IMMIGRATION
If business is not legal, then don’t be in business
Regarding “Hospitality, agriculture fear the pain” (Opinion, May 24), I am always amazed when business owners justify the use of illegal immigrant labor. Do these benevolent businessmen provide health care for their employees and their families, or must they rely on the emergency room, Medicaid, or other taxpayer-funded programs? Do these benevolent business owners pay high salaries, or do they pay minimum wage or lower? Concerning the illegal immigrants who file income tax returns: are we to expect these returns result in taxes paid? There are many other questions that could be asked of these business owners — but the bottom line is, if you can’t run your business legally, you should not be in business.
George C. Pettrone, Snellville
TRANSPORTATION
Ga. 400 is a dumping ground in north Forsyth
Ga. 400 has become unsightly and a major annoyance in the northern part of Forsyth County — not only for the grasses and weeds that go uncut, but because the highway has been turned into a dumping zone.
A road that can add a touch of beauty to our daily commute is being fouled by household trash, shredded tires, mattresses, and pieces of wood.
The solution does not lie in increased police intervention, but in a deliberate joint effort to preserve our environment. As we travel the roads, let us replace apathy with an appreciation of the beauty of nature, and see even one piece of trash thrown on the roadside as an affront to the common good.
Arthur Piergrossi, Cumming
RELIGION
Misunderstanding exists about church and state
The “debate” over whether to use a church for public school graduation exercises illustrates again the gross misunderstanding of what has come to be known as “separation of church and state.” The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not say government and churches cannot have working relationships. All it says is, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that the government cannot mandate one religion for everyone.
This leaves many opportunities for constructive and positive government-church relationships.
Rev. Justin Kollmeyer, Fayetteville
MEDIA
Unreliable sources must be rejected, condemned
Well, the world did not collapse on May 21, as predicted by some. There is a larger lesson to be learned here.
In earlier times, the pronouncements of charlatans, liars and fools were rejected before they could receive wide distribution. Today, this garbage is being widely communicated instantly and internationally (along with legitimate, accurate information). Anyone can reach a large audience by being provocative (and thus “newsworthy”) or via clever use of the Internet.
Whenever we hear some unusual or provocative news, we should carefully consider the source of that information. If we reject and condemn unreliable sources, we will get closer to the truth. And the truth will set us free. Bill Fokes, Braselton
