Families urged to enjoy, value wonders of wilderness
In response to the Chattanooga Times commentary, "Celebrating America's Wilderness" in the Oct. 6 edition, I am proud to know that not all families have given into the corporate gimmick provided by the entertainment industry.
My parents never liked crowds, and for so long I was angry at them for not providing me the ideal vacation in the world of Disney.
So many kids live their lives behind tablet and iPhone screens, and I appreciate that someone realizes that you can't put a filter on God's great wilderness. There are some sights that cameras can't justify. I'm glad there are families still making time to instill a sense of pride in nature in their children.
MEGAN MONTGOMERY
Ebola spending out of whack to health threat
U.S., state and municipal health authorities are working overtime and spending millions of dollars to stem the spread of Ebola, which has killed just one person here. Where is the comparable effort to stem the spread of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases that kill 1.4 million Americans annually and are linked conclusively to excessive consumption of animal products? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, that's 23 times the number killed by all infectious diseases combined, including AIDS, hepatitis, blood poisoning and intestinal infections! Apparently, our society tolerates this massive assault on our public health because meat, dairy and egg products have powerful champions in Congress. Bacteria and viruses have none. Yet, each of us can take personal responsibility for our own and our family's health by reducing, then dropping animal products from our menu. Fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains contain all the nutrients our body requires and are touted by leading health authorities. Lots of websites provide helpful transition tips.
TRISTAN BELL
Library director took corrective actions
Kudos to David Cook on his "Oh the Places You'll Go" column, shedding light on the many positive changes made under Corinne Hill's leadership at the Chattanooga Public Library. Library use and access to computers in neighborhood branches have increased, library memberships have been extended to all Hamilton County students and their families, and many more advances have been made since the facility was deemed "irrelevant and visionless" by a library consulting firm just three years ago. The lack of guidelines and oversight repeatedly mentioned in Joy Lukachick Smith's reporting on the library have been addressed by the library board, reimbursements paid, checks and balances put in place, and lessons learned. To Ms. Hill's credit, she has been forthright in dealing with all questions. As a member of the Friends of the Library, whose mission is to enrich the community through promotion and support of the library, I am extremely proud of the way our library has evolved. I am looking forward to many more offerings to the community.
JEANNE B. BRICE, Hixson
Promote women's care so pregnancies fall
I fear voters may be confused as to the impact of Amendment 1. It is one thing to be opposed to the idea of abortion, but to jeopardize the life of a mother and her unborn child in the hope to save the life of an unborn child at any cost is very dangerous. I fear physicians and medical personnel may be reluctant to provide treatment for both mother and the unborn for fear of prosecution if such a law passed. Why are we still debating the rights of women to make decisions regarding their own care and the care of their unborn child? History shows taking away the right to legally get proper care in such matters will not eliminate abortions. It will just put the practice in unsafe environments and back alleys. I would prefer we put our focus on health care for females of child-bearing age, instructing them on care and protection of their bodies and eliminating most unwanted pregnancies and abortions. I agree with those who have written expressing major concerns with the proposed amendment and will definitely be voting "no" to Amendment 1.
JANICE COOK, Ooltewah
Obama ignoring threats to United States
Our country is not prepared for an Ebola outbreak. ISIS is on the march around the world. Our economy is in serious decline. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says we need to determine how to cope with climate change. And Obama is trying to figure out whether to use a six- or seven-iron after teeing off on No. 1!
WILLIS CROUCH
Same-sex marriage is unsupportable
If I were a Supreme Court justice, I wouldn't hurry to make a fool of myself, either. The case for same-sex marriage is not, as President Obama says, "irrefutable," but unsupportable. "Equal protection of the laws" doesn't mean laws must treat everyone equally, for all laws discriminate, so without a constitutional amendment forbidding discrimination based on sexual disorientation, same-sex marriage lawsuits are groundless. Even if they weren't, plaintiffs must prove they were denied the protection of a law. Tennessee's marriage amendment doesn't recognize same-sex partnerships as marriages, so the partners cannot be denied its protection because it grants none. But even if the state has to have a rational basis for discrimination, it does. The federal Constitution charges government to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," so federal judges who find irrational the preference of couples who can create posterity over those who can't also find the Constitution irrational. And federal laws recognizing same-sex marriage apply only to federal programs, so they don't override state laws.
DR. BRIAN HALE, Red Bank
Gay marriage inevitable; time to move on
Gay marriage may have been blocked in Idaho, but let's be honest - resistance is futile. Homosexuality is the new racism. Discrimination against blacks used to be the norm, but after the civil rights movement ended, African-Americans had all the rights that whites did. Speaking out against blacks was met with distaste. I honestly believe that five years from now, gay marriage will be the norm, and speaking out against homosexuals will be met with outrage. The energy being directed into preventing same-sex unions should be diverted elsewhere because, whether you like it or not, resistance is futile.
MYRON MADDEN, Collegedale, Tenn.
Don't squander vote; it's your country's future
Last election, Congress had a 13 percent approval rating yet voters re-elected 95 percent of them. Today, Congress has a 10 percent approval. Congress is inept because voters keep re-electing the same people. We have always been told how important our vote is, and if you do not vote you have no room to complain. Look at it from another prospective. If you don't like the performance of Congress, but you re-elect that Congress, don't you think you are just as guilty as the nonvoter? It is entirely up to the voters what happens to our country.
JACK PINE Dunlap, Tenn.