Readers Write

COCA-COLA

Charges old, inaccurate

In response to Gina Webb’s review of a book on the Coca-Cola Co. (“A look at Coke around the globe,” Living & Arts, June 28), I would like to provide some much-needed balance and perspective. At Coca-Cola, we take our reputation very seriously. Everywhere we operate, we strive to create value and make a positive difference. Despite our efforts, some critics, such as British comedian Mark Thomas, continue to repeat and perpetuate old — and frequently inaccurate — allegations about our business. In his determination to paint a distorted picture of our company, the author chooses to ignore the facts, relying, instead, on opinions, conjecture and misinformation. We have addressed the allegations raised in this book many times, providing the facts and collaborating with those who offered constructive feedback on how we might further strengthen the sustainability of our communities and business. I invite anyone interested in learning more about our actions and contributions to review the sustainability section of our Web site, thecoca-colacompany.com. We will continue to strive for improvements that will help our business and our communities thrive.

Ben Deutsch, the Coca-Cola Co.

COLUMNIST

Sowell not credible

Can you please replace Thomas Sowell with a more credible conservative voice? Sowell writes like someone on the lunatic fringe. In “GOP can’t win by pretending to be Democrats” (Opinion, June 23), he cautions people to “… stop and think about what it would mean for their granddaughters to live under sharia law.” We have plenty of real

threats to our country, but an Islamic takeover is not one of them. He might as well warn of the Easter Bunny planting nuclear bombs in eggs. Is Sowell the best conservative you can find?

Robert Vobejda, Marietta

Hunting

Don’t blame Chipper

Calling for an end to hunting deer does not address the alternative. Most homeowners on the edge of the suburbs can tell you the deer population can get out of control, lacking any predators. Beyond that, hunting and fishing do fulfill a natural instinct in humans. State natural resource departments depend on the declining income from licences. It is naive, and does a disservice to Chipper Jones, to vilify him for something we used to have to do to support our families.

John Murray Tarter, Jonesboro

MARRIAGE

GOP hypocritical

If you’re going to preach “family values” and deny marriage rights to gays and lesbians because their unions would ruin the “sacred institution of marriage,” make sure your own values are in order. Republicans like Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. John Ensign, and even Newt Gingrich owe an apology to the gay community for their utter hypocrisy.

Wendy Spencer, Cumming