Black Americans can be conservatives
Regarding the Leonard Pitts column (“Cain uncomfortable in own skin,” Opinion, Oct. 20), I was a child when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. made his historic “Dream” speech. I took his words at face value. I thought these words applied to all people.
I thought they applied to me when I chose a career that was dominated by men and I was struggling to break the “glass ceiling.”
I thought these words applied to me when I dealt with people of all ethnic backgrounds and cultures. I thought these words applied to me when I measured a person through his or her actions (not by his or her skin).
However, I am accused of being a racist if I disagree with anyone who does not look like me. Conservative black Americans are accused of being embarrassed about their skin color just because of their conservative views.
I am saddened by these accusations. I cling to the dream spelled out by King — rather than the depressing views of Pitts.
Sheri Gilligan, Cumming
Voters are smarter than columnist thinks
Kathleen Parker’s column (“Republicans should forbid religious test,” Opinion, Oct. 19) certainly shows her bias.
She thinks religious affiliation shouldn’t count, but then equates “smartest” with “Mormon” and tells us how great a Republican ticket with two Mormons could be.
She goes on to state that Mitt Romney has “been at politics longer” and has “paid his dues.”
Obviously she doesn’t comprehend that people are tired of old-time, back-slappin’ politics and actually desire to pick the candidate who is most qualified and determined to fix our mess.
Fortunately, the voters (even non-Mormons) will show they are smarter than she thinks.
Tom Sanor, Roswell
MARTA vs. Corridor K: Feds should pick transit
Thousands of people depend on MARTA daily to get to work, school, the library or grocery store and more. Many have absolutely no other way to get around the vast distances inherent in the suburban sprawl of the Atlanta metro area.
But did you know that while we who ride MARTA are facing increasing fares (and decreasing levels of service), up in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, the federal government is spending taxpayer dollars in the study and design of a proposed highway?
The controversial project, “Corridor K,” is expected to cost billions.
How can Washington spend so much money, while existing mass transit service all across the nation starves from lack of funding?
How can they do that to those who depend on our mass transit systems?
Will Lance, Atlanta
