BULLYING
Don’t hesitate to call
teen’s attack an assault
It is unfortunate that the story about Israel Price and his ordeal (“Bullying takes physical, emotional toll on kids,” Living, Oct. 21) featured a caption under his picture that he was “recovering from a concussion he suffered while being bullied.” If an adult had been similarly injured, the caption’s authors would have used the correct word: “assaulted,” rather than “bullied.”
To continue to use the euphemism “bully” for a physical assault is inappropriate, as it detracts from the seriousness of the crime (which it is). Those who assaulted Israel Price should be punished to the fullest extent of both criminal and civil laws.
GERSON PAULL, ATLANTA
YOUTH CRIME
Violent media, games
warping young minds
The AJC has recently reported the tragedy of so many young people killing their fellow classmates, teachers, law enforcement officers — and themselves.
I feel the increasingly enhanced modes of violence as depicted on television, in video games and on film are now warping young, developing minds so that viewers do not see the full extent of the crimes depicted. If producers would show the effects of sensationally depicted murders and other crimes — which are usually committed for temporary gratification or misguided glory — the results might make future perpetrators think twice before they act.
Realistic dramas should show how a particular crime forever affects and transforms the perpetrator’s life, as well as the victim’s. Civil punishments are long-lasting, certainly. More importantly, the entertainment industry should strive to drive home the magnitude of death.
ROB ROGERS, COLLEGE PARK
GOVERNANCE
Did GOP learn lesson
from its budget battle?
I hope the Republicans learned a lesson from the recent battle over the budget: namely, that you can’t give in to extortion, and that if you give in, in a short time, you’ll face new demands.
Sadly, I fear they learned nothing, and soon we’ll be back to where we left off.
The House is supposed to have the “power of the purse.” I think they just lost it.
DAN MILLER, ALPHARETTA
HEALTH CARE
Bloated, overreaching
law will die on its own
Regarding “Even in victory, Obama can’t gain momentum” (Opinion, Oct. 20), I couldn’t agree more with Maureen Dowd’s suggestion that Obamacare should be called “Pelosicare.”
Whatever its name, this effort was too much, too soon — and it will die of its own bloated, overreaching, overweening, undisguised attempt at socialism.
JACK FRANKLIN, CONYERS
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