Lincoln was no white supremacist
The letter writer’s claim that Abraham Lincoln was a white supremacist represents wishful thinking by apologists for the Confederacy (“How leftists get the Civil War wrong,” Opinion, Jan. 1). While Lincoln’s views on race were shaped by his period, these views evolved over time, in contrast to those of most current politicians.
Lincoln initially supported colonizing free African-Americans in Africa, in part because he feared white Americans were too racist to live with them in peace. However, he dropped this idea after hearing from black leaders that they considered themselves Americans and had no desire to emigrate. Lincoln also came to support black suffrage, believing African-American Union soldiers had earned it with their heroism.
Lincoln understood the Confederate flag stood for the Southern slaveholding elite’s determination to expand slavery to the territories to make it last forever. He was willing to fight a bloody Civil War to prevent the Confederacy from realizing this morally repugnant goal.
STEVE BABB, LAWRENCEVILLE
Ga. leaders ignore suffering climate
Thank you for the article about Georgia leaders’ views on global warming (“Some leaders cool to global warming,” News, Jan. 2). I’m worried. Our state leaders not only ignore climate science and the 97 percent of climate scientists whose studies show human causes, but they’ve ignored the conservative solution, a fee (or tax) on carbon to make sure the true cost of carbon pollution is paid.
George Shultz, President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state, supports a fee on carbon to be returned equally to citizens. Shultz says that if the government doesn’t keep the money, it’s a fee, not a tax, so even anti-tax politicians could support it. Regardless of their opinion, 2014 was the warmest year on record. Our climate is changing, and politicians’ actions will determine how much we and our children will suffer. Besides scientific reports, your readers may want to watch the Showtime series, “Years of Living Dangerously.”
HENRY SLACK, DECATUR
Pope is right to advocate for poor
Michael Ramirez’s political cartoon in Sunday’s AJC (Opinion, Jan. 4) depicts Pope Francis wearing a large ceremonial hat with the word “POLITICS” emblazoned across the front. Ramirez is apparently upset with the pope’s advocacy for the poor, and his decrying the rapidly widening wealth gap between the “haves” and “have-nots.” If advocating for the poor is so distasteful to conservatives of his ilk, exactly what class of people should a prominent religious leader throw his weight behind? Why, the rich, of course, from Ramirez’s outrageous perspective.
BIRNEY A. MONTCALM, WINSTON
