Religious freedom vs. sexual choice
The freedom of religion is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. It is so highly treasured, it is in the First Amendment right along with freedom of speech. On the other hand, there is no right to avoid debate about the way a person likes to have sex. That right is not protected by the Constitution. That is a personal preference. So when there is inevitably a conflict between the two, freedom of religion is the far more important principle and therefore must prevail. This is the statement of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
BILL WHITLOW, AUBURN
We need to respect diversity, religion
Religions have been used for centuries to justify oppression. It is time our state and nation respect diversity and honor the teaching shared by many religions for “love of neighbor.” I believe “neighbor” in this instance means all persons, not only those “like me.” Every individual deserves being treated with dignity and respect in public venues. Any law that could be used to favor one group or religious tradition over another goes against this principle.
BARBARA ADLE, DECATUR
Atlanta should recycle scrap metal
The article about Atlanta Public Works employee corruption (“4 Public Works employees charged,” News, March 31) leads with a subhead and repeated references to theft of scrap metal before specifying high-dollar equipment and construction materials among the items stolen. The placement of such details seems to diminish the severity of the crime, as though the arrested employees might have been carting off unneeded surplus. If the Public Works Department has such a huge accumulation of scrap material, it would do well to consider initiating its own process for recycling as a means of recouping lost value.
M.L. GRIMES, FAYETTEVILLE
Change history to reflect new reality
Listen, conservatives: There’s no need to change AP history classes. Change history instead. A few suggestions: Indigenous peoples (Native Americans) ceded their land to European settlers and, in a last act of selflessness, killed themselves to make room for more. Persons of Mexican descent never inhabited the desert Southwest and what is now California. More than 1 million mostly West Africans were flown first-class to the United States to work at high-paying jobs at Southern plantations and farms where they flourished. The South didn’t lose the Civil War; it never happened. Ronald Reagan personally removed the first brick from the Berlin Wall. The only thing exceptional about “American exceptionalism” is that no one has ever been held accountable for the death, misery and displacement of others.
RONALD D. JOHNSON, AUSTELL
