PAKISTAN VIOLENCE
Girl’s courage should
move us to speak out
The 14-year-old Pakistani activist shot recently because she believes girls (like boys) should be educated has touched the lives of people around the world.
As a Catholic priest in the U.S., I was reminded by her actions that in our world today, prejudice is our greatest enemy, and we should not let our fear silence us. I just hope this young girl’s bravery will empower more of us to break our silence - and speak out against sexism, racism and homophobia in the United States, and in our faith communities.
ROY BOURGEOIS, COLUMBUS
REGIONAL VISION
Insight, wisdom needed
to meet local problems
How heartening it was to read in the AJC that Tad Leithead, chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission, while rejecting “mediocrity” as part of the future of our metro area, advanced a positive vision for the area in the years ahead (“Regional leader calls for vision”, Business, Oct. 13).
Reacting to the recent defeat of the T-SPLOST proposals in much of Georgia, Mr. Leithead challenged business leaders to move forward in unity to alleviate transportation congestion, improve mobility, and take advantage of other opportunities to assure a brighter economic future for metro Atlanta residents.
Interested observers welcome such responsible thinking, and hope that more Georgia political leaders will demonstrate comparable insight, wisdom, and courage by addressing these important matters sooner — rather than later.
RICHARD E. HODGES, MARIETTA
POLITICS
Biden wasn’t rude, just
setting record straight
Joe Biden won the vice-presidential debate in a landslide.
The GOP and the pundits said he interrupted Paul Ryan too many times, and that he smiled at inappropriate moments. Some people said Joe Biden was rude. Paul Ryan said so many unbelievable things that Joe Biden was just trying to correct him, and set the record straight. I think “rude” is when the GOP uses the filibuster to knock down every job-creating plan President Obama puts on the table.
Joe Biden’s performance appealed to the middle class, which is under constant attack from outdated GOP policies.
WILLIAM MCKEE JR., FLOWERY BRANCH
EMBASSY ATTACK
Romney using tragedy
to score political points
The recent tragic events in Libya have provided Mitt Romney and his running mate with an opportunity to gain political points by using rhetorical gamesmanship to ridicule the Obama administration for a supposed lapse in judgement. His anger would be better aimed at al-Qaida for their dastardly actions — instead of shifting focus to gain advantage in the presidential race. How low will this candidate go, and what will he not say in order to win?
By strutting and fretting as he has done, Mr. Romney has played right into the hands of the terrorists, who want us to fight each other so that they can weaken our resolve. I have a message for Mr. Romney. Fight the real enemy: al-Qaida.
TOM MCMANUS, ROSWELL
EDUCATION
Fight for kids’ literacy
begins in early grades
Governor Deal should not be about creating a way to pay for quasi-private schools at taxpayers’ expense.
He (and every politico in America) should be going to battle against illiteracy in pre-kindergarten through grade three, where the war is won or lost. Otherwise, American society is polluted, and our republic is threatened.
JIM CONNAH, SANDY SPRINGS
