Ali’s draft-dodging marred his legacy
There is no doubt that Muhammad Ali was one of the best ring fighters ever. And he also did much for humanity in his later years. For this he deserves credit.
Ali also refused his homeland’s clarion for duty in 1967 — a year of crisis for America. That year, 11,363 American heroes lost their lives when they were summoned to fight in a war now considered bad. It would be a safe bet that none of those killed wanted to go either. Overall, it is estimated that 58,315 Americans gave it all, including 7,243 members of his race.
Ali cited religious reasons — having become a member of the Islamic faith, for his refusal to serve. Today this peaceful religion claim would be met with some derision. Being a pacifist or conscientious objector does not reconcile with scrambling another’s brains in the ring, which of course ensnared Ali later on.
America seems to have forgotten Ali’s draft-dodging and not being willing to help out his country — good war or bad. Maybe relatives of those who were killed or maimed remember; maybe not — I do.
FELTON HUDSON, STONE MOUNTAIN
College pressure too much for middle-schoolers
I read with interest the article “Middle Schoolers gear up for college” on June 5. I worked in a school for 16 years and witnessed increasing pressure on students by their parents to be accepted to the “right college.” The right college often meant the college the parents thought had the most prestige, and/or name recognition. The fact that eighth graders and their parents are now engaged in constructing resumes for college acceptance only serves to increase pressure on stressed middle schoolers. One parent in the article started charting their student’s academic course in the third grade! What child needs this kind of pressure at such a tender age? Parents need to realize the right college means the right college for the student and not necessarily the parents’ choice.
CHARLSIE F. WOOLLEY, ATLANTA
Solving climate change won’t wreck economy
A recent letter-writer attacked liberals for attacking people who “refuse to blindly accept climate change,” but then went on to disprove liberals’ beliefs with absolutely no evidence. Georgians, please do your own research.
This person also believes that solving climate change means wrecking the economy. This just isn’t true. People need to know that there is a market-based solution to climate change – carbon fee and dividend.
Carbon fee and dividend is a revenue-neutral carbon tax that accounts for the costs of burning fossil fuels by placing a steadily increasing fee on fossil fuels. This will encourage investment into cleaner energies while deterring further investment into fossil fuels. All net fees will go back to American households – not the government – each month. According to a Regional Economic Models Inc. study, 2.1 million jobs would be created in 10 years and people would have more money in their pockets to spend.
SEAN HODELL, ATLANTA
Sen. Perdue is wrong about Trump
That was quite an image in the June 5 edition, of U.S. Sen. David Perdue urging Georgia Republicans to support Donald Trump. Perdue was photographed donning his campaign “trademark” blue jean jacket, pretending to be an “everyman,” and telling the Republican state convention that Trump “can … help make America great again.”
It takes uncommon audacity for David Perdue to claim the mantle of the middle class after having earned a fortune at the helm of corporations that outsourced jobs overseas. And to hear Perdue urging Republicans to support another wealthy businessman with no background in public service or governance as the person to lead our nation and be an agent of change in Washington is laughable, if not tragic.
David Perdue is wrong. Donald Trump is dangerously unqualified to be president. The Trump nomination is a profound mistake.
STEVE REILLY, NORCROSS
