Pro-choice backers not against public schools
Jay Bookman’s “Public schools favored” (Opinion, Nov. 13) misses the point.
I would suggest to Bookman that if he investigated the issue more completely, he would find most non-public school advocates truly support a strong public school system. They simply also support choice. In fact, I would opine that a large number of private school parents voted for E-SPLOST. They understand that, like most things in our great country, choice is what makes a community more vibrant, attractive and prosperous. Nowhere is this more in evidence than where choice is available in the raising of their children.
Dennis C. Brown, Villa Rica
Call it what you will, it’s still torture, still wrong
The recent GOP debate in South Carolina shows a side of several Republican candidates that I’m not happy with.
“Enhanced interrogation technique” is a euphemism for saying something we don’t want to hear: torture. Torture is immoral, un-American, illegal and — according to experienced interrogators — not a reliable way to get useful information.
Sen. John McCain (a war hero and a survivor of torture) said he was “very disappointed by statements at the South Carolina GOP debate supporting waterboarding. Waterboarding is torture.”
My faith, and that of all traditions that I know about, teaches us to respect all of God’s creation — which includes all human beings. Torturing someone is not showing respect.
Nancy Buss, Atlanta
Such gross behavior used to be beneath us
When I was 13 or 14 years old, I remember seeing a movie about World War II which portrayed American soldiers who were captured and tortured by the Japanese. The point was that we, the Americans, were above such gross behavior.
I was saddened to hear some Republican presidential candidates espouse that waterboarding was not torture. Waterboarding is considered torture by the world at large.
When did we become the bad guys? How does the so-called Christian right duck its own calling?
This is not who we are.
Ronald Hockensmith Sr., Douglasville
Detroit Muslims aren’t extreme, but critics are
Regarding “Detroit prayer event puts Muslim community on edge” (ajc.com, Nov. 11), I am disturbed by Apostle Ellis Smith’s contradictions. He accuses Islam of being “lame” and “perverse.” His rhetoric sounds uneducated, overgeneralized and nasty. If we are talking extremism, I think he is extreme, not the Muslims of Detroit.
Prayer and fasting are good only if the intention is good. Muslims pray and fast too, so groups like Smith’s could celebrate their similarities (instead of their differences).
These independent religionists have targeted Detroit’s Muslim community to protest Islam. What exactly is there to protest? Eid, where a portion of the food sacrificed goes to the poor and another portion goes to relatives? Or Ramadan, where Muslims deny themselves food and water during the day for a whole month?
Allison Knight-Khan, Powder Springs
Unbiased coverage of candidate appreciated
Regarding AJC Editor Kevin Riley’s column “Cain’s on your radar, and ours” (Opinion, Nov. 13): As a Herman Cain supporter, I appreciate knowing the AJC is concerned with bias toward the presidential candidate.
The AJC has done a good job covering Cain with as little bias as possible. It is important for voters to make their own decisions about Cain, and in no way should a newspaper “help” a candidate just because he is a local. Thanks, AJC, for letting us decide for ourselves.
Elizabeth Lau, Kennesaw
Make speculators pay for the mess they made
Do you wonder why people are so angry? The people most responsible for the economic collapse of 2008 are doing quite well, making record profits and using their wealth to influence Congress to prevent legislation that would stabilize markets and improve the overall economy.
Yet, Congress is considering cutting the programs that American families need more than ever because of the Wall Street-created collapse. Those who created this mess should be held responsible for cleaning it up. Instead, average Americans are paying for the bad behavior of financial speculators.
Congress needs to pass legislation (Let Wall Street Pay for the Restoration of Main Street Act) that would create a financial transaction tax. Average Americans pay fees or taxes on just about any transaction we make. It is only fair that Wall Street gamblers do the same.
Susan Mumpower-Spriggs, Atlanta
No peace until these conditions are met
Regarding “Israel withholds taxes owed to Palestinians” (News, Nov. 15), how can anyone call Mahmoud Abbas “moderate”? He envisions a Palestine that is a Muslim autocracy, from which all Jews are banned.
True peace will not come until the world stops enabling the oppression of the Palestinians by their own leaders. Anti-Jewish incitement must stop. Israel must be recognized as the nation-state of the Jews. Palestinians must be told that “two states for two peoples” means they will not go to live in Israel, and the Muslim world must agree that the signing of a peace treaty means that the conflict has ended.
Toby F. Block, Atlanta
Response to “Slow descent into the mind’s chasm.” Living & Arts, Nov. 13
I appreciate your article on the effects and ramifications of Alzheimer’s disease for the individual and the family. It was very helpful that you listed support groups available to caregivers. It would also be good to let your readers know that there are several older adult day programs and adult day care for patients with dementia that provide a time of respite for caregivers and socialization for those with this dreaded disease. I am director of Plymouth Harbor in DeKalb County, a day program operating three days a week for five hours a day. Nonprofit programs such as Plymouth Harbor are called “congregational respite programs.” Programs like these are ministries of churches. There are for-profit programs in the metro area as well. For information, visit georgiaservicesforseniors.org.
HELEN P. FREDRICK, DIRECTOR, PLYMOUTH HARBOR
