BIN LADEN
May 1, 2011, will forever live in our history. I am overwhelmed, knowing Osama bin Laden has descended from the earth. I am so thankful to our military, and elected and appointed leaders for their vigilance against al-Qaida. Justice has been served to all those affected by bin Laden and al-Qaida. While his death will not bring back those who died, I pray that it will help provide closure. The world is a safer place today. Ridding the world of bin Laden and many of his al-Qaida leaders will save lives.
Good always triumphs over evil. It took almost 10 years from the devastating attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — but I never doubted our resolve.
I applaud the Old Testament justice to rebuke a murderer and terrorism. We sent evil to Hades where it belongs, and begin a new chapter toward peace and freedom for all. I encourage you to find an active duty soldier, veteran or a family member of the fallen and tell them “thank you.” May God bless Georgia and the United States of America.
State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell
Resolve to take future terror threats seriously
I picked up the paper earlier this week. I could not see the entire headline, and could only read “BIN LADEN.” I knew the rest, and said a prayer of thanksgiving. The world breathes a sigh of relief that no one will die at Osama bin Laden’s hand ever again.
Every few decades, the world produces such a creature, a la Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, or Idi Amin. Bin Laden represented a different kind of evil. He reveled in the horror he could create for peaceful people at a distance through actions he implemented (but never fired a shot). He seemed to enjoy the impotence of our nation in his pursuit, and doubtless was waiting to move into Afghanistan after the allied forces left. He badly miscalculated.
Once one abandons the basic tenets of civilization, it is difficult to return. His is the lot of all terrorists. There is no substantive record of redemption of this type of persona.
Our goal is to recognize these threats in the future and take them seriously — or relive a nightmare unlike any in our history.
Lawson Thompson, Marietta
MIDDLE EAST
Israel isn’t the cause of America’s troubles
I read the letter titled “How to defeat tyranny” (Readers write, Opinion, May 3) with amusement. It called bin Laden’s assassination “alleged,” Israel a “political entity” and insinuates that the destruction of Israel will lead our country to peace, prosperity and energy independence.
My recently deceased mother came from a Jewish family in Damascus, Syria. When she was 7 years old, she saw her parents hiding in an inside room of her house. When she peeked out from her window, she saw the street littered with hundreds of bodies of Jewish citizens. These were the infamous 1921 riots, which destroyed a vibrant Jewish community that had been there for many generations. Those riots happened years before Israel was founded — and before Hitler came to power. The United States was energy independent at that time.
To imply that the disappearance of the state of Israel will somehow bring most or all of our troubles to an end is at best naive (and at worst, a blatant lie). Americans know better. Abraham A. Tache, Dunwoody
IMMIGRATION
Grateful for those who debate, but don’t hate
Thank you, Rev. Joanna Adams, for stepping up to a very difficult political and emotional forum (“Pro & Con: Should Gov. Deal sign into law Georgia’s immigration bill?” Opinion, May 5).
Why is it that hate is the leader in political decisions such as the immigration bill? Why do leaders create barriers between people — and like sheep, we listen to this fear and hatred that our leaders try to force on us? We seem to jump on their bandwagon way too often when we can’t think for ourselves.
These words about whether Gov. Deal should sign the immigration bill are truly what real religion is about. True religion is not about hate and fear. It is governed by love (which is not what our leaders want us to feel).
Thank you, Rev. Adams (and other contributing Georgians) for speaking with an open heart and an open mind.
Madelyn Spiegelman, Dunwoody
POLITICS
Prediction is right, but for the wrong reasons
Ralph Nader provides, from the perspective of the intellectual loony far left, compelling reasons why Barack Obama will get a second term (“Why Obama will win re-election in 2012,” Opinion, May 1). Unfortunately for Nader, he used the term “neocon,” which immediately discredits him.
Beyond that, the real reasons that Barack Obama will be re-elected have been adequately covered by Neal Boortz and Walter Williams.
To summarize: Barack Obama will get re-elected because people will vote for him because he is black, because the voter will perceive that Obama will make it easier for them to get government hand-outs, or because the voter is ignorant of the current state of affairs in this country and powerless to see through Obama’s rhetoric.
We have a country where illegal immigrants do the jobs Americans will not, and many Americans don’t pay any taxes, or are dependent on government handouts. John Kennedy’s challenge to Americans on how to be good citizens and patriots has been negated. This goes a long way toward explaining why the U.S. is mired in debt, out of jobs, out of options and fresh out of luck.
Len Cayce, Suwanee
