Letters: Save the libraries

Want to have your voice heard? Send a Letter to the Forum. Authors must sign their letters and include addresses and phone numbers for verification. Letters may be no longer than 300 words and will be edited for grammar, style and length. Send your submission to Mailbag, P.O. Box 1717, Johnson City, TN 37605-1717 or mailbag@johnsoncitypress.com.Save the librariesIn "Commissioners continue to struggle with new county budget," the last two sentences state: "Commissioner Kent Harris said he and his colleagues are going to have to make 'some hard choices' to cut spending. He suggested those tough choices could include funding to operate two county library branches."These words are disheartening. The Washington County Public Library is a department that has been a part of this county for nearly 125 years, founded in 1896. To take an institution away from the taxpayers who pay for these public services without even asking their opinion should not happen.I understand the county is falling on hard times, but look at all the expenses, including building schools and giving money to Johnson City, not just your institutions and departments that are established.In the video, Harris states, "I will probably get some criticism for this, but why not the library where we spent $826,000 a year, which makes $33,000 in revenue with some of that going to Johnson City's library, which is a very nice library. Where do we start at? That is the first thing I would do." Johnson City has a nice library, but it receives double the funds, whereas the county libraries only get funds from one source. It may not be a money-making business, but county government shouldn't be about money-making. It should be about serving the interest of the people!The county libraries provide books for readers, imagination trips for creators, and provide a haven for searchers! It's not making money, but it's a huge resource for our county to collect county revenue in other ways. Not every decision should be made on whether something makes money! Please consider visiting these libraries and talk to your constituents before deciding to cut them.CHAD FRED BAILEYJonesboroughA house dividedI am offended by Ms. Crow's recent letter to you stating that America is on the verge of civil war because of 400 years of injustice.Others may be prepared to fashionably kneel as an expression of collective guilt, but as a free American, I will only kneel before the Lord, our God.I never oppressed anyone. I worked my way out of poverty without enjoying any "white privilege." My taxes helped pay part of the $23 trillion we as Americans have spent to help blacks and minorities.Leftist radicals exploit collective white guilt to incite riots. They use the power of television, social media and a compliant news media to create the illusion of a national insurrection.But Americans don't want civil war. While many oppose President Trump, they remain loyal to the Constitution. Millions exercised their First Amendment rights without violence.The rising black middle class is not gullible. They know there are bad cops, but they want strong policing in their neighborhoods. In cities with large black populations like New Orleans, Newark and Detroit, they worked with the police to prevent rioting and expel radical outsiders. The black store owner isn't worried about "institutional racism." He's worried about a looter tossing a brick through his window.It was only in the cities with irresponsible leadership that the Left was successful in creating havoc. But as usual, they've badly miscalculated. Voters will not soon forget the disturbing images of young white kids burning black businesses in Minneapolis in the name of "social justice" for black people.LTC JOHN WINTELS, U.S. ARMY, RET.Watauga