WORKPLACE ABUSE
Bullying won’t end
without leadership
In his guest column on bullying (“Bullying policies aren’t magic bullets,” Opinion, Nov. 15), Sameer Hinduja writes, “What tends to work better, instead of laws and policies from the top, is creation of a culture or behavioral norm among all peers/co-workers where everyone agrees that bullying is unacceptable.”
Mr. Hinduja appears, from his picture, to be young. When he acquires more life experience, I hope he will learn that “creation of a culture or behavioral norm” which changes the status quo is next to impossible without strong, top-down leadership. Ask any mature, honest, respected leader if you have any doubts about this, and you will learn that even with strong, top-down support, the challenge is significant.
BILL FOKES, BRASELTON
TALIBAN TERROR
Malala’s survival is
an inspiration to all
Leonard Pitts’ column about the survival of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot for advocating education for girls, brought to mind a fable (“Malala’s survival refutes those who misread God,”Opinion, Nov. 15).
It’s a familiar story, in which the sun and the wind compete to see which can make a man remove his overcoat. The wind blows and blusters with all its might, only to have the man clutch his coat tighter in resistance. The sun shines serenely until the man removes his coat in response.
The wonderful thing revealed is that, after the failure of two wars, the loss of thousands of innocent lives, and the growth of Iran’s nuclear capability, the world is taking its coat off in honor of this child. The United Nations has launched a campaign for girls’ education in her honor. Pakistanis have risked their own lives in protests against the Taliban.
We’re all basking in her sunlight.
BARBARA RIVES, STONE MOUNTAIN
DOUBLE STANDARD
General had to resign,
but Clinton got a pass
Only in America: General David Petraeus has an extramarital affair, gets caught and resigns from his job in disgrace.
President Bill Clinton has multiple affairs, gets caught and not only keeps his job — but ends up a respected elder statesman.
RICHARD DOWIS, WALESKA
POLITICS
GOP’s intransigence
lost this reader’s vote
I am an “old white male,” supposedly the core of the GOP, and am disgusted with the political gridlock weakening our country.
In 2010, Sen. Mitch McConnell made the following statement: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Almost two more years of gridlock followed.
Senator, that statement cost the GOP my vote. I wonder how many other voters it angered?
JACK CRAIG, DACULA
Refresher needed in
how democracy works
I just called my congressman and my senators. My message was simple: I understand we have a democracy so that we talk with people who agree and disagree with us before we vote. We try to determine what majority position best represents what we understand, and can live with after debating all positions. We decide to do something that most of us can live with, and that will not do in any minority. That is how I understand the system is supposed to work.
That is what I want my representatives to do now. If they don’t, I would like us all to fire anyone who does not do this. That is what I told my congressman and my senators. If you agree, please tell yours.
CHRIS ROESEL, COVINGTON
