Immigration
Arizona-style measure reflects spiritual blight
HB 87, a punitive immigration measure passed by the Legislature and sent to Gov. Nathan Deal, telegraphs the scarcity message that there’s not enough to go around. But Jesus taught us that when people are in need, you make room for them at the table, and there will always be enough of what is most important.
There are a tremendous number of problems with it. It is racist. It is neither workable nor fair. It is bad for business. It reflects Georgia politicians acting far beyond the bounds of their proper jurisdiction. Its twin bill in Arizona has cost that state millions of dollars in litigation, and its unconstitutionality has recently been upheld. But even more problematic than all these is the fundamental spiritual blight that it reflects. It is hate-filled and fear-filled. Speaking on behalf of six Unitarian Universalist congregations in metro Atlanta and Athens, I urge Gov. Deal not to sign this bill into law. We need to make room at the table. What would Jesus do?
Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Educational opportunity in missing woman case
As a judge who works at the state and national levels against domestic violence, I see an educational opportunity in the recent case of a missing Bartow County woman.
In 2010, 131 Georgians died due to domestic violence. Additionally, there were more than 71,000 crisis calls to domestic violence agencies. Domestic violence is the systematic use of abusive tactics to compel submission of one person to another in an intimate relationship. I do not know the details of this case, but no woman should be subjected to death threats, especially from her partner.
Others who face threats, feel fear and experience violence need to know how to access confidential resources. Domestic violence agencies across the state provide shelter from danger for as long as the person seeking shelter needs a safe place. No one deserves to live in fear, especially in the name of love.
Judge Peggy Walker, chair, Georgia Commission on Family Violence
FOREIGN WARS
U.S. defense spending should be on the table
To say that the United States is in financial trouble is an understatement. The U.S. is borrowing money every month to continue to stay in business.
We spend way more than we bring in, and yet we want to raise the debt ceiling once more, which will allow us to borrow some more money we don’t have, and can’t possibly pay back. Having said this, the solution being presented by the conservatives is to take away from the poor. Almost no politician is saying anything about defense.
We are the only country to maintain bases all over the world. We spend more on weapons of mass destruction than every other country. And we continue to enter conflicts such as Libya.
If we were being truly humanitarian, we would be doing this in many places in Africa. Africa, however, does not count in our foreign policy scheme. So, how do we really begin to save money? Stop all wars now.
William E. Lynch, Adairsville
