Let's address real race issues

As far as your comments about aborting white babies, I take no offense to your response to Bennett's analogy about aborting black babies. Go back and read the entire conversation that Bennett had with his caller. Bennett's comments were not racist. They were stupid but they were racist. In his conversation he was pointing out the ridiculous correlations presented in a book and likewise drew a equally ridiculous correlation to demonstrate how the fallacy of the book's assumptions.

However, his example was a poor one and like many, I cringed the first time I heard it and it sent chills up my spine. Stupid - yes; Racist - no.

Rick, do you think we can ever get beyond the name calling and the fear of being called a racist when you disagree with someone of a different race so that we can address some of the ills like crime and racism that still do exist in our world.

Ken Compton, Lilburn

Who are the real criminals here?

Quite naturally, they are the one doing all these behind the curtains. They are the ones who are in leadership of this country, they give the commands and wave the flags for anything they want and has to get by killing a whole lot of people..Consider all the other countries they have invaded. Who are the criminals here? tell me.."who the cap fits, wear" it and so is that sicko Bennett,a perfect fit for you all.

Yvonne, Grayson

Yes, sex billboard goes too far

I agree with Margaret. [AUDIO: 'Sex' billboard goes too far, reader says] I HATED that show when it was on HBO and now it is on broadcast ... I refused to watch it then and I refuse to watch it now. I surely do not want my kids seeing it either. I have a 14 year old son and a 12 year old daughter, both old enough to read and understand that billboard.

Yes, we are a nation of freedom, but what about our freedom to NOT want as well. I do not want this crammed down my throat ... the show is vulgar, and the character that Kim Catrell plays is a slut and surely not a role model.

Cris James, Snellville

Title was offensive, but column was right

I too was offended by the title of your column about aborting babies but I did take the time to read it and see what you had to say. After reading it, I totally agree with you. I'm sorry that some whites are so stupid.

Becky Hamrick, Lawrenceville

Bennett's comments were very offensive

I would like to thank you, Rick, for your article and offer a few words of appreciation. As a black female and mother, I was very offended by Bennett?s comments. The correlation between crime and abortion were inexcusable in any context as you pointed out in your article.

However, as a black person, the greatest offense in his words was the asinine "implied" suggestion that unborn fetuses would grow up to commit crimes. To offset Bennett's suggestion that crime would be reduced, I would like to mention that my grandparents, parents, sister, my child nor myself have ever committed a crime. So, I was greatly offended by the correlation between abortion and crime reduction because, based upon my experience, crime is not a genetic trait and NO amount of crime statistics will prove otherwise.

I am not someone who is easily offended. However, I really became angry at the suggestion that any unborn child "I might" bring into this world, could/ would, according too suggestive data ,grow-up to become a criminal.

Yes, Bennett offered a half-baked apology, for his slight to the black community. However, the apology was meaningless, because he doesn't seem to understand nor care why people were offended. So, I will give the people who appear to defend this man a clue. We do not all commit crimes and innocent children who have yet to be born are not criminals.

Sabrina Moppins, Loganville

No need to get mad when statistics are true

I read your letter complaining about the insensitivity of Mr. Bennett. How much of what he said, if honestly analyzed, could be true?

I think he made a valid point based on crime statistics in the USA. Because he may be correct in his analogy how can so many African Americans be so offended? If the stats indicated that the crime rate would decrease if we aborted all white babies, I doubt you would hear anyone in the white community complain, if indeed, his facts were true.

I suggest that you. and all other blacks that have such a huge problem with people that utter statements based on available statistics get the chip off your shoulder. Not everyone in this world is going to be politically correct. Facts tend to hurt feelings of those that cannot, and will not, accept the available statisics that back them up.

I can't imagine that anyone in their right mind would want to abort any baby,let alone all Black, White, Hispanic, asian or mixed, just because a statistic points that their race causes our crime rate or any other malice against our society. To me abortion is an evil thing, but having an opinion based on true statistics is not evil, just not politically correct to some.

Black racists often say offensive things about whites

I'm sorry that Mr. Bennett was so unthinking in his comments, too. His radio show is usually informative, educational and uplifting....

I can understand your anger. Your anger is akin to the anger I feel every time Jesse Jackson, Charlie Rangel, the calypso singer, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, Cynthia McKinney etc. get in front of a camera or microphone and tell unmitigated lies about white people...

I do not believe that Bill Bennett is a racist, but I do believe that Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia McKinney and Louis Farrakhan, etc. are racists.

Let me tell you, Mr. Badie, these people get so much attention without anyone rising up against their remarks, that it makes me very angry.

Maybe you now have a taste of what it is like for white people to listen to black racists ad nauseum, without hearing any criticism...

Now, your arguments about aborting white babies to eliminate crimes that are statistically committed more frequently or exclusively by whites is the same as what Bennett was saying. What you said is true. Certain crimes would be reduced if all white babies were aborted. There's no argument there because it is true.

Pat Ranels, Duluth

Dave Oliver, Lawrenceville

Here's some context to abortion comments

Rick Badie deserves credit for, at least, quoting all of what Bill Bennett (the high stakes gambler who, by the way, gambled legally with his own money) said. Unfortunately he then takes a swipe at conservatism and declares that context is irrelevent.

In "What if we aborted every white baby?", Rick, you did EXACTLY what you accuse Bill Bennett of doing, only what you wrote was worse. What Bennett said is most likely mathematically provable; what you wrote was assinine and self-serving, even as examples of what you found repulsive about Bennett's comments.

You write that by aborting white babies, we could "rid the country of methamphetamine abuse." You ignore the fact that blacks abuse methamphetamine as well.

You write that by aborting white babies, we could "end corporate corruption and stop domestic terrorism," as if every black business man is above reproach and Lee Malvo and John Allen Muhammad don't exist.

You threw out equally unthinkable hypotheses, then excused them with a simple, "I'm being facetious." At least Bill Bennett denounced the premise of his example by calling it "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do...," "far-out" and "far-reaching."

What is your defense? I will tell you what it is-- in this day of "political correctness" and "safe speech," ONLY blacks can talk about blacks. Only liberals can say stupid, defenseless things and receive a pass from the liberal media; conservatives are skewered even when they speak the truth.

Bill Bennett's comments haven't set you back, Rick. It is the focus on skin color- - the emphasis of a racial component even when there isn't one. And that emphasis, in my "white" opinion, appears to be coming primarily from BLACKS.

Bob Griggs, Loganville

Don't stoop to this level

Rick, I definitely understand why you are angry. But, I strongly disagree with your reaction and response.

People in the "Talking Head" business live and die by their outrageous comments. The sad truth is William Bennett has probably picked up listeners because of his stupid comments.

The fact that you sat down and came up with scenarios to compare aborting white babies to black babies is pretty disturbing to me. It shows a willingness to stoop to their level and I think you are better than that!

A few years back I heard a local radio "talking head" refer to a homeless person who died in a fire the night before as a "crispy critter." I cringed when I heard him say it and turned my radio off. The callous way he referred to a human life offended me. The fact that he dared to value a person based on his twisted view of worth told me, I don't want to hear what he has to say even if it is only entertainment, (according to his personal disclaimer).

Psalms 64:8 says: Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will wag their heads.

The only thing I know that trumps the tongue is the written word. Imagine if everything you have ever said was written down where anyone could go back and refer to your very words.

You have the wonderful job of writing articles telling us about our neighbors and some of the goings on in the community, mixed with humane interest and your personal views. Stick to that and trust that people see through these people that live to stir things up as what they are. People with no thought about the consequences of their words. People who think in the end they can plead. But Lord! I was just trying to entertain the people!

Tommy Woodsmall, Flowery Branch