Why silence after multiple slayings?
From Aug. 27 through Tuesday, I have closely read each day’s AJC looking for a particular story. It is not the fault of the AJC that what I was looking for did not appear. In this time, we have had two young reporters and one sheriff’s deputy murdered. They were not in any sort of altercation. They were ambushed and murdered. These three were white, and the murderers were black; racism is believed to be behind these murders. There were no comments regarding these murders made by any of America’s most vocal civil rights figures — President Barack Obama or the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Why not? Is it because each has a very parochial agenda? I see this as a very strong possibility. I hope I’m wrong. If I’m right, then the absence of angst is just as sad as any racist act.
DAN SIEGEL, DACULA
Hear president’s alarm over climate
As the president visits the Arctic region and we read about it in our papers such as in the article “Obama’s visit spotlights tough life in Arctic Alaska” (News, Sept. 3), we need to remind ourselves and echo the president’s own words — “This should be a wake-up call.” The hazardous addiction to black gold is choking the planet. We must act now and urge our leaders to support policies and legislation that will reduce greenhouse emissions.
ROBERT JAMES, ATLANTA
Polarizing politics has hurt U.S.
Senator David Perdue’s statement, as reported by Kyle Wingfield, that “Congress should act in a non-partisan, not a bi-partisan, way,” caught my attention. As we have two parties, it seems to me that the only way candidates can be nonpartisan is to either ignore the party platform or run as non-party candidates. Is he suggesting the office holders should simply poll their constituents, and then cast their votes to reflect their constituents preferences? Or does he think we need to get rid of labels like Democrat, Republican and Independent and simply reorganize elections based on local, county, state, regional and national competitions? I would like to hear more discussion about this issue. I am ready to do anything to end the extreme, political division in this country, which has weakened us as a nation and caused friction among neighbors, friends and even our families.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
AJC digital version goes a long way
The AJC’s provision of its daily paper via the Internet for subscribers to the published edition is a wonderful thing. I am writing this from my daughter’s missionary home in Gulu, Uganda, where my wife and I are visiting her and her family for five weeks. They serve for Four Corners Ministry, headquartered in Opelika, Alabama. What a different culture this is, beautiful in many ways, yet reeking in poverty. While here, it is a real joy to be able to continue reading the AJC and to keep up with the metro Atlanta news.
CHARLES DEWEESE, BUFORD
People’s representatives snubbed by Obama?
It has been reported that President Obama has obtained sufficient votes to uphold his veto on Congressional disapproval of the Iran agreement. However, what this really means is that Congress, the elected representatives of the American people, are not in favor of the current agreement with Iran and do not want it to go forward without substantial improvement. There are barely enough supporters in Congress for the President’s veto to stand. Whether one is in favor of the current Iranian agreement or not, most will agree that what we do, or not do, regarding Iran likely will have profound implications for Americans (and the world) for decades to come. Just because President Obama may have the legal power to override the wishes of a majority in Congress, is it ethically or morally justified that he does so on a decision of this magnitude?
JONATHAN MINNEN, SANDY SPRINGS
