East Ridge police are on the ball
In a day when our police department is in the spotlight, often negative, I would like to share my story.
On Aug. 13, after running some errands, I arrived home to fine someone inside. After calling 911 and giving a description of what the intruder looked like and what he was wearing, East Ridge police were able to apprehend the would-be thief.
I would like to personally thank Officer Chadwick, Patrolman Hopkins, Lt. Ford and Detective Stephenson for making this citizen feel safe again.
MARY BATES
Muslims’ responses to 9/11 lacking
I read the article that tells us that a Mr. Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, was quoted as saying that he “appreciates Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen’s comments this week urging Tennesseans to show religious tolerance toward Islamic beliefs, but he wishes the remarks had come prior to the suspected arson incident at the site of the future mosque in Murfreesboro.”
Hooper went on to say that Bredesen’s remarks were “better than never but still too late.” I would like to ask Mr. Hooper to explain why Muslim leaders and organizations in the United States and worldwide did not come forward during and after the “9/11” attack and cry out and take actions against their radical “brothers” who caused and continue to carry out operations against Americans and our allies.
We have not heard from them because it many cases they either are afraid to speak out against the jihadists or they secretly agreed with what these radicals are trying to accomplish against the Western countries.
Their “silence” has to be due to one reason or the other, perhaps both.
As the old saying goes, “if you’re not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.”
ROBERT WESTMORELAND
Ellijay, Ga.
Use pension funds for more teachers
As the spouse of a public school teacher in Hamilton County, I am especially disappointed in the recent decision by our School Board members to grant themselves a pension, even though they are already paid for their work.
Where will this additional money come from? Is there an unexpected surplus in the budget? Are all the students and classrooms well-equipped? Are all school buildings modernized?
My wife’s teaching load just increased because, she was told, there were not sufficient funds to hire more teachers!
Perhaps not giving unneeded pensions would allow the hiring of more teachers.
Board members who voted this money for themselves should be ashamed — and should resign.
DAN SANSBURY
Don’t make Islamic law the rule for all
I appreciate the exhortation given this week appealing to us as true Americans to join forces in condemning the attack on the dump truck parked at the mosque site in Murfreesboro.
How can we, our president included, become so blind to our Constitution, ideals, laws and the American way of life? Mosques are going up all over Europe, Canada and America. Trends manifesting in the Muslim world today reveal proof of an increasingly militant attitude determined to assert the primacy of Islam in every area of state and communal life.
Western governments are being called up to make the “Islamic Law” the law of the land, to conduct policy in light of Islamic interest and to apply Islam in day-to-day life. The small Muslim minority in America is determined to substitute their values for our values, making Islamic law the rule.
We cannot negate the 19 Muslims who orchestrated destruction, pain and sorrow on 9/11.
We should abhor criminal acts such as 9/11 and the Murfreesboro incident. Remain wise and vigilant lest “the little foxes creep in to spoil the vineyard.”
AMOS TAJ
Ooltewah
Columnist wrong on ‘entitlements’
I read with growing disbelief The Honorable Walter Williams column (Aug. 29) calling for senior citizens to stop regarding their present Social Security, Medicare, etc., as their “entitlement” benefits and to stop their callous disregard of a future’s economic calamity sure to come.
I grew up in France during World War II. And yes, I still think America is the best country in which to live, but not if Mr. Williams has anything to do about it. The Nazis had two solutions for unwanted people, namely deporting them or lining them up and shooting them. Will that become a solution?
Nowhere did Mr. Williams refer to the constant “borrowing” by previous administrations of Social Security funds, nor does he have any concrete proposal for a solution to the existing shortages.
Even if a lot of people are gainfully employed, they are living from paycheck to paycheck, my children included.
It would be interesting to know whether Mr. Williams, in a fit of altruism, decides to turn down his Social Security and Medicare “entitlements” when his turn to collect comes, in addition to his pension and any other funds he may have been able to save.
MARYSE D. MALONE
Don’t hamstring defense with cuts
Defense budget cutting has always been a favorite pastime for Congress as conflicts wind down and end. No thought is given to the future.
In 1950, our troops were almost driven off the Korean peninsula, after we had recklessly drawn down. This cost thousands of lives,.and we live with the repercussions today.
We drew down after Vietnam leading to the hollow force of the 1970s.
Excluding the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the defense budget is only 3.5 percent of GDP, approaching the 2.9 percent of the Clinton administration.
We have overused our tankers, fighter, airlift and people. Our aircraft now average over 25 years old. Our B-52s and our tankers are 50 years old.
The F-35 fighter, KC-X tanker and a new bomber core program must be protected. Russia has positioned anti-aircraft missiles to thwart fourth-generation aircraft. China’s new anti-aircraft carrier missile has sufficient range to keep us from having naval access to South Pacific areas.
We need to sensibly size our force, both in numbers and degree of technology.
We have failed in the past to do this. Our men and women have paid the price in blood. Let’s do this right for a change.
ARTHUR R. MACFADDEN
Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)
GOP presidents put us in bind
I enjoy the Free Press’ mostly daily take on the national debt, in that, sine the Obama administration took office it gives a daily take on the evils of it. That said, let’s look at who got us there.
Especially, since 1950 to 2009 there have been GOP and Democrat presidents prior to the Obama administration. So, go to www.treas.gov website where the total debt by each party from 1950 to 2009 can be viewed.
The results are Democratic presidents account for $2.025 trillion and the GOP presidents account for $9.844 trillion, or 5 to 1 of the total $11.909 trillion on Sept. 30, 2009, (through Bush’s last budget). So when you look at the record, no sensible voter will cast his vote for any GOP presidential candidate, for they have been the big borrow and spend crowd that has the country in the financial trouble we are in.
JIM POSTON
Whitwell, Tenn.
Mr. Poston, that's laughable. who controlled the purse strings most of the last 50 years? congress has been controlled by Democrats for most of the last 50 years..except for breif periods. many ir- responsible democrats, and to a lesser degree ir- rresponsible republicans in congress can take the blame. that's were the money is. saying the pres- ident, from whatever party, is responsible because they were in the white house at the time, is not accurate. it's not that simple. even obama is not responsible for all the debt
having said that..no one has run up debt faster than obama and no other president has been so fiscally irresponsible.
sensible, huh......like obama? obama is a clueless, lazy, spendaholic who has no conception of how our economy works and what it means to be fiscally responsible. you would think he never wrote a check himself or balanced a check book.
how can anyone with any common sense vote for liberal ever again after the last two years.
bush was not a fiscal conservative. in his second term he went along with much of what the democrat controlled congress wanted....the only items he was conservative on were abortion, tax cuts and fighting terror. but, with most other things he spent like a drunken democrat.
you're going to take a bloodbath in november. when obama loses the majority in at least the house, his spending days are over.....spending our money, that is.
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