Beware of standing up for what is right
With so many people “packing,” it seems I should be careful who I get into an argument with. That, coupled with “stand your ground” laws, seems to make it unsafe to argue with someone or to stand up for what is right — because one doesn’t know what the other person is carrying. With the loose interpretation of “stand your ground,” walking away from an argument may still not work.
DAVID CLARKE, BUFORD
Ironclad assurances needed before vote
I am enthusiastic about the proposed T-SPLOST. Georgia really does need to do something about its transportation situation. Light rail, better roads, etc. It all sounds great. But — and it’s a big but — Georgia legislators have shown themselves to be utterly irresponsible regarding these kinds of taxes. I would need some ironclad assurances that the money would be spent exactly, and only, where it is proposed. Remember the Ga. 400 deal? Unless and until I see those assurances, I’m voting “no.”
STEVE G. DECLAISSÉ-WALFORD, GRAYSON
Young people need two-parent homes
In Renford R. Reese’s article “Strong fathers might fix senseless chaos” (Opinion, June 21), he’s wrong about “might fix” — it would fix. Strong fathers make strong sons — and strong sons make strong men and strong men don’t react, they evaluate.
The single factor eroding the family and undermining a civilized society is the lack of a father in the home.
As a classroom teacher for more than 30 years in the public arena, I found that students with the most lack of self-esteem were those who came from single-parent homes with the father absent, and this fact became the norm — the two-parent home abnormal. The result: a lot of troubled young people.
In a world in which we embrace immoral values that erode the sense of community and family, we head rapidly for ruin and “chaos.” Thank you, Mr. Reese, for reinforcing what I know for a fact — we are a product of our parents, and we need both of them.
HARRIETT GILLHAM, MARIETTA
Discipline encourages a respect for values
On seeing the words “Awakened by 8 bullets” (Opinion, June 21), I fully expected to see another essay blaming guns for our problems. How refreshing to hear pastor Kenneth L. Samuel properly point out that a lack of values drives people to make bad decisions. As if that wasn’t a brave enough position, he goes on to question the end result of our abandonment of meaningful discipline of America’s children.
“Time outs” or, worse, completely ignoring the bad acts of children have given us too many young adults with no respect for values or fellow residents. Where do I sign on to support the movement to bring back spankings?
CHRIS ROSENBUSCH, LAWRENCEVILLE
