POLITICS
What is the difference between a thug stealing money from a shop owner to fund a drug habit, and a state governor stealing taxpayer money to pay for a mistress? In my book, there is no difference— stealing is stealing. I am so tired of the waste and corruption by government officials — particularly the ones who are supposedly good Christians. These cheaters are giving decent Christians a bad name.
Nora Laughton, Roswell
Monogamy not natural
We may disapprove of politicians getting into sex scandals, but we should not be shocked, regardless of the person's moral beliefs. The simple truth is that monogamy is not a natural state for humans of either gender.
Millions of years of natural selection mean that the human male is biologically programmed to spread seed, and the human female, biologically programmed to diversify it.
We can rise above our biological tendencies, but we should not be too surprised when people act on them.
Denise Noe, Atlanta
Return America to itself
I want my country back.
My country isn't one where the government appoints czars to run car companies, control banks, and set private sector compensation. My country doesn't control medical access.
My country encourages its citizens to excel, to strive, and to succeed by using their talents and brains — not by relying on government programs and handouts. My country's tax system funds the necessary functions of government operations, and does not use the tax code to redistribute income and reward certain industries.
My country is a sovereign nation where immigrants are welcome if they arrive legally, and obey our laws. My country believes in the power of its people, not the 537 elected officials who have never worked outside of government.
I want my country back.
Doug Brooks, Duluth
COLUMNISTS
Pitts wasted our time
If Leonard Pitts really has to write for this paper, can he at least write about something worthwhile? In "'Homosexual demon' conjured up by ignorance" (Opinion, July 2), he proceeds to waste everyone's time by "bravely" standing up to a lunatic fringe group of Christianity. I understand he has to attack some conservative view, but this is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Andrew Culbreth, Cumming
Feeling fairly confused
In Cynthia Tucker's piece, "Promote racial diversity fairly," she stated that New Haven could now "design a test that's fair to everyone." I take it that she concluded the original test to be unfair.
I wonder if she actually saw the test questions and determined some to be unfair, or if she simply thought the test to be unfair because of who did or did not pass it.
If it's the former, it would be great if she would share with her readers which questions were unfair and why. If it's the latter, then it would appear that she would only be satisfied that a test is fair if there were some kind of quota result, and that lacking such a result, the test results should be thrown out as unfair.
Which is it?
Mark Rivkin, Decatur
ENVIRONMENT
Solar farms can do harm
It was reported ("Business in brief," News, June 30) that Interior Secretary Salazar said that the United States will fast-track efforts to build solar power generating facilities in six Western states. Environmentalists, you had better wake up.
How many endangered species are going to be severely impacted? Where is the land to mitigate the impact on these endangered species going to come from? Why have we not heard an outcry from the Sierra Club and other environmental and animal rights groups on this?
A solar "farm" will have a significant impact on the environment, and on desert habitat, and create a huge blight on the desert landscape. Wind energy is similar. It takes a large amount of real estate to produce any significant quantity of wind energy, and anyone who has driven through the Altamont Pass knows of the blight on the landscape by windmills.
Bill Anderson, Roswell
SPORTS
Bradley got it right
Thank you, Mark Bradley for "Cheating: It doesn't belong at Peachtree" (Sports, July 5).
About 50,000 did it the right way — started at the start, and finished at the finish. For them, it is a nice accomplishment, and the coveted T-shirt should be worn with pride.
For the other several thousand who chose to cheat, be ashamed. Wearing the shirt should be a reminder that what you did was wrong.
We believe that the Peachtree shirt, in 1971, was the first at any race to be awarded as a prize for completing the race — start to finish. The shirt is not something purchased with the entry fee. Thanks again to the Atlanta Track Club, the volunteers, and those who did it the right way.
Tim Singleton, founder of the Peachtree Road Race
MEDIA
Too much Jackson in AJC
As I watched the cable news, I expected the coverage of Michael Jackson to dominate the landscape. The news networks, especially cable news, sold out to sensationalism long ago, and the chances of a return to decency are laughable.
I was taken aback, however, by the way the AJC has sold out as well. Not only is Michael Jackson plastered all over your Web site and paper, but you failed to inform the public as to the real life of Robert McNamara. He was a richly complex man, but he served this country in one regard or another for his entire adult life. Vietnam is not his only legacy. He may have been the man most responsible for avoiding nuclear war, and for that alone, he deserves more than a few blurbs and comparisons to Donald Rumsfeld.
Jim Walsh, Atlanta
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