooga Arboretum".

I am a native Chattanoogan and always looked forward to walks at "Reflection Riding" when I came home for a visit. It is a special place to me that I have enjoyed for years.

The name "Reflection Riding" gave it such a distinctive, beautiful description. It is one man's gift of a natural reflective garden for all to enjoy. "Chattanooga Arboretum" says nothing! Absolutely nothing!

HARRIETT MARSHALL

Copper Saddle River, N.J.

All come together for successful sale

On behalf of the Friends of the Library, I'd like to extend my thanks to all those who worked together to make our recent used book sale a success. Their efforts enabled us to raise approximately $21,000, which will help provide programs for both children and adults and offer support services for all four of our Chattanooga public libraries.

Three groups deserve special recognition:

  1. The volunteers who worked both at the sale and behind the scenes, spending many hundreds of hours putting this sale together and ensuring its success. Without their combined efforts, this sale would not have been possible.

  2. The management and staff of Eastgate Town Center. They did everything possible to make us feel welcome and support our efforts.

  3. The customers who came in heat or rain -- some traveling many miles -- to purchase books. We continue to be most grateful for their ongoing support for our efforts.

It has been said that it takes a community to raise a child. It also takes a community working together to promote the services of our library. For all those who participated in whatever capacity -- thank you.

MARY ALETA WORD

Volunteer Coordinator

Why not require photos on licenses?

I've not lived in Tennessee my whole life, but I have held a driver's license since I was 16 years old. For at least the last four decades, the states issuing those licenses have required a picture on them. When my wife recently renewed her Tennessee license, she was informed that because of her age, she could elect to have them use the same picture as on her previous license, or she could opt for no picture at all.

It seems that even our elderly elected officials choose to have no picture; Chattanooga Councilman Jack Benson complains that this will keep him from voting since the state Legislature passed the voter ID statute that goes into effect next year.

The question I would like to hear answered is this: By what logic does Tennessee law not require a picture on the licenses of people over 60 years of age?

A valid picture ID is required of anyone for airplane travel these days. Arguments given for allowing people to vote without proving who they are by means of a valid picture ID are unconvincing.

RONALD KOHLIN

Soddy-Daisy