MILITARY TRAGEDY
Don’t use live rounds for soldiers’ training
As a Vietnam veteran, I am incensed at the deaths of seven Marines and injuries to others during a training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada.
While, unfortunately, we cannot eliminate every risk for our training soldiers, we must do everything possible to minimize injuries and deaths. One possible solution is that no live rounds be used in any training exercise.
The use of simulated ammunition rounds could possibly help eliminate families suffering the loss of their loved ones during non-combat situations.
J.A. JERNIGAN, ATLANTA
GAY MARRIAGE
Too often, politicians only follow party line
I’d like to thank Leonard Pitts for clarifying the definition of “compassion” (“Senator sees light only when his son comes out,” Opinion, March 21).
I think the problem for politicians is their lack of understanding. It’s so easy to just go along with the “party” stance and not consider the implications on a particular population of citizens. In this country, we have always needed a whipping dog — someone or something that everybody else can feel better than.
I think the time has come to let people decide for themselves what is right. This would fall into the category of, “It’s nobody else’s business.”
LINDA RHOADES, MARIETTA
EMORY CONTROVERSY
Chick-fil-A resolution was political statement
Regarding “Chick-fil-A may be dropped at Emory” (Business, March 14), and the statement that this is not politically motivated, would you please tell Emory’s student advisory committee that I have a bridge in New York that I would like to sell them?
CLAIRE FRAHLER, ATLANTA
NEW STADIUM
Retractable roof is all Georgia Dome needs
As a retired registered architect who has lived in Atlanta for over 50 years, I want to offer some thoughts.
What I want to strongly suggest is that the existing Georgia Dome be refurbished and given a retractable roof. This could be done by putting a “card table” structure with the retractable roof over the existing dome, then removing the old roof, etc. You would do all of the interior renovations and then do all of the neighborhood improvements. All of this would be much less expensive and less disruptive to the area.
I have great respect for Arthur Blank and all that he has done for the city of Atlanta. I am very happy that Kasim Reed is our mayor, and with the job that he has done, so far. Historically, a brand-new stadium would be quite a “feather in the cap” for a mayor and an NFL team owner. But what I’m asking is that all parties concerned consider that perhaps a new and different way might be better for the city.
JOHN W. MCINTOSH, ATLANTA
