Stadium spending shows our morals
Your article notes that “taxpayers are pitching in” to the tune of more than $1 billion in public funds between the Braves and Falcons’ stadiums (“Skyrocketing stadium costs,” News, Feb. 22). Georgians should be marching in the streets with pitchforks and torches. While we can’t find the money to address our transportation problems, and education funds have been cut — though partially restored in the latest budget — we can still find a way to throw massive sums of welfare to the rich and super rich. For a mere $350 million, we could expand Medicaid for 10 years for our most vulnerable, but our governor and General Assembly go out of their way to block it, despite the fact it would bring billions to struggling rural hospitals. It’s been said that budgets are moral documents, and I agree. These spending priorities speak volumes about where our morals lie.
BILL AYSCUE, CUMMING
Why apologize for long-ago wrongs?
Congratulations to the legislators who refused the request for an apology for slavery and the treatment of the American Indians, which was made by a very, very small contingent of malicious busybodies (“Formal apology from Ga. not easy,” News, Feb. 23). No individual can apologize for the actions of another, and even if such an apology were offered, of what value would it be to those that are long dead? With so many legitimate problems now facing this country, wasting time on an empty, meaningless apology is truly disgraceful. By the way, since many American Indians owned slaves, will they be including themselves in the demand for an apology?
JEFF BEAMER, ATLANTA
AP History fosters critical thinking
Regarding “Activists rebel over U.S. history class” (News, Feb. 21), the criticism demonstrates the mischaracterization of the College Board’s revision of its AP U.S. History curriculum. It replaces the rote memorization of dates, names, battlefields and other disconnected facts required of its old exam with a framework befitting of the living, breathing entity that is U.S. history. It was no accident that “in Order to form a more perfect Union” was listed as the document’s first purpose by the framers of the Constitution. Students of the revision study seminal ideas, foundational documents, and influential figures that have made our nation exceptional. Our Founders would applaud and encourage the continual re-evaluation of our country, and the critical thinking skills the revised course cultivates in tomorrow’s leaders.
DAWNMARIE MOSS, LAWRENCEVILLE
