Atlanta landmarks

A tip of the hat to CAP

I have received considerable praise, as well as some criticism, about the Andrew Young park and statue I funded in downtown Atlanta. The majority of the kudos should go to A.J. Robinson and his staff at Central Atlanta Progress. Over the three-year time span after I suggested the park, they had to handle a great deal of red tape and Atlanta City Hall personalities (not our mayor). If you see A.J., please tell him that you and future generations will sincerely appreciate the monument to a great Atlanta international figure.

R. CHARLES LOUDERMILK SR.

Atlanta

Pompous Millennium Gate out of place

I've driven past the Millennium Gate for the past few months while it's been under construction, flummoxed by the purpose, exasperated by its incongruous design.

My instincts are correct, based on what I've learned about this edifice in an AJC article ("One man's arch of triumph," Page One, June 15).

The Millennium Gate is a selfish exhibition of form over substance, replete with the puffery of a Latin inscription and made in part of stucco, a construction material found more often in faux suburban mansions than enduring monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe.

I love grand artistic statement, bold landmarks that spring from creativity and design in tune with the surroundings. In all its pomposity, the Millennium Gate is out of whack with Midtown Atlanta. The front-page photo says it all: a flip-flop-shod foot with the monument in the background. Banal fashion meets banal art.

ED HULA

Atlanta

What's so scary about this love?

The California Supreme Court got it right when it affirmed marriage for same-sex couples. It also got it right in 1948 when it did the same for interracial couples, 19 years before the U.S. Supreme Court. I had a life partner for 42 years. The last 18 years of his life, he had Parkinson's disease. For the last six years of his life, he was completely helpless and I took care of him 24/7 and am grateful that I could. What is it about this kind of love and caring that some people find so scary?

WINSTON JOHNSON

Atlanta

Offshore drilling: Naive ... or worse

President Bush's recent proposal to end the ban on offshore drilling is either naive or cynical. Naive if he really believes we'd see any effect from such drilling before 2020, twelve years from now; cynical if his plan is to ensure that his oil-company cronies get leases to drill offshore once their already abundant but as-yet-unused leases to drill on federal lands are exhausted. No, he and John McCain know this is election-year politics as usual —- and we should, too.

JOHN BUGGE

Atlanta

Back off, brush up on elevator manners

What has happened to elevator etiquette? There was a time when people waiting for the elevator would stand to the side and let those riding get off before they would enter. Now people rush onto it without even pausing to see if a rider is exiting. Some say "sorry" but continue to barge their way in anyway. Slow down, people —- it only takes five seconds to recognize and hesitate to let someone off.

DAVID FINDLEY

Smyrna