ABUSED KIDS
Pro-life backers help children by adopting
I was delighted Leonard Pitts, in “Why not value a child’s life after she’s born, too?” (Opinion, March 20), highlighted the plight of abused children, but it is tragic to indict pro-life individuals. Children raised by single parents are twice as likely to suffer from abuse, both sexual and physical, than by married parents. Pitts doesn’t mention the importance of family structure, chastity and teaching young men and women to respect themselves and each other. There are laws to protect children from harm and remove them from unsafe conditions. There are no laws protecting the 245,000 babies aborted every year. Hundreds of children die from abuse every year. Many pro-life couples have adopted children from other countries and foster care. Since my two grandchildren were foster children adopted from Florida, I care passionately about abused children. It is an ongoing problem here in Georgia of abused children slipping through the cracks, unnoticed by teachers, friends and family.
CHERIE PETERS, ALPHARETTA
We can’t forget about young abuse victims
Thanks for Leonard Pitts’ column, “Why not value a child ‘s life after she is born, too?” These have been my thoughts for so long. Thank you for expressing them so well.
CATHERINE CARTER, DECATUR
DRUG TESTING
The hungry need food, not more humiliation
In response to “Bill tying food stamps to drug tests goes to Deal” (News, March 21), one would wish Georgia legislators might one day have to rely on food stamps to feed their families. Fortunes come and go. I say to the legislators: Get closer to the people who may not have had the same advantages that you’ve had, and perhaps you will better understand the pride-smashing necessity of asking the state to help you pay for groceries. Adding drug tests as a requirement for receiving food stamps would violate the very freedoms this country stands for. Hopefully, Gov. Nathan Deal will not sign. Aren’t there matters of education and health care to be studied and considered? It would seem the representatives in the General Assembly do not have enough real work to do.
ELLEN HUNTER ULKEN, PEACHTREE CITY
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Deadline nearing for health coverage in ‘14
The Affordable Care Act is helping more than 5 million people to have coverage and it could be even higher. I would like to see The Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlight the positive benefits for people and encourage more of the population to sign up before the March 31 deadline. You would be doing a real real service to our communities.
LOUISE BLUME, CLERMONT
