MILITARY

Drone attacks take the moral low road

What would legendary American warrior Davy Crockett think of the U.S. drone attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Crockett would undoubtedly be outraged at the cowardly, uncivilized and dishonorable slaughter of the defenseless Taliban and many civilians.

There is something morally wrong when someone can, from 6,000 miles distance, rain death and destruction on unsuspecting Third World people.

One Taliban leader was murdered while getting a back rub from his girlfriend. Where’s the heroism in that? A popular Pakistani song mocks the honor of American forces using the drone technology.

If America is going to invade, and force its culture on indigenous people, it should have to fight fair and take casualties.

Walter Keith, Atlanta

POLITICS

System, not Obama, to blame for troubles

It is the winter of my discontent. I am bleeding — no, hemorrhaging my savings. I haven’t had a decent project in six months.

But I am not blaming President Obama. I still blame the lack of Wall Street regulation and Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy, and a war we were tricked into fighting.

Why would I blame Obama? I’d love for him to have magical powers like Samantha the witch — for him to twitch his nose, and we could all be happy and working, with health care. But he’s just human and he is trying. And the system is broken, but he didn’t break it.

Cynthia Perego Erni, Atlanta

PUBLIC SAFETY

State should ban use of cellphones while driving

The Legislature is in session, and it’s our chance to voice our opinions on texting and talking on the cellphone while driving. This has reached epidemic proportions, and it’s getting scary to be on the road.

It’s time to pass laws that prevent this, and make our roads safer. It’s so much easier to just pull over, make your call or text, and then continue on your way.

R. L. Turner, Atlanta

POVERTY

Combined solutions have widespread effect

As the executive director of MUST Ministries, a faith-based organization headquartered in Marietta, I was pleased to read “Solving poverty won’t be simple” (Opinion, Jan. 26).

You are right: Solving poverty on the individual level is not simple, let alone solving it at the macro level. But we are making an impact.

Last year alone, MUST Ministries knows that it helped at least 383 individuals find full-time employment in our region while meeting their family’s needs. As a result, their collective earning power is $6,894,000. Our combined efforts make a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need while transforming the wider community.

Thank you for elevating this issue to a place where it can be discussed and acted upon in a productive manner.

John R. Moeller Jr. , MUST Ministries executive director

Featured

UPS driver Dan Partyka delivers an overnight package. As more people buy more goods online, the rapid and unrelenting expansion of e-commerce is causing real challenges for the Sandy-Springs based company. (Bob Andres/AJC 2022)

Credit: TNS