READERS WRITE

Suffer the little ones?

Responses to “Octuplets and all children deserve better,” @issue, Feb. 8

Concern is about control, not kids

“Every child born to an unmarried woman should have a legal advocate appointed by the state to represent the child’s interest,” Jim Wooten writes. Wooten wants the government to interfere in the life of the military wife whose husband dies in action before his child arrives, the woman who determines to leave her abuser when she finds she is pregnant, the woman whose partner deserts her when birth control fails, and the well-to-do woman who wants a child but hasn’t met Mr. Right.

In many such cases, Wooten’s characterization of single parenthood as “child cruelty,” inflicting “suffering on human life” and allowing children “to be abused in the worst possible way” is ridiculous. If he really believes single parenthood is evil, how does he justify causing some children to be born out of wedlock, even though their parents are in long-term committed relationships, because he and his ilk won’t let them wed legally? Wooten’s true concern is not about kids. It’s about controlling people different from him. And I’d say using children as pawns in a political game is cruel.

KATHI MILLS, Lilburn

Children need a father figure

Being more liberal than he, I often do not agree with Jim Wooten. However, my immediate response to his column was “amen!”

For an infertility clinic to allow an unmarried woman, already with six children conceived through infertility treatment, to conceive and bear eight more —- for God’s sake why?

Where was the initial psycho-social screening? What about the cost to our already overburdened medical system?

Our fragile planet already has too many fatherless children afflicted with the physical and emotional scars mentioned by Wooten in his well-researched and well-written article.

As to statistics about women bearing fatherless children, I see them every day in my practice, and I make a point of asking the mother whether her children see their father and stress how important it is to be in touch with a father figure.

Dr. SALPI ADROUNY

Adrouny is a family physician in Alpharetta.

History lessons

Responses to “Month robs blacks of part in U.S. history,” @issue, Feb. 8

True reality of American dream

Rarely do I find myself in total agreement with a column by Cynthia Tucker; however in her Sunday column, I would not take exception with a single word.

It is so good that it should be more widely distributed than to just the Atlanta market. People of every race ought to read it, because it truly is the reality of the “American dream.”

Ms. Tucker, someone is growing! Either you, or me. Or, perhaps the best, we both are. Congratulations on a job well done.

CLIFFORD E. SCHANE

Atlanta

There is much still to be learned

I tend to agree with Cynthia Tucker that black history will someday take its rightful place as an integral part of American history. But recent experience tells me that we’re not there yet.

I wrote a popular essay titled “Inauguration Ball 2009,” a fantasy inaugural celebration for President Obama. Invited guests included a who’s who of African-American history: Harriet Tubman, Dredd Scott, Emmett Till and Barbara Jordan, among others. The piece was widely circulated over the Internet and it was surprising how many people —- black and white —- did not have a clue as to the contributions of the African-Americans I wrote about. I concluded that, though it would be nice to extend, then end, February’s 28-day freshness date on black history, the struggle for long-overdue recognition in the dusty pages of American history is not over.

RICHARD KENYADA, Smyrna

Aid trauma centers by slowing down

I agree with the AJC editorial on the need for additional trauma-care centers in Georgia, especially in rural areas where a trauma center can be hundreds of miles away (“Issue in depth: Statewide trauma care,” @issue, Feb. 8). However, I disagree with the need for additional taxes to fund the centers.

I do believe it would be beneficial and appropriate to increase the amount of a speeding ticket. Additional penalties would force drivers to adjust their recklessness. This would decrease fatalities and assist in funding additional trauma centers in Georgia. As an individual who received a hefty fine for speeding years ago, I adjusted my driving and have yet to receive another ticket or be in an accident.

JOY O’BERT

Lawrenceville

Rodriguez threw public a curve ball

While it was smart for Alex Rodriguez to admit he did steroids from 2001 to 2003, it was not the total act of courage we might think it to be. He only came out after test results were made public, so he was somewhat forced into it. If a ballplayer admitted it before test results came out —- that may be closer to an act of courage we are all looking for.

TOM ASHLEY

Atlanta

Senator wrong on tax credit proposal

I disagree with the letter “Home buyer tax credit a good idea” (@issue, Feb. 8). First, the proposed amendment (by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia) to give up to a $15,000 tax credit to home buyers would do little to stimulate job creation, the main purpose of the overall legislation. Second, it will do little to alleviate the foreclosure crisis and is under-budgeted in any event.

Even in this deteriorating economy, national estimates are that at least 5 million homes (new and resales) will change hands in 2009 regardless of this tax credit. Accordingly, this measure has a potential cost of $75 billion, not the $19 billion to $35 billion that I have read in news reports. In news conferences following the Senate vote for the amendment, Isakson attributed his “common sense” to having worked as a real estate salesman in the 1970s, when a $2,500 tax credit for new homes was used to alleviate a glut in new home inventory. It took almost five years to return that inventory to balance.

FRANK ARTESSA

Canton