Letters to the editor should be no longer than 150 words and must include a daytime phone number for verification. They may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in print or other formats. Email submissions are preferred. Email: letters@ajc.com.
How to submit an Opinion column: Submissions should be 600 words or less. Email columns to Opinion Editor Tom Sabulis at tsabulis@ajc.com. Columns submitted to the AJC may be published, republished and made available in the AJC or other databases and electronic formats.
FALCONS STADIUM
Taxpayers should get cut of venue’s profits
I question why any taxpayer money is needed to fund a new stadium. Is this project going to be profitable to its private investors? If taxpayers share in its construction funding and maintenance, then we should share in its profit equal to our investment. We should be true partners in this project.
If this project is not profitable — with or without our investment — then it shouldn’t be done. And no public or government agency or person should get tickets or seats in a manner different from the public.
TONY POSELENZNY, SANDY SPRINGS
COMMENTARY
Columnist’s humor, analysis applauded
I was thrilled to read the Gail Collins commentary in the editorial section of a recent AJC (“Picking pope easier than deciding budget,” Opinion, March 17).
She has a voice unique among the current crop of political punditry, bringing humor as well as cogent analysis to the reader. I would suggest that her column appear in the same location every Sunday going forward.
RON CURRENS, ATLANTA
GAY MARRIAGE
Emory students right to sanction Chick-fil-A
As the proud father of a gay son, I would like to respond to the recent letters opposing Emory’s student advisory committee’s decision regarding Chick-fil-A’s presence on their campus.
First, thank you to Emory’s student advisory committee, for your “intolerance.” Our First Amendment gives us the right to express our opinions without fear of repercussion from the government, or repercussion from our fellow citizens. I love Chick-fil-A, especially their shakes, but I have not spent a dime in their restaurants since I read of Mr. Cathy’s comments regarding gay marriage.
Bigotry in any form should not be tolerated in this country.
ROBERT SURRETT, ROSWELL
SEQUESTRATION
Budget cuts threaten hypertension research
Hypertension (or high blood pressure) runs deep in this country – and we’re not really sure why. While there are several potential culprits, we can all agree that discovering how best to treat it is paramount in preventing the nearly 1,000 deaths it causes each day in this country.
Scientists at Georgia Regents University, with Program Project Grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, are working to solve the mysteries of hypertension.
But this research, and the core mission of teaching, discovery and clinical care that underlie it all, could be threatened by cuts enacted by the Budget Control Act. Sequestration represents a $1.5 billion cut to the NIH alone, jeopardizing important grant funding that supports initiatives such as GRU’s hypertension research.
We urge Congress and the president to do their part by finding middle ground and avoiding the devastating impact these cuts will have on our country.
DR. RICARDO AZZIZ, PRESIDENT, GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY
RELIGION
New pope brings hope for harmony of faiths
People across the world are celebrating the election of Pope Francis. We, the members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, congratulate Pope Francis and hope that His Holiness will advocate peace, love and harmony for all human beings.
We find ourselves in a world that is facing violence, wars and intolerance. People of different faiths will agree that promotion of peace is the most desperate need of society. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has always striven to construct positive interaction between people of different religions.
I pray that Pope Francis will pay special attention to bringing people of the world together, so that unity and friendship can be cultivated throughout the world.
ATTIYA GHANI, LAWRENCEVILLE
