America a land of blessings

Even with the social ills, natural disasters and economic uncertainty facing our nation, we can still count many blessings in America. To the international community, America has long been the gateway for optimum livelihood. We are blessed for the most part, and we should not risk changing the course. On this Fourth of July, I am reminded of the late Eldridge Cleaver, who once said, "I'd rather be in jail in America than free anywhere else."

HORACE COPRIDGE

College Park

Happy birthday to the planet's 'good guys'

On the 232nd birthday of the United States, a few Americans today are critical of our country. A very small percentage wishes us harm. Perhaps our critics and those who do not wish us well should consider a few facts.

By any reasonable, objective standard, the United States has been, and still is, the greatest, noblest, most altruistic nation in the history of nations. It is true that our country is not perfect. That is because it is run by human beings. We are the "good guys" on this planet. We have not used our considerable military force to dominate the world. There are few, if any, examples in history where a sovereign nation with the power that we possess has not expanded and dominated the world until stopped.

Happy birthday to us, the United States.

BILL BURNS

Stone Mountain

Guns-at-airport brouhaha hides incompetence

Once again we have petty bureaucrats thinking they are above the law in their little fiefdoms. We have an airport manager who probably runs the worst U.S. airport in terms of customer convenience.

I suggest that he needs to address basic problems such as airport traffic, bad signage within the terminals, insufficient on-site parking, insufficient parking for off-site vehicles, cleanliness, lack of facilities once through security, uncomfortable seating, etc., etc.

Of course we don't even need to comment on the incompetence of the mayor, who has been able to move the city from merely a bad place to a major catastrophe. Now the city needs to spend funds that it doesn't have defending against a lawsuit.

It is apparent that both have fastened onto a phony gun issue to hide their incompetence.

LARRY MILLER

Stockbridge