Let's share hope for enlightened New Year

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson said of his friend Rep. John Lewis, who both lived through segregation and have now passed, both so deeply respected, "John and I represent how things can change if people really want them to."

Perhaps we can hope for a sliver of light in the coming year, in which those who represent us can take a step to find enlightenment, common ground a miracle awakening where leaders might put country over party.

I don't want to believe that the example of statesmen like Republican Isakson and Democrat Lewis, representatives who crossed the aisle to talk to the other side and actually talk, are gone forever, replaced with those who live in the dark, and don't work for us anymore, but rather for special interests themselves.

I'm probably naive, but I need to see past the despair. I don't know that I can stand another year of ugly partisan warfare. Pray for courage that some may walk into the light.

Kerry Lansford

Food co-op would be community boon

Chattanooga needs a food co-op. A community-run food co-op that is open to the public allows access to more sustainably sourced local foods, and it helps stimulate the local economy because the money made in the co-op would get recycled into the Chattanooga community. This community-run grocery store would give opportunities to local farmers and businesses to sell their products and give consumers a way to give back to their community.

A co-op would allow Chattanooga residents to be more sustainable shoppers and would help decrease plastic and packaging waste by allowing members of the community to shop in bulk. Access to high-quality organic produce is expensive in grocery stores like Whole Foods and Publix, and shopping there helps the corporations. The only other option for locally sourced organic produce is the farmers' market, which is not accessible to many people because it is only open a couple of days a week and there are many people who work during the hours of operation. Co-ops offer higher quality food at lower prices and provide community support.

Reagan Madden

Dual justice system continues in U.S.

A far-left North Dakota man with ties to Antifa was convicted in federal court of destruction of government property for attacking a Republican U.S. senator's office with an ax. He was sentenced to probation and fined $2,784. And, the FBI gave him back his ax. A man wearing buffalo horns (Chewbacca Man) walked into the Capitol on Jan 6, never attacking or hurting anyone and didn't destroy any property. Yet, he got sentenced to 41 months in prison.

With clear and convincing evidence, Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty and that he acted in self-defense in his trial in Wisconsin. The far left and the fake media still call him a murderer. On the same day of the Rittenhouse verdict, a Black Florida man was found not guilty via self-defense in the shooting death of his girlfriend. This was despite the fact that he was shooting at police officers and was in criminal possession of a firearm. Not a word from the fake media that this guy is a murderer.

This should convince anyone that there's a dual system of justice with political persecution against conservatives and Trump supporters.

Gary Hayes

Ooltewah

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Opinion: Let's share hope for enlightened New Year and other letters to the editors - Chattanooga Times Free Press