U.S. soccer team limited by talent
I disagree with AJC sports columnist Mark Bradley that poor tactics were the reason for the United States' exit from the World Cup. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's tactics were a result of his team's dearth of talent in two critical areas: creative midfield holding and goal-scoring strikers. Realizing these deficiencies, the coach had few choices but to play a defensive counter-attacking game, which generally worked for most of the matches. But Belgium, a good but not great team, exploited those weaknesses despite the heroic efforts of goalkeeper Tim Howard.
IAN SHAW, CUMMING
People confuse wants with needs
One of the latest trends in the United States seems to be putting our wants before our needs. So many people use their income to purchase the things they want while expecting others to provide their needs. I remember my parents instilling in us children that people should pay their bills and use anything that is left over to buy the extras or wants.
Today it seems tattoos, piercings and ridiculous fake nails are things that people feel they are entitled to have. Let someone else pay for rent, utilities, groceries, cell phones, ad nauseam. And now, there is the "right" to free birth control.
I’m just wondering how many of those who are protesting the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision had their nails done, got a new tattoo, a new piercing, or other “want” this month with money that could have been used for their need of birth control.
CAROL HIGHT, CARROLLTON
Hobby Lobby ruling undermines liberty
The Hobby Lobby decision is being hailed as a victory for religious liberty. Actually, it stands religious liberty on its head. It allows a religious group to say, “You can’t do so and so or have such and such because it’s against my religion.”
WILLIAM W. MCCULLOCH, JOHNS CREEK
Health insurance not political game
I take serious issue with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case. They have effectively permitted a public business to inflict its own religious beliefs and practices on its employees.
Health insurance is health insurance. It should not be a political game where anyone gets penalized for not holding the political or religious beliefs their employer holds and thinks they should hold. I have to wonder if Hobby Lobby’s health insurance plan covers impotence treatments for men and the various pills men can take.
What other religious beliefs and practices will be forced upon employees? If I were a Hobby Lobby employee, we would soon be back in court for violating my religious freedom of expression.
BRUCE GARNER, ATLANTA
