I don’t plan to make a habit of paying too much attention to the kind of baloney, drivel, or nonsense that one of your regular contributors periodically sends you; today I make an exception.

A recent piece about Blue Cross-Blue Shield and how they have supposedly “force fed” “Critical Race Theory” to their 6,700 employees is a good example of reactionary misinformation and misdirection that has come to be a regular staple of our daily lives.

For starters the “force fed” comment is not attributed to anyone in the entire diatribe.

The opinion writer is entirely entitled to his opinion but not to his own facts. He quotes “a number of sources” as saying the “theory” is grossly inappropriate. He fails to cite a definition of what they are so opposed to.  Of course, no attribution of the “sources”

It seems BCBST wants its employees to be sensitive to the needs of its customers. Employees have to attend sessions about “diversity and equity”. What a great idea.  Then the writer names some of those BCBST leaders who he hopes readers will complain to about this supposed problem. 

After about eight paragraphs, the writer gives an online website credit for reporting this story first.  He runs a full-length story from something called the “Tennessee Star.com”.

Tennessee Star has been reported to be in the words of the respected website Politico—a “Baby Breitbart”.  This is not a compliment. Snopes - a well-known and trusted fact checking website - reports that the Tennessee Star is paid for and or supported by outside or undisclosed interests. 

Snopes reports that Steve Gill, the political editor, owns a media consulting firm that a political candidate and a Political Action committee (PAC) paid before receiving positive coverage in the Tennessee Star. Several of their writers have worked for PACS without disclosing that fact.  Whatever it is, the Tennessee Star is not a local newspaper producing transparent journalism.  It’s called journalism for sale.  One of its so-called journalists worked for a political PAC to help elect Bill Lee governor in 2018

There is so much more wrong with the opinion writer’s recounting of the supposedly terrible things BCBST is “foisting” on its employees, but that’s enough.

BCBST should be congratulated for all its efforts to be responsive to the broad audience it serves.  I for one say, good job.

Before anyone asks, I don’t work on BCBST and I don’t have BCBST insurance.  I’m not happy about the huge salaries of the leadership team, but that’s for another day.

If “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” training is the worst thing BCBST is doing, there is nothing here but very good news

Fred Gault

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It isn’t often you find a well written, thoughtful opinion piece in the Chattanoogan.

I’ve given up the notion that my words would change anyone else’s opinion, however, I do want to thank you.  I agree with every word you wrote.

Cecilia Lewis