Media must be more careful with suspects
Watching television following the 1996 Olympic Park bombing, I took one look at Richard’s Jewell’s hurt, bewildered face and told my husband, “He didn’t do it.”
Although feminine intuition means nothing in our legal system, an accusation of guilt does have a very real influence on the public mind. For that reason, far too many people avoid getting involved with the police.
I can agree with Bert Roughton in (“Jewell’s name missing among heroes,” Opinion, July 31), that the public has a right to know that a suspect is being questioned, but I do not believe the name of the suspect should be revealed until there is enough credible evidence to justify a trial.
Simply being charged with a crime can make a person appear untrustworthy, if not actually guilty. This suspicion remains even if the suspect is exonerated. Politicians use this knowledge to bring down their opponents, and it works very well.
Just ask Hillary Clinton.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
Cruz’s refusal of Trump understandable
I am writing in response to the letter (“Cruz self-destructs on national TV,” Readers Write, July 29) concerning the refusal of Sen. Ted Cruz to endorse Trump at the Republican Convention. Yes, Cruz promised to support the Republican candidate, but that was before Donald Trump demeaned the senator’s wife and made false allegations concerning his father. In doing so, Trump was way out of bounds. Throughout his campaign, he was disrespectful and demeaning toward his rivals. He got what he deserved.
JOHN TITUS, PEACHTREE CORNERS
Ruling means all groups get equal access
The day of reckoning is at hand. Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings prohibiting school-sponsored prayer in public schools, various conservative religious groups have whittled away at the Court’s stance on separation of church and state in schools. Most recently, federal courts have ruled that the free speech clause of the Constitution requires equal access to public facilities for all groups so long as this access does not interfere with normal school activities. This has led Christian groups like the Good News Club to organize after-school meetings across the country. Good News Club members range from ages 5 to 12, meet immediately after school, hear Bible stories, recite prayers, and engage in other Christian activities.
Then along came the Satanic Temple advocating for its clubs in public schools. As a recent article in the AJC stated, its objectives include incorporating “games, projects, and thinking exercises that help children understand how we know what we know about our world and universe.” Parents are up in arms, but equal access means for all groups.
LLOYD E. FLEMING, DULUTH
Reader will vote his conscience with Trump
A recent letter-writer frets that voters in the upcoming presidential election might not vote their conscience — read we should vote for Hillary (“Don’t let your vote be guided by fear,” Readers Write, Aug. 2.). He should not lose too much sleep over this as most of us out here — the blind and impressionable as he sees us — will, in fact, vote our conscience. For me, it is unthinkable to vote for Hillary Clinton who has fumbled the ball every time she has touched it — even when the handoff was good. She claims that they were broke when leaving the White House; yet now 15 years later, as a couple they are reported to be worth over $200 million, with daughter Chelsea at a right smart sum of $15 million.
For me, Trump is not only the best candidate, but America’s last hope to save itself. As a matter of interest, Monica Lewinski is reported to be worth $500,000. No data available on Juanita Broderick or Paula Jones.
FELTON HUDSON, STONE MOUNTAIN
