Current election process is silly

This country is subjected to a terrible stress this year because of the system of primary elections for the president. No other democratic country in the world uses primary election method to elect their leaders. The usual method is for the active political party organizations to select their nominees during their party conventions and support them during the election. In no country people run for a public office coming from outside and say “I am running for this office” and put their name on the ballot.

It is time to do away with the primary election system. Each party should elect their candidate during their convention prior to the election, a few weeks before the election date.

In England, they give six weeks for the campaign of their party nominees. In this country, presidential campaign starts practically day after the election of the new president. Time has come to change the way we go about this business.

ILHAN ERMUTLU, ALPHARETTA

For peace, we must know life’s value

With growing prominence of violence throughout the Middle East, peace appears to be but a pipe dream reserved for the unrealistic idealist. The solution evolved from seeking peace to “containing the threat.” Republican front-runner Donald Trump mentioned “taking out the terrorist’s families” as a solution to violence in the Middle East. Albert Einstein once said “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding”. It’s easier to hate than to love, especially when an ocean separates us. One cannot fight violence with violence. What we call “collateral damage” is human life. All human life carries value. To achieve peace, it is crucial we understand this concept.

NOAH KLEINERT, ATLANTA

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Credit: Hyosub Shin