RELIGION
Government must stay out of matters of faith
There are so many things wrong with Jerry Luquire’s ravings that they can’t all be rebutted in a simple letter (“Stand up to atheist demands,” Opinion, May 30). Let me just say that he paints a ridiculously narrow, “Christians vs. atheists” picture.
I believe the founders of our country — many, God-fearing and Christian — shed blood to form a new covenant with one another and all future countrymen: that they would forever forbear forcing their individual faiths unwillingly upon one another through the agency of government and the weight of law.
People of every faith — including the many oppositional sects within Christianity — should thus worry whenever and wherever public policy or practice appears selective toward one creed and the exclusion of others. If government starts to lean, it may well come to fall on you.
BOB WOLFSON, MARIETTA
EDUCATION
Sex survey rejection ignores serious issue
The continued pursuit of willful ignorance regarding school-age sexual practices by Gov. Deal and Georgia’s Department of Education (“Sex survey refusal costs Ga.,” News, May 25) in the vain hope of the attendant problems “just going away” costs Georgians far more than millions in federal funds.
The major costs are in ruined young lives; unwanted, abused and disadvantaged babies, and recurring treatments for preventable diseases at public expense. Are these really the “values” we want to protect by not seeking solutions?
Knowledge gives the power to stop Georgia from trailing the nation in reduced teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates, and that knowledge is based on scientific information. The opposite is ignorance, and for too many, ignorance results simply in the perpetuation of tragedy.
KURT OHBERG, ATLANTA
DIPLOMACY
Taiwan seeks justice in fisherman’s death
Regarding “Taiwanese cancel trips to Philippines over row” (ajc.com, May 27), my government does not agree with President Aquino’s statement that a fisherman’s death was unintentional. The unarmed fishing boat was riddled with bullet holes from automatic weapons from the Philippine cutter. That is scarcely an accident. Taiwan expects punishment of those involved, and compensation to the fisherman’s family.
Current Taiwanese sanctions against the Philippines will remain in place until the issue is resolved. It is our hope that the Philippine government will respond seriously to our demands.
Taiwan has put a freeze on hiring Filipino workers, but has taken measures to ensure the safety of workers already in the country. There have been no reprisals against the Filipino people in Taiwan. The dispute is between our governments.
Taiwan has always promoted peace and stability in East Asia. We look forward to a quick end to this dispute.
HUEI-YUAN TAI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE, ATLANTA
