RELIGION
Response to “The Renegade Preacher” Living, Oct. 21
What a thrill, to open my AJC to read about my pastor, Andy Stanley!
I felt tremendous pride, knowing how he touches my life every Sunday. He has done so for the past 14 years.
He is real and raw in admitting his own imperfections during each sermon; brings in people from all walks of life, faiths and religions, and that’s what makes our church so very special. We are all worshipping together, regardless of how we were raised. I cannot wait to go every Sunday to soak in advice for dealing with whatever obstacles and challenges are thrown my way.
I was fortunate enough to meet Andy when I owned a local sandwich shop during the days North Point was becoming a church. He and his staff frequently ordered lunch from me. For a man with such power on stage, he is both humble and genuine.
We may have a major mega church — but it doesn’t feel that way when you experience the warmth inside the door. I thank God every day that He led me here.
SUSAN HARTSFIELD TANNER, CUMMING
TRANSPORTATION
Air travelers hostage
to carrier collusion
Regarding “Airline rules could grow” (Business, Oct. 21), some of the comments in this article would be humorous if they were not so sad — for example, “…airlines should operate more like retail industries, where … consumers vote with their feet.”
This would make sense if consumers had a real choice and there was true, transparent competition in the industry — instead of the oligopolies that exist, especially in the fortress hubs of the legacy airlines (such as Atlanta and Dallas).
Airlines have obviously reached an accommodation among themselves (including low-cost carriers) to discontinue the capacity wars and discount fare battles that previously decimated their profits. The Justice Department made it easier for this collaboration by allowing consolidation of the industry through mergers offering no evidence of economies of scale that benefit anyone.
The government has little or no ability to effectively regulate the industry through micro-management. The flying public is a victim of the airlines.
RON KURTZ, ALPHARETTA
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Competition promises
better kids’ education
I don’t find the vote for or against state-created charter schools to be that difficult.
Georgia students are not doing well in our public schools. More money over the decades has not helped. Public schools are a monopoly. No monopoly will knowingly establish competition and support it, if competition has a reasonable chance of succeeding, and competing with the monopoly.
Established state-created charter schools are out-performing public schools. Should the proposed amendment pass, the state will have the power to create competition for public schools, thus giving some children a chance for a better education, and putting pressure on public schools to improve. Everyone will benefit.
EDWARD A. WATKINS, LILBURN
HOMELAND SECURITY
Terror suspect doesn’t
represent Muslim faith
I am disappointed and dismayed that a fellow Muslim intended to kill dozens of innocent people.
While Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis bears the name of Islam’s Prophet, his behavior does not resemble him in the least. As a Muslim, he owed America love and loyalty as soon as he stepped on American soil.
Unlike Nafis, many Muslim-Americans work whole-heartedly for the good of their country. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, for instance, has helped to collect tens of thousands of blood bags through the Muslims for Life Campaign, because the job of a true Muslim is to serve mankind — not hurt it.
ALLISON KNIGHT-KHAN, POWDER SPRINGS
