'Chattanooga Dances' is a moving tribute to performance art and other letters to the editors

'Chattanooga Dances' is a moving tribute to performance art

After attending "Chattanooga Dances" at the Center for Creative Arts, I was moved to write and rave about it. Not only were the dances entertaining, beautiful and inspiring, but the show was a microcosm of the many facets of American dance in one fantastic evening. Featured ensembles were: CCA Project Motion, GPS Terpsichord, Barger Academy, Chattanooga Ballet, Ballet Tennessee and Baylor's Verve. The range of dancers was breathtaking, from elementary age to adult, beginning to professional, performing classical ballet to contemporary modern dance. Instead of competing, these groups of dancers came together to support each other and to celebrate the rich variety of their act. In an age when "entertainment" is cheap and ubiquitous, it was deeply gratifying to watch such committed young artists pour their bodies, hearts and souls into a performance that was real. The experience made me feel proud to be an educator in Chattanooga.

Rebecca Clark, Nolan Elementary


Bradley sheriff better minister?

As a Bradley County voter, I wholeheartedly agree with the editor that we deserve answers from the sheriff instead of misguided rhetoric. I think the sheriff also needs to spend more time learning about the Constitution, specifically when it comes to separation of church and state. If he prefers to pontificate on the tenets of Christianity, then he should find a position in the ministry rather than a public service role.

Steve Barnes Cleveland, Tenn.


Hargis' story on Lott inspirational

I compliment Stephen Hargis, staff writer, for his story about UTC defensive tackle Derrick Lott in the Sports section on Oct. 10. This story is well written and is an excellent example of how Coach Myers and his wife, Carrie, changed a young person's life by reaching out to him. This situation shows what a difference adult guidance and support as well as family participation can make. Today, there are many young people who really don't have a chance to succeed due to the lack of the benefit of a good family life. Hopefully, this story will encourage others to follow the actions of Coach Myers, Miss Carrie and little sister Wesleigh. I enjoy watching Derrick play football, and it is obvious to me he is a fine young man. I look forward to seeing similar stories in your newspaper.

Dillard Edgemon, Ooltewah


Library correctly looks to future

Your recent investigative reports about the library give me the impression of a driver who is only focused on the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror may be an important instrument when the past is your only vision of the future. When I was growing up, radio and newspapers were the way we kept up with what was going on. Today, I still read newspapers and listen to the radio, but think of all the other alternatives I can, and do, access, from computers, tablets, cell phones and Kindles. The Chattanooga Library has become the envy of libraries across the country, and we need to understand why. Under the leadership of Corrine Hill, the library is focusing on the future, and we are seeing how the future is going to look. The focus on getting younger people engaged and learning is not only admirable but imperative if our community is to grow. We must keep our eye on the road in front of us or we could become a Route 66, a cherished relic of the past, whose partial function may still be there, but not the most effective mode to reach our goal.

Irv Ginsburg


Library books culling lamented

Webster's Dictionary defines a library as "a place in which books and related materials are kept for use" and "a collection of books." I read the article "War of Words" and was shocked to learn of the loss of so many books. Why could these books have not been sold to the public or donated to the many sites that provide help to those learning to read? As a member of more than 30 genealogical societies and an officer in many, I am appalled at this action. For years, we have donated books to the library with the thought they would be invaluable to generations to come. I believe the library director should be made to repay the money that the books cost. More than half the books in our library are gone. I understand there was not even a list of the titles that were destroyed. How could one person have such control as to destroy for future generations that which has been held from the beginnings of our country to be treasures? As an avid reader and genealogist, this upsets me.

Josephine Hill, Ringgold, Ga.


Florida cases offer ugly reality

Recent stories of two black men make all too clear a very ugly reality. One man is a premier quarterback for Florida State. He won the Heisman Trophy. "Football" and much of the media have put him forward as a worthy example. All this in the face of being caught shoplifting and accused of rape. The Florida attorney general arbitrarily and summarily refused to prosecute the rape case, saying no crime was committed. The victim and her attorney continued to insist she was raped. After his favored treatment, the quarterback faces only the college's rules. The other black man was merely a customer in a store. He was looking at a BB gun the store had for sale. A hysterical white customer "profiled" the black guy as a killer with a real gun. The police were called, did their own profiling, which told them they had a killer and a real gun on their hands. Shooting first, asking later, they shot the customer dead. So the black "golden boy" of big-money football gets special government treatment and the black "nobody" gets killed by the government.

Blake Moore


Leave decision to women: No on 1

"Mom, Dad - I've been raped, and I'm pregnant." How would you react to these chilling words? Should the state have the right to force this young woman to carry this pregnancy to term? Dangerous and potentially life-threatening abortions always have been performed, legal or not. Anyone desperate enough to end a pregnancy will do so, even at horrible risk to themselves. The Chinese government has the authority to decide whether or not a woman can become pregnant. We would not tolerate that in America. Or would we? Why is Tennessee trying to make reproduction decisions? The constitution of Tennessee parallels our national constitution in its general format and language, stating rights and privileges of the state's residents. If Amendment 1 passes, it will allow government interference in personal, private medical decisions that are today left to a woman to make with her family, her doctors and her faith. Amendment 1 is about government intrusion into very private decisions. Every personal freedom given away to the government can never be recovered. In the privacy of the voting booth, make your vote count. Please vote no.

Robbie Moore, Hixson


Luther was asset for Chattanooga

I saw Luther at the grocery store the other day. Every other step he took was met with a greeting from the shoppers. He just smiled warmly and spoke. Growing up in downtown Chattanooga in the '50s and '60s gave me a world of blurred racial color lines because of my exposure to Harry Thornton with wrestling, "The Horse Man" John R. late nights on WLAC radio and Luther Masingill with local news. When Luther said schools were closed, it did not matter what the administrators said. We stayed at home that day. He was a positive asset with a kind voice and a loving heart for our town. Luther, rest in peace.

Quenston Coleman

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