City parks staff praised for work at Greenway
I would like to commend the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department crew who work so hard every day to keep the Greenway at Spangler Farm looking beautiful.
I have been walking at the Greenway five or six years, and the grounds always look amazing. From the dog run, to the rolling green hills, to the wide-open fields, to the hiking trails in the woods, everything on this 180 acres is clean, pristine and well-maintained. In heat, cold, rain and shine, these diligent workers are out there - cleaning, mowing, trimming, planting, clearing - making this park look perfect.
In my opinion, the Greenway is the most beautiful park in Chattanooga. I want to thank those who work so hard to keep it that way. They do a fantastic job.
REGINA JABALEY
Don't use Bible to justify agenda
I am intrigued by the letter to the editor dated Aug. 20 asking if anyone reads the Bible anymore. It seems to me that the writer should take his own advice. Set aside the fact that Leviticus is likely written as laws for priests and Israelites, my guess is that the writer would have a difficult time abiding by the 76 laws set forth in Leviticus.
Should we check and make sure that all of our elected officials don't have a tattoo (Leviticus 19:28)? Should anyone who is disrespectful of religion (aka blasphemy) be put to death? According to Leviticus this is the case (Leviticus 24:14). Illegal aliens (according to Man's law) are foreigners and should be treated as native born (God's Law - Leviticus 19:33-34). Don't cherrypick the Bible to justify your own agenda.
Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I see this as people being equal among each other.
RICHARD L. DUBE
Cook defended as voice of reason
George Orwell once said: "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it."
Over the past few weeks, I have been truly disturbed by the venom and hatefulness contained in letters about the writings of David Cook. I personally find David to be a voice of reason and integrity in our community. I realize that his point of view can certainly be provocative and I respect anyone's right to disagree, but it seems to me that we have lost the last shred of civil discourse in our capacity to communicate. So many have leveled their aim at David Cook personally while doing a very poor job of expressing the logic of their opposing viewpoint. I can only hope that the amount of bile and mud being slung his way only proves that he is touching all the right nerves in our community. Perhaps the volume of those who rant truly is the harvest of truth. God bless you, David Cook. Keep on sluggin'!
BR. RON FENDER
DA Cox has earned right to put feet up
Mr. DA, Hamilton County has benefited these many years by your service and leadership. You will be missed. This from the dreaded "mother-in-law" who has known something of your dedication and passionate concern for the people of this county. Change your suit and tie for some jeans and flip-flops and "have a good one."
LOU MORGAN, Ooltewah
Beware Dems' spin on carbon
Democrats are working hard to convince the public that regulations to limit carbon dioxide emissions are necessary to avoid economic and ecological catastrophe, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. Of course this is in keeping with Obama's scare tactics on the subject.
The memo from Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, instructs members how to talk about global warming's budgetary impact. The memo details how "disaster relief; transportation and infrastructure; national security and agriculture" will all be affected by global warming, reports the Post. Of course this is a"war" on coal.
"Climate change, if left unaddressed, will both weaken economic growth and impose additional direct budgetary costs on the federal government," Murray wrote in the memo. "As a result, climate change poses an increasing threat to the federal government's already challenging long-term fiscal outlook."
Democratic claims that "extreme weather" was becoming more common as carbon dioxide levels increase have been disputed by scientists who say the data tells a different story.
WILLIAM GODSEY, Crossville, Tenn.
Thurman fires back at Ranter
An Aug. 24 Rant, aka "Coward's Column," said that I thought I could learn to do any job in three months. I think the "ranter" was referring to a comment I made to editors of the TFP after they continued to refer to me as a hairdresser when they never refer to any other elected official's occupation. I still think in three months I could learn to write one column a day insulting and berating individuals I have never met.
The "ranter" mentioned an airline pilot as one occupation I might not learn in three months. Since I know a little bit about pilots as my little brother flies both professionally and for the military, I will agree. However, to say he knows everything just because he has a pilot license is ridiculous. Believe it or not, he calls me occasionally to ask for my opinion and guidance on different issues.
A doctor is another occupation the "ranter" lists. I really would like to be an orthopedic surgeon and specialize in spine transplants. Then I could give a backbone to those who write rants. Maybe then they could write "big boy" opinions where they have to sign their names.
RHONDA THURMAN
Don't take tools away from police
I am not going to comment on the shooting in Ferguson because I do not know all the facts, but I vehemently oppose Ross Douthat's commentary regarding the militarization of America's police departments. I retired after 30 years as a deputy sheriff in Miami. During that time, I taught departments throughout the United States and Caribbean how to deal with both peaceful and violent crowds, and I have participated in the police response to hundreds of peaceful protests as well as every violent outbreak in Miami since 1982. The emphasis is, and always will be, the protection of the lives of all the people involved. Armor, helmets, specialized vehicles and chemical agents go along with training in resolving critical incidents. To say these tools should be taken away is ludicrous. Having been shot at and physically attacked, having stood in front of violent protesters throwing rocks, bottles, feces and Molotov cocktails tells me Mr. Douthat is unqualified to make such statements. The tools used by police departments today are critical to the safety of all the citizens and should not be threatened. If they are used improperly, there is a process to follow to hold the people using them accountable.
ROBERT FUNDERBURK, Cleveland, Tenn.
'Big Soddy Gulf' a premier asset
I would like to thank the leaders of Soddy-Daisy for having the vision to purchase "Big Soddy Gulf." This is another jewel in the natural resources this city has to offer. I have many memories of the gulf, and I look forward to taking my grandchildren there to begin making their memories. As a youth, my summers were spent swimming in one of the many pools. In winter, I hiked and climbed around on the rock formations. In fact, my family roots are planted in the gulf. My grandfather worked in the mines, my great-grandmother lived in the small community above Twin Rock. But this land offers much more than recreation. It is a virtual classroom for studying nature. To quote A. W. Tozer from his comments on Romans 1:20, "Nature is a great teacher and at her feet we may learn much that is good and ennobling."
DON CRAWLEY, Soddy-Daisy