Clayton MARTA bus needs parking
Thank you for the article highlighting MARTA’s success in Clayton County (“On Clayton bus, a ride to opportunity,” Opinion, Sept. 8). One problem for many riders needs to be addressed. The No. 196 bus, the most popular, begins and ends at Southlake Mall. However, the mall posted signs stating that riders cannot park there; parking is for mall patrons only, and all others will be towed.
Many residents don’t live close enough to be able to walk to the stops, so driving to a stop and parking while riding MARTA is necessary. Mall management has been questioned about their parking policy, but the answer was that they do not furnish parking for MARTA. The mall has hundreds of vacant parking spaces, so it is unlikely riders would be taking spaces from shoppers. Also, riders would be more likely to shop at the mall if they parked there, which would be a win-win for both.
JAMES BRADLEY, ATLANTA
Cheney’s record consistently wrong
There is reason to believe Dick Cheney is off his rocker. Consider the following statements: “The war (Iraq) will last weeks or months, certainly not years.” “Deficits don’t matter.” “We will be greeted as liberators.” “The insurgency is on its last legs.” “The vice presidency is not part of the executive branch.” At best, these are not the words of a person who knows the score. At worst, they are the irrational words of someone who should never be given a position of national leadership. Given his disastrous record — and that includes solemn assurances that Iraq had WMDs — he might be better off just closing his mouth.
RON SLADE SR., COVINGTON
Our cultural legacy is seriously lacking
More shootings? Why are we surprised? The wonder is that there aren’t more shootings. Each time someone sees fit to inflict pain or death on an unsuspecting victim, the cry goes out: “Gun control! Now!” The real problem is not the availability of guns, but the absence of a high morality in our society. In 1939, Rhett Butler used the “D” word and shocked America. How far have we come since then? The progression has been decidedly downward, from “bad” words to graphic violence, gratuitous nudity, explicit sex, brutal maiming and killing, all under the banner of “entertainment.” What we allow becomes our legacy. If this is the standard we want to set for our children, shame on us. I prefer to think we are better than this. I hope I’m not wrong.
RALPH L. MURCHISON, SNELLVILLE
