Readers Write 10/5

SPORTS

Screamers lose sight of true meaning of coach

Boy, “Coach Screamer hurts our kids” (Opinion, Sept. 25) really struck a (flashback) nerve with me. I officiated basketball for 26 years at every level, and I can testify without hesitation or reservation that there are many coaches who should not be around children. It seems the word “coach” gets lost in the translation of what a coach should be teaching besides the sport he or she is coaching, i.e. sportsmanship, self-discipline, respecting your opponent, etc.

I had the privilege of seeing players in their early years who made it to the professional ranks. Not only did some of these players have some great talent — they also had some excellent mentors (coaches). Coaching is a lot more than just X’s and O’s. It seems the nonscreaming coaches more often than not got the benefit of a close “call” once I blew the whistle. Roger Ware, Norcross

LIBRARIES

Keep branches local; transportation an issue

I am writing to publicly and urgently request that the Gwinnett County Library Board not regionalize the library system.

Access to print is vital to the families who live near each branch. Many of these families have limited or no transportation, and will not be able to patronize other branches. Lack of access to print resources will impact the literacy rate, and a lower literacy rate will have a negative impact on this community. Reducing hours of service can cut costs without cutting access completely. Saving money by not using resources for which millions have already been spent is not a financially responsible alternative. No matter what our position or opinion is about immigrant families in Gwinnett, we must all realize that most of them are here to stay. The more educational opportunities available to these families, the brighter the future will be for all of Gwinnett.

Kim Thames, Lawrenceville

ENVIRONMENT

Incorporate rapid transit, trees, more in area’s plans

I thought “Facts cooling off climate alarmism” (Opinion, Sept. 24) was very thought-provoking. What if our future climate models are flawed, and we make some disastrous decisions based on faulty information?

I have yet to hear anyone talking about helping Mother Nature. She has developed a wonderful way of dealing with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: a tree. How much would be accomplished by increasing the number of trees? Every shopping center and big box store is required by the building code to provide parking based on total square feet of floor space. Why not require that a certain percentage of that be a parking deck? All that surplus asphalt could be converted to parks with trees.

Another solution would be to have more rapid transit. We seem bent on trying to emulate European health plans. Why can’t we emulate European transit plans? Robert W. Peppel, Tucker

POLITICS

Some state Republicans reveal hypocritical sides

Isn’t it ironic that the Georgia Republican leaders who have been decrying federal involvement in state activities and increases in federal spending are the first to call for federal funds to pay for the flooding losses in Georgia — since we don’t have enough money here to cover them? Gaylen Roberts, Canton