Georgia leaders not so diverse
Before we go patting ourselves on the back about the diversity in Georgia’s power structure as compared to Missouri, let’s look at some facts. At the state and national level, Georgia’s power structure does not in any way resemble Georgia’s population. In a state that is about 60 percent white and 30 white black, blacks make up only 23 percent of our state senators and 27 percent of our House legislators. At the federal level, blacks make up about 25 percent of our 16 total representatives. And it’s even worse for women. In a state that is 51 percent female, women make up 14 percent of our state Senate, 25 percent of our House and zero percent of our federal representatives. We have a long way to go.
LAURIE MCDOWELL, ATLANTA
Movie actresses defined glamour
I applaud David Brooks for his wonderful observations about the fine actress Lauren Bacall (“Lauren Bacall gave era a counterpart female ideal,” Opinion, Aug. 18). Another thing she and other actresses of the Golden Age of film exemplified is the truth that modesty and glamour are compatible. It is not necessary to display a great deal of flesh to appear attractive and sensuous. Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, Lana Turner, Susan Hayward, Barbara Payton and many others were modestly garbed yet enthrallingly sexy. “Leaving something to the imagination” can leave a audience mesmerized and fascinated.
DENISE NOE, ATLANTA
Paranoia breeds obnoxious rules
My wife suddenly has to go through arduous hoops to renew her driver’s license, which she has been doing by mail for over 20 years. We both were shocked and surprised by the re-licensing process for drivers, including obscure documentation, long waits and surly clerks who are being harassed by irate citizens for the new demands for “their papers.” This would make a great story for your paper: the changes that have taken place in Georgia under the tea party-like government we have in place. Why must the majority of citizens be subjected to onerous processes just to prove who they are? Paranoia and the NRA appear to rule our lawmakers. Citizens either welcome the restraints or just aren’t aware of what is happening to all of us. I can’t believe that the state is so “right” that the people love this sort of thing as “protecting our freedoms.”
ROBERT P. CADY, KENNESAW
Make new arrivals first learn English
I would like to make a suggestion about the influx of immigrant children and teens illegally crossing the border without their parents and enrolling in Georgia schools. Find a building compatible to a one-room school house. Do you remember those? Move them to this one-room school and teach them English. Only after they have learned English, move them to a regular classroom. It is not fair to teachers. We have seen this happen in Gwinnett County, and it puts so much stress on teachers, and they already have enough of that.
JEAN VEASEY, STOCKBRIDGE
