NOTORIETY
Glorifying murderers
does society no good
Mona Charen, amen.
While I rarely agree with her politics, I couldn’t agree more with her assertion (“Specials on JFK’s slaying are ‘assassination porn,’” Opinion, Nov. 13 ) that mass murderers and assassins — usually deranged glory-seekers — are goaded, enabled and abetted by being glorified by today’s media.
These killers seek the everlasting attention that a shocking and pointless murder provides, even if the attention comes frequently after their demise. In addition to the 2001 press guidelines Charen cites, it ought to be illegal for any EMS personnel, law enforcement agency or prosecutor to reveal the name, photo or words of any such killer unless it is integral to apprehending the person, as in the Boston Marathon case.
If such gunmen knew they would have little chance of gaining notoriety and fame by committing such atrocities, fewer would commit them. Only the gender, age, place of origin, motive and method of attack should be revealed.
KIRK WILSON, JOHNS CREEK
MISTREATED KIDS
DFCS is only one of
many broken systems
DFCS is one among many broken systems in our red state.
Unless or until we vote out politicians who disenfranchise the poor — for example, by denying Medicaid coverage — our state as a whole is indicted in all the recent tragic children’s deaths. DFCS workers are the canaries in the coal mine, and we ignore their plight at our peril.
SALLY MCDONALD, CHAMBLEE
ATLANTA BRAVES
City needs to ask itself
why businesses leave
Not far below the surface of the surprising news about the Braves taking flight from the city is a much more sobering reality.
It was once axiomatic that prosperity for Atlanta came from partnership with business — especially big business. Look at the Coca-Cola Company, SunTrust Bank and Turner Broadcasting System, which all have deep roots here. But increasingly, businesses vote with their feet when it comes to the city of Atlanta. That was the case with the Braves.
Businesses today move with not much angst — again, like the Braves, where more than 40 years in Atlanta seems to have counted for little. No doubt, the city of Atlanta has contributed to this approach. While there’s plenty of blame to go around, a better use of our time would be to ponder the long-term consequences of what we are doing.
JIM BLITCH, ATLANTA
Remake Turner Field
as GSU sports venue
The city of Atlanta and Fulton County ought to smile and say farewell to the Braves; it’s been a great ride together, but it’s over.
The parties involved should consider making a deal with the state to turn Turner Field into a magnificent sports complex for Georgia State University. With Georgia State using the facilities that could be located there, I doubt the city and county would miss the Braves that much.
Georgia State would have a great in-town complex for years to come. This move would go a long way toward helping to revitalize the surrounding neighborhoods.
GENE RHODES, ROSWELL
About the Author
Featured
