Atlanta welcomes those in uniform
A team of fellow Army officers and I recently traveled to Atlanta to visit with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a veteran of multiple deployments, the ride up the escalator at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport still brings a smile to my heart, and again we were welcomed with open arms, a standing ovation, and candy canes and well-wishes by the volunteers at the USO and all of the families waiting for their loved ones. All along the way — at the ticket counter and TSA agents, rental car agency, CDC — we received, “Thank you for your service,” and were greeted with handshakes and hugs.
As we were early to the CDC, we stopped at the Majestic Diner for lunch. An unknown customer paid for our lunch, and the waitresses were nothing short of wonderful. This level of generosity and courtesy was overwhelming for all of us, and I thank the entire city for continuing their culture of respect and admiration for the military. We, in return, can never repay the gratitude we feel from the warmth and open arms we received.
Thank you all, and we wish you all very happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.
BRIAN C. LEIN, COMMANDING GENERAL, MEDICAL RESEARCH AND MATERIEL COMMAND, FORT DETRICK, MD.
Abortion isn’t about a woman’s health
Recently, a protester carried a Planned Parenthood sign with the slogan, “Protect Woman’s Health.” Typical of slogans, it was misleading. Abortion does not protect women’s health, but facilitates irresponsible sexual behavior. If women truly cared about their health, they would practice abstinence or double up on contraception before engaging in sexual relations. Abortion is not about a woman’s health or right. In practice, it is all about the life of the unborn child. If the unborn child’s life mattered before sex, it would not be threatened after sex. In reality, black lives, white lives and everything in between, begin in the womb.
KEVIN PALMER, MARTINEZ
Metro should back mass transit plans
I was pleased to see opinions in the Tuesday AJC supporting public transportation. There are few things we could do to better enhance the quality of life in Atlanta and the surrounding area. We would have less traffic congestion, fewer automobile accidents and better air quality, important to all who breathe. We would greatly reduce our carbon footprint, slow global warming and make life better for future generations.
A carbon fee and dividend would help encourage ridership. Jon Gabrielsen (“Confessions of a rail skeptic in metro Atlanta,” Opinion, Dec. 22) was of particular interest with his references to transportation in Stockholm. Another example is Munich, a handsome old city that installed a major subway system in 1972, just in time for their Olympics. A city of 1.5 million, it has a daily ridership of 80,000. It handily connects with suburban towns and communities and includes a good light rail system. Atlanta and all Georgia would benefit from improved public transportation.
KATHERINE MITCHELL, ATLANTA
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