Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:02 pm

Theft of flag
steals from all
To The Editor:
I am writing this letter in regards to a recent theft at a local mall here in Union City. This theft did not involve merchandise from any of the stores located in this mall, but was a theft against many Americans in which it represented.
Hanging in the commons area of the mall was a large flag, given to us after 9/11 from the corporate office, which represented hope and freedom to us all. It has been a symbol in this mall every day, serving as a reminder of that day long ago, which still touches many lives.
This past Saturday, a man went into one of the stores and inquired about the origin of the flag: Where did it come from? After obtaining whatever answer the associate on duty gave him, he left the store. About 30 minutes later, the flag was gone, taken right off the wall and walked right out the door! A customer came and alerted the associate the flag had been taken.
Now, as I write this, I am still confused as to why anyone would think they have the right to come into a place of business, remove and steal the American flag.
I have always said that if you want something of mine, just ask and I will let you have it rather than steal from me. No, that flag didn’t belong to me personally but, as an American, it was mine, given to me by my forefathers along with every service man and woman who has fought for my freedom.
Those soldiers have paid a high price to ensure that we can live in this country peacefully and without persecution from our religious, moral and social beliefs. To have taken this flag without regard for what it stands for has made me very angry. I only hope that whoever is responsible for this will treat our country’s symbol of hope with honor instead of violating its glory.
Cindy Harris, Manager
Van Heusen store
Union City
Changes in state,
US a concern
To The Editor:
When I first came to Tennessee as a young GI, 53 years ago, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of this state and its culture. The people and history gave me a picture of how unique and wonderful this state really is.
The past hardships suffered here and the deprivation endured, produced a culture of morally strict, God-fearing, hard-working, disciplined, loving individuals. It was a time of great pleasure for me and still is, but I am greatly saddened by the changes that are taking place in Tennessee and the rest of the United States.
The culture we have now is one that evidently can’t be shocked by anything. Symbols of God are being removed from public places, morals have been redefined as anything goes, homosexuality is no longer a deviation from the norm, abortion is an acceptable way to control population growth, marriage is no longer a sacred union for a couple to go forth and raise a family, a strong work ethic is to be avoided and discipline is a dirty word.
The scary thing about all this now is that the generation that is most culpable for this decline is now in Washington.
Have a nice day.
God bless America.
Gary Spence
Troy
Preserve history
across America
To The Editor:
I would like to take this time to thank everyone that made the 140th anniversary (of the Confederate Monument) possible. We were not able to fire a volley salute, but other than that, everything went well. I want to especially thank Glenda Caudle and The Messenger for the story and pictures.
We, as Americans, need to preserve anything we can about history. The truth needs to be told. What I mean by that is, read books, use the Internet. I recommend if you ever get the chance to hear Rick Revel, do so. Rick is a very gifted Christian man. Rick has made a DVD called, “Shiloh, the Many Faces of War.” This story tells the truth about men of all colors who fought for the Confederacy and why they did.
If you ever get the chance to go to the reenactment at Columbus, Ky., please do so. I have been reenacting for almost two years. I fell in with a unit on Sunday this year that portrays the 10th TN Dismounted Calvary CSA. Most of them are from Sikeston, Mo. A history teacher, Rich Justice, is the captain. He has black students portraying Confederate soldiers and former black students that still reenact. One of those men carried the battle flag Sunday. It was a great honor to be with those men this year — preserving history.
Barry Sowell
Woodland Mills
City, country
need lot of work
To The Editor:
I’m here to set the record straight. Let’s be truthful — Union City and this country need a lot of work.
First, I saw lucidly how some employers do things around here. How can any employer fire someone for expressing their views about things they don’t like? It is people’s God-given right, human right, constitutional right and civil right to speak what’s on their minds.
Secondly, we need a mall around here and a nice bookstore, such as Barnes and Noble.
Third, the youth need nice places to go to have fun so they won’t get in trouble and go to jail.
And last, people need to work collectively to get these things done by voicing their opinions at city hall or by other means or tactics.
We all are going to have to learn to work together around here. If your fellow man or family member needs help, help them. There is no reason why you can’t. After all, this is the south and I thought people of the south are supposed to have southern hospitality. Let’s turn this myth into reality, OK.
Moreover, I am willing to work with any city officials, police officers or non-profit organizations to get solutions to some of our problems locally or otherwise. It’s really time for a change. Unlike Barack Obama, I really mean it!
Kory Johnson
Union City
Uphold, defend
the Constitution
To The Editor:
The one question that is not being asked enough in the current debate over the health care bill is does the federal government have the constitutional authority to do anything with health care?
On at least three occasions the Supreme Court has said, “no.” First, in 1925, the case of Linder vs. United States 268 U.S. 5, 18, 45 S. Ct. 446, the Justices ruled that “Obviously, direct control of medical practice in the states is beyond the power the federal government.” Then, in 1936, the United States vs. Anthony, 15 Supp. 553, 555, and again in 1978, United States vs. Evers, 453 F. Supp. 1141, 1150, the court said “...the direct control of medical practice has been left to the states.”
Of interest to this writer is the notion that the practice and control of medicine “has been left to the states.” This is in keeping with the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Thus, if health care is to be found at all in the Constitution (and it’s not) it is to be covered under the 10th Amendment which leaves such matters up to the states.
Some people have attempted to use the General Welfare Clause in the Constitution as authority for managing health care. The Constitution contains two references to “the General Welfare,” one occurring in the Preamble and the other in the Taxing and Spending Clause. However, do these references authorize Congress to interfere with health care? Among the founders of this nation who spoke to the General Welfare Clause was Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, both of whom maintained the General Welfare Clause is merely a synonym for the enumerated powers considered collectively, not an independent source of power. I assume they would know as both were there when these items were originally written, debated and ratified into law.
The real major issue here is authority and simply put, Congress has no authority to do what they are trying to do. Our representatives, both Republicans and Democrats, have gone so long doing what they please, passing laws to deal with whatever they please, that they and we, the people, have forgotten that we have a Constitution which places great restraints on the federal government. I say it’s time to put those restraints back in place. Stay out of our pockets, stay out of our homes and stay out of our medical concerns. Do what you have sworn an oath to do, uphold and defend the Constitution.
Tom Atkinson
Union City
Message good,
but a little late
To The Editor:
I found the article recently saying, “United Steelworkers Local 878L members and local citizens are praising the Obion County Commission for a recent decision made to direct county departments to purchase Goodyear tires for county vehicles” interesting. But wonder why this hasn’t been done during the past 30 years or so.
And, in addition, two decades ago, when my son was looking at new cars, we were surprised to see many new “high performance” cars on local dealers’ lots riding on “Radial GTs” instead of the original equipment “Eagle GTs” that came with these cars. Where did the OE tires go?
Now, if I were a new car dealer, I would take every car that came into the Goodyear store and have anything but Goodyear’s tires replaced. But that’s just me. I even had a salesman tell me that the Michelins on one car I was looking at were “the best tires in the world.” What? Is there a Michelin tire factory somewhere around here that I don’t know about?
At any rate, good deal on the county putting Goodyear tires on their vehicles. A little late, but good deal.
A.C. Friess
Union City
Published in The Messenger 10.28.09