Compassion knows no politicial, racial boundaries
I thought Andre Jackson was a better wordsmith than he demonstrated in his recent column (“Claim a wider heritage,” Editorial, July 5). For he to imply that a conservative, white neighbor with a McCain/Palin bumper sticker would not be expected to render aid to an injured black woman is incredible. Human decency and neighborliness should not be gauged by one’s politics.
JAY BROWER, ATLANTA
Dems, not GOP, ruled Old South
I always look forward to Andre Jackson’s views in your publication. And I generally find myself nodding in agreement with his balanced and nuanced outlook. But in his faulting the South for the Rebel flags in public places (“Claim a wider heritage,” Editorial, July 5), he failed to mention that it was Democrats that supported slavery in the South and the North. Liberal Democrats today want to blame Republicans with all the faults that have arisen from that period of infamy: And that’s misguided. My Southern heritage does not give me the right to consider skin pigment as a measure of worth, but it does give me the right to resist being categorized as being opposed to equality. When Mr. Jackson opines that should we be too blindly stubborn to consider experiences other than our own in dealing with sentiment, I’m certain he means all of us; not just us old white folks.
JACK FRANKLIN, CONYERS
Injustices still need addressing
A recent respondent to the AJC Monday conversation regarding schools stated that they have a problem giving someone favoritism simply because of the color of their skin. People have been denied equality and favoritism simply because of the color of their skin in this country for many years. Affirmative action is an effort to correct these injustices. As a 1954 high school graduate living within walking distance of the University of Georgia in Athens, I was not allowed to attend because of the color of my skin. There was no college in Athens that I could attend in 1954. Effects from this injustice still exist and require corrective measures. It might not have been the present generation that caused this injustice, but it was due to state laws that existed at the time and were strictly enforced. It is never too late to do what is right.
CLARENCE G. KILLIAN SR., ATLANTA
Stars and stripes is best public flag
The Confederate Flag has lately been the point of passionate, often-confusing debate. Some parts of the debate, however, should be easy for everyone to grasp. First, the Flag proclaims the virtue of heritage, or the Southern way of life. It is clear that devotion to duty on the battlefield is virtuous. It is equally clear that slavery is vicious. The flag’s proclamation is thus ambiguous and divisive. Second, history must not be eradicated, but remembered. Museums and cemeteries are important examples of places that help us remember history. Last, places of public display are straightforward. Individual citizens are constitutionally free to display flags in most public areas. Taste, rather than law, will be the issue. Businesses may display their flags in the marketplace, which will be their judge. But on state or federal property, the only flag protected by law, and the flag that must be displayed in unambiguous sovereignty, is the Stars and Stripes.
JOSEPH D. HERRING, JOHNS CREEK
Regarding Bill Torpy’s (“Dial 911! I just saw someone I don’t know,” Metro, July 6) I cannot figure out what his point is. Why do some people believe that anyone, who has concerns about their safety or disagreeing with someone who happened to be of a different race, is racist? Talk about being racist, just what about the young man that Torpy “noticed” caused him to believe the guy was mixed-race? Personally, I would not condemn anyone for calling the police about anything or anyone giving them concern about their safety; and I certainly would not fall back on the old “-ist” word in describing people that do. “Prudent” would be a better choice.
PAUL RICE, COVINGTON
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