GOOD SAMARITANS

Thanks to strangers

who stopped to help

I am writing to thank three people who were extremely helpful during a trip to Atlanta. They were wearing yellow shirts, and at the time, I thought they were members of a neighborhood watch group. I recently found a card one of them gave my colleague, and I believe they may have been campaign workers.

While on a business trip to Atlanta, I fell down at Jackson Street and Edgewood Avenue. I broke my right shoulder and my right ankle. Within minutes of the fall, my colleague and I were assisted by three individuals. I recall how kind and concerned they were, and that they called for an ambulance. I was treated at a local hospital and later returned home to undergo surgery. Because of my injuries, I was not able to thank these individuals until now.

I wanted to say, “Thank you” to this group, whoever they are, for taking the time to help a stranger. Their kindness will never be forgotten.

LILLIAN CASTILLO, GILROY, CALIF.

GOVERNANCE

Shutdown is betrayal

of voting public’s trust

American citizens vote for members of Congress to make government work — not to work against it to promote their political party’s agenda at the expense of others. Congress is empowered to vote on their actions, not to extort concessions via threats or actions that make our government dysfunctional when votes don’t go as desired.

The recent partial shutdown is a betrayal of trust and abuse of office that has caused injury to the nation and loss of income to many honest Americans. We don’t need members of Congress who preach noble values but practice selfishness. Without credibility, those values are not valid. Vote them out before they cause more harm.

TONY GARDNER, CUMMING

MENTAL ILLNESS

Psychiatric treatment

needs to be available

During the past two years, our nation has witnessed horrible gun violence by certain people with mental illnesses. Most mentally ill people who are arrested, are arrested for misdemeanors or minor crimes. These non-violent mentally ill people use up police resources, and often take up space in jail that could be better used.

When you focus on violent offenders who are mentally ill, please also remember the tens of thousands of arrests each year that occur because there is not adequate psychiatric treatment. It is immoral to talk about ways of forcing some mentally ill people into treatment, while not providing treatment for those who actively seek it.

DANIEL W. PHILLIPS III, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE, COLUMBIA, KY.

COMMENTARY

Kudos for cartoonist’s

on-the-money insights

I just wanted to pass on to Mr. Luckovich that he is right on the money.

His cartoons are something I look forward to, and he is very insightful.

Mike, keep up the good work.

CECIL CLONTZ, ST. SIMONS