Deborah Levine

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Op-Ed Columnist at Chattanooga Times Free Press

Editor and Founder at American Diversity Report

Articles

Opinion: Don’t let history repeat itself

2 weeks ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

I've rarely given in-person presentations since the pandemic. Taking a deep breath, I did speak to Civitan International's Chattanooga chapter about my documentary: "Untold, Stories of a World War Liberator." With Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on April 23, it was relevant timing for a topic that's very personal for me. My father was a U.S. military intelligence officer during the war. He was assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs. My documentary is based on his wartime letters.
Opinion: No, climate change is not a hoax

3 weeks ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

I don't often use AI, but I made an exception over the weekend when severe storms were expected and schools announced closings for Monday. The report echoed weather reports of a few weekends ago, when 60 tornadoes (and the resulting 40 deaths) came close to us. Was this the new norm? I couldn't resist going to my computer and asking AI if this weather was unusual.
Opinion: Ukraine and the humanitarians of Chattanooga

1 month ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Ukraine and the humanitarians of Chattanooga Today at 6:00 p.m. File photo/City of Chattanooga / Times Free Press archives / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, right, shakes hands with the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Trostyanets, Yuriy Bova, during the 2023 Cities Summit of the Americas. My brain nearly exploded when President Donald Trump declared that Ukraine started the war with Russia.
Opinion: Black History Month conversation was uplifting

2 months ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

How wonderful to celebrate Black History Month at Mizpah Congregation with our February "Intriguing Conversations." The audience included members of Chattanooga's Jewish community and Black community. They gathered to hear talk radio host Jed Mescon interview his "intriguing" guest, John Edwards III, founder of The Chattanooga News Chronicle. The tag line for the event's flyer focused on Black History and the Civil Rights movement: "They stood up against racism and inequality ...
Opinion: Remembering and learning from the Holocaust

2 months ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Remembering and learning from the Holocaust Today at 6:00 p.m. Photo/Sebastian Willnow/dpa via The Associated Press / U.S. businessman Elon Musk is shown during a live video link, as Alice Weidel, AfD candidate for chancellor, takes to the stage, during the AfD's election campaign kick-off in Halle, Germany on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Opinion: Stop ignoring sexual misconduct

2 months ago | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

I was amazed when Joe Biden, just before the end of his presidency, declared that the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered ratified as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. A symbolic statement, sure, but important nonetheless. Did you know that 85% of United Nations member states already protect against sex and/or gender-based discrimination in their constitutions? And recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women asked then-President Biden to ensure the ERA's role.
Opinion: Onward and upward in 2025

Jan 16, 2025 | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

Like many of you, I spend a lot of time online, especially in the Meta universe: Facebook, Instagram and most recently, Threads. The Threads' blunt conversations on social issues and current events are engaging, to say the least. But these days, folks are rebelling against Meta and leaving it because Meta is disbanding its fact-checking service and content moderation. Threads rebels are emotional and disgusted.
Opinion: My 2025 New Year’s resolution

Jan 9, 2025 | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

Time for New Year's resolutions! Getting in shape is always popular and a big deal on the internet. Here are some online examples of how we're pushed to go for it: "Exercising can be fun — really. Five ways to add more joy to your workouts." Since diet helps determine the outcome of workouts, we're supposed to happily go for that, too: "Ditch the restrictive resolutions and set one of these three fun food 'intentions' instead." OK ... here I go:First, I have modified my diet.
Opinion: Holidays celebrate all our lights

Dec 19, 2024 | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

A Chattanooga Free Press syndicated opinion column by Cal Thomas recently claimed that people calling this season "the holidays" were hijacking Christmas. These "secular progressives" showed deference to everyone, except Christians who have a real reason for celebrating the season.
Opinion: Chattanooga has rich history supporting writers

Dec 5, 2024 | timesfreepress.com | Deborah Levine

I was in awe at Mizpah Congregation, hearing Jerry Ellis, a Chattanooga writer who had walked the 900-mile route of the Cherokee Trail of Tears and written a book about his trek. "Walking the Trail, One Man's Journey along the Cherokee Trail of Tears" was displayed in the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Ellis' storytelling brilliance has been heard across Asia, Africa, Europe and USA. Chattanooga has attracted and developed writers for decades.