In God’s eyes, all people are equal
George Zimmerman, in an act of self-defense, shot Trayvon Martin for being “suspicious.” A police officer choked Eric Garner to death for allegedly selling loose untaxed cigarettes. A Ferguson police officer shot Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager. Is this what American values are about? It is about time we look at history and not make the mistake of repeating it.
The color of our skin does not reflect the value of one’s life. It is how God made us, and God’s creation is perfect. Although racism is becoming popular, not everyone supports it. In fact, Islam is one religion that fosters love and affection, human togetherness and tolerance for others who are different from us. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) once stated, “A white person is not superior to a black person, nor a black is superior to a white. The most honorable among you in the sight of God is the one who is the most righteous.” In God’s eyes, we are all equal. Now it is time to become equal in each other’s eyes. As an old proverb says, “All men make mistakes; only the fools repeat them.”
MEHWISH PALL, ATLANTA
Let’s get real about global warming
The question now is: “Are we causing the natural warming to accelerate?” The answer is no. It is hubris to believe we can control nature. But even if mankind is quickening the rate of global warming, if tomorrow the United States shut down every coal-fired power plant and every other source of carbon emissions, it would accomplish nothing. That’s because virtually every other country in the world is increasing their emissions. The only result of our action would be to trigger a depression in this country. Taking reasonable steps to decrease our carbon emissions is worthwhile to help clear the air we breathe, but the globe is going to continue to warm regardless of what we do.
BILL KENNEDY, LaGrange
Set carbon price, create more jobs
Hooray for the 321,000 new jobs that were added nationally in November. Georgia created more new jobs, which we hope can continue reducing our extraordinarily high unemployment rate. Do you want to know a great job-creation policy? A study from Regional Economic Models Inc., released last June, examined the impact of a fee levied on carbon-based fuels, with all revenue from that fee returned to households in equal shares. Recycling the money to households creates an economic stimulus that would add 2.8 million U.S. jobs in 20 years. Of those jobs, 575,000 would be created in the Southeast. The same carbon fee and dividend would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase GDP, and improve air quality and public health. Republicans and Democrats may not see eye-to-eye on climate change, but they should agree on setting a price on carbon that simply makes good economic policy.
TOM TOMAKA, ATLANTA
