Bouquets!
I am happy that I am in America when the whole nation is remembering the March on Washington in August 1963. John Branston’s column (City Beat, August 22nd issue) inspired me by detailing the 10 demands of the organizers and how it set the agenda for civil rights leaders of this great country to help the oppressed and the suppressed.
It is similar to the great Dandi March taken under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation. It inspires the Indian nation even now and will be remembered for many years to come. The March on Washington will also be remembered forever. As an Indian, I am becoming emotional knowing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. followed the Gandhian approach and became a martyr for a great cause.
Bouquets to the Memphis Flyer and the esteemed Mr. Branston for publishing this excellent story.
Chandra Das
Memphis
The Constitutional Party
For decades, both major political parties have refused to uphold our Constitution, to protect our borders, to stop generational theft, or protect the lives of the unborn. Both major parties have squandered our heritage, threatened our liberty, waged unconstitutional wars, and violated our Bill of Rights that they are sworn to protect. The terrible price we will pay for reelecting those who violate our Constitution is our freedom.
For the past 80 years, government has grown larger and more intrusive through every single administration, both Republican and Democrat. In reality, we have two parties of big government, and they are hardly distinguishable from each other. To restore America, we must return to constitutional government and our founding principles. It is time that we who love our country abandon both major parties that have so clearly failed us. The Constitution Party is driven by its membership, not by politicians, and is dedicated to life, liberty, and constitutionally limited government.
Reading the seven principles and party platform is like a breath of fresh air. Read these at constitutionpartyoftennessee.com. The Constitution Party is the third-largest and fastest-growing political party in America, and we’re organizing county by county in Tennessee. It is time that we do what we wish our elected officials would do: vote principles over politics. One thing is for sure. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll keep getting what we’ve been getting. Become part of the Constitution Party and become part of our effort to restore America.
David Nance
Trenton, Tennessee
Wake-Up Call?
Another one of us — a Memphian — lost a life this past month. A young man walking downtown, felled by a bullet. Consequently, there was a flurry of cop cars roaming the perimeter of the downtown farmers market last Saturday morning. It was like that scene in Jaws where, after the horrific shark attack, they decided to open the beaches anyway. Security forces nervously perusing the area, half expecting something to happen, half not.
Maybe this is a wake-up call — when someone from the “other side” crosses over into the “green zone” and the denizens get aroused. Maybe we should be less ostracizing and more aware of other parts and people of the city. This is happening to a small degree, but I feel we aren’t really going to grow until we realize we truly are one Memphis.
Ian Hunter
Memphis
Egypt
More than two and a half years ago, we watched as Egypt struggled for her freedom from former President Hosni Mubarak. We shared in their joy when he left power, and we became excited about the country’s first democratic elections.
Sadly, the understanding of democracy has not caught up with the mechanism of democracy. Yes, indeed, there was a vote and candidates won with a majority, but I don’t think anyone in Egypt fully comprehended the responsibilities that are required of a democratically elected form of government. Winning an election does not constitute the acquisition of dictatorial power. It requires that those elected serve all the people and not just those who supported them.
I am hopeful that once the violent protests recede, the election process can begin again, with those newly elected officials having learned a lesson from this first-time fiasco. The Muslim Brotherhood needs to understand that compromise for the public good is not necessarily a compromise of one’s religious beliefs. The Egyptian people must demonstrate to the world that whether you are secular or Islamist, Christian or Muslim, it is more important for all to live in peace and have equal opportunity than for a chosen few to rule in support of one faction.
C.L. Charles
Memphis