Children in same-sex homes fare as well
In response to Julie Baumgardner's column of Aug. 24: I agree with Ms. Baumgardner's advice that women considering becoming single mothers should think carefully about this choice, in part because fathers can make positive contributions to children's development. Nevertheless, I would like to point out a potentially misleading statement in her column: "Research across disciplines shows that children do better when they are raised with their mother and father." While perhaps unintended, the implication of this statement is that research has found children raised by same-sex couples do not fare as well as those raised by a mother and a father. Many professional organizations concerned with children's development, however, have reviewed the research on this question (including methods of data collection and analysis) and have rejected this implication. In short, they have concluded research supports a conclusion that children do as well when raised by same-sex couples as they do when raised by a mother and a father. The list of professional organizations making that conclusion includes but is not limited to the American Medical Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Psychiatric Association and The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
GEORGE HELTON, Hixson
Chattanooga called out for poor roadway
The city of Chattanooga is distinguished to have within its city limit the worst-maintained major traffic thoroughfare in America: Brainerd Road and McCallie Avenue. I'm a native Chattanoogan who believes current city residents are embarrassed by the terrible condition of this important roadway.
SANFORD DOVER, Dalton, Ga.
Money stash called questionable
I can't help but wonder: Why is $82,000 kept in a drawer at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center? That just does not sound right. Is it unreported?
CATHERINE MARTINEZ, East Ridge
Let judicial process work in Ferguson
In his column on Aug. 31, Leonard Pitts posed the question of who cares about Michael Brown's past, specifically in regard to Brown's alleged convenience store robbery moments before his death. Answer: I do, and so should anyone concerned with justice for all parties involved. A person who commits a violent act in one situation is likely to commit violent acts in other situations. This is especially true given the short amount of time that elapsed between the strong-armed robbery and his confrontation with the police officer. It is highly likely that Brown was still in an agitated state when the officer stopped him, which could well have led to Brown's attempt to grab the officer's gun. In general, I call upon the media to stop playing the roles of judge, jury and executioner in this and other highly emotional cases. Please let the judicial process run its due course.
KELLY McKEETHAN
New Testament Says Gays Can Be Saved
I am amazed everyone that writes in refers to the Old Testament regarding gays and lesbians. My King James version has a New Testament, and I would like to introduce a couple of verses that speak about homosexuals. It does not say homosexual but says women with women and men with men. Read Romans 1:21-32, and tell me what Paul means. Also, homosexuals can be saved. See I Corinthians 6:9-11. And they weren't the only ones lost, as you will see. For the gentlemen who said only one verse is used, I have referred him to about a dozen. Refer to 2 Corinthians 13:1, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." There are truths in the Old Testament that still apply today, but the Old Testament ended when Jesus was crucified. See Hebrews 9:15-28.
RAY MILLER, Rossville
Motorists warned on traffic disaster
Over the past few months construction was done at the foot of Lookout Mountain. A small parking area for hikers was redone. It looks great! It has a beautiful granite slab wall, new asphalt, even handicapped parking. Suddenly there also appeared a set of flashing lights and a "yield to pedestrians" sign above the road. Hmmm ... a two-lane road famous for drivers crashing from the overuse of their brakes coming down the mountain, and now drivers coming around a blind curve suddenly encounter a flashing sign telling them to stop? Come on. Who in their right mind decided to do this? Beware pedestrians! Get ready to run for your life! You are now a target. Better be a runner, not a walker. All of us who travel this road need to be well aware of this. What about heavy trucks and tourists who don't have a clue how very dangerous this situation might become? I don't have an answer, but surely it's not yield to pedestrians when your brakes are almost nonexistent from coming down the mountain.
DEBBIE PATAKY, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
AP History Class Offers Insights
Conservative Tennessee legislators are expressing anxiety over what they fear is the "leftist perspective" and "revisionist" bent of the AP U.S. history curriculum (Aug 29). AP U.S. history is a comprehensive and thought-provoking course of study. While it may not cater to the patriotic bias some want taught, it does provide an academically challenging and frank picture of our past achievements, warts and all. Does teaching the ill-treatment of Native Americans, or the segregated and "separate but equal" life under Jim Crow, or the living and working conditions in immigrant slums constitute a "leftist perspective"? Discussions of how slavery could exist where "all men are created equal," or how slavery played into states' rights and Southern secession, or the role of American capitalism in imperialist ventures, do these constitute "revisionism" or are they questions requiring insight and understanding? Actually, the AP U.S. history course develops critical thinkers and expressive writers who can see beyond simplistic pictures of "simpler times" and deal better with the complexities of modern life, which is just as conflicting as the past. Common Core, TCAP, educators' health insurance. Politicians have done enough. Leave the AP program alone.
GRADY S. BURGNER
The Truth Of Jesus Will Set You Free
If you are not a true, born-again Christian (John 3:3, 5, 7), please do not try to tell us what God means in his word. The Bible is like a code book revealed to his people through the Holy Spirit. Revelation knowledge, not sense knowledge. First Corinthians 1:14 states, "But the natural man (not born again) receives not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him -- neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." To know the truth, sincerely ask Jesus into your heart and the spirit of truth (1 John 5:6) will come in, and then you shall know the truth and truth will make you free.
BEVERLY BOWMAN, Hixson
Keep Supporting Vocational training
Thank you, Times Free Press, Commissioner Tim Boyd and staff writer Tim Omarzu for the "Tools for Success" article about vocational education. Keep up support for these important programs! Remember, though, these young people are not fully formed, future employees just waiting for job specific training; they also need help developing job-related skills -- character, dependability, cooperation, self-worth and citizenship. Kirkman Technical High School provided holistic education. It will be a real challenge to give full support to 11th- and 12th-grade students on a college campus. (And, it isn't just Wrench anymore. It is Wrench.1 and Wrench.2.)
JOANNE PHILLIPS, Hixson
Nation Must Return To Moral Compass
God has blessed America because our Founding Fathers used the Bible to direct their paths. George Washington stated, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." A recent letter writer said to not use the Bible to justify an agenda, citing that the book of Leviticus was meant for priests. A clearer understanding suggests it was written for the governing of God's people and the consecration of the priests. I would suggest that all 66 books of the Bible be used. The book of Ezekiel gives an understanding why Christians take seriously their charge to propagate God's laws according to New Testament times. Look at how our country has careened into chaos these past several years; without a moral compass, people will turn to their own understanding. Judges and political leaders routinely scoff at God's laws regarding the definition of marriage and abortion, for example. Yes, America we must see the world in the eyes of Jesus Christ to once again take our place as the leader of a better city and world.
RON RAY