We should love our enemies
I agree with R. P. Wildes (“Corporations offend when they cross line,” Opinion, March 30) that corporations should not control government, but I also agree with the Constitution that neither should religious groups. I also agree with Governor Deal that Georgians need jobs, and it is his responsibility to protect our economy. I was raised as a Baptist, as I assume Wildes was also, but I take seriously the Good Samaritan story as well as the admonition to love our enemies. Love is more than an emotion, it must also be an act of will — the will to treat people fairly and considerately regardless of how we feel about them personally.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
States don’t have right to infringe on liberty
Clifford Humphrey’s column (“HB 757 elicits call for return to federalism,” Opinion, March 30) calling for a return to federalism indicated that the states should decide whether gay marriage is permissible. This is wrong on many levels. Applying that doctrine in the past meant that states could opt for slavery and segregation. The federal government came down squarely on the side of basic individual rights in those instances, guaranteeing individual liberty and freedom. There is no more basic right than the right of an adult to marry the person of one’s choosing. The government has no place in that decision, nor does the Baptist Church or any other religious group. No state should be able to abrogate that right. The Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is legal across the country and that is the law. Nothing in that decision compels a preacher to marry any couple, attend a gay wedding, or otherwise participate. RFRA is a solution chasing a problem. Allowing discrimination based on religion opens the door to a plethora of potential abuses not limited to the gay marriage issue. The founding fathers had it right — government shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion.
STEVE KING, BUFORD
Hollywood holds more sway than Georgians
Front-page coverage babying criminals and blaming our police officers of gestapo tactics has faded for the time being. Instead, we are bombarded with the media applauding our governor. While Gov. Deal could have favored the majority of our citizens, he chose to bend to the money-changers. Without a doubt, if HB 757 had been a ballot item, it would have been approved. It appears the movie moguls hold more sway over our top state executive than does the will of Georgia’s legislators that are elected by Georgia voters who for the most part are not like the liberal, confused, Hollywood-type phonies that are allowed to dominate headlines.
JACK FRANKLIN, CONYERS
Let’s retire the r-word for good
For as long as I can remember people have been using the “r-word” as an insult and put down. I have heard people use it to insult one another, or to complain about something, but what does the word really mean? The term mental retardation was first used in the early 1900’s to describe individuals with developmental delays or below average IQ scores. The diagnostic terminology was changed to intellectual disability in the early 2000’s but the derogatory usage of the r-word has remained in our society. I am guilty of using the word myself, but that was before I realized that there are hundreds of individuals living right here in Northwest Georgia that have a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability. They are kind, generous, strong, and loving people, and the r-word hurts them more than anyone else. I know it is not typically thought of in this way but using the r-word is hate speech, just the same as a racial slur. In a time in society when we are concerned about bullying and violence, we need to put an end to the spread of this word.
CHRISTINA A. ELLINGHAUSEN, CHATSWORTH
